Executive office suites are an increasingly popular trend for small businesses starting out with their own space. Corporate office parks provide office space for lease to small companies that may not be able to afford their own building or space downtown, but many executive offices offer far more than just office space.

Furnished office space is one of the benefits of using executive office suites, while other benefits include TV and internet service as well as stocking janitorial and office supplies. To use your executive office services effectively, choose a location, service package and set up that are best for your business.

When using executive office suites, take the following steps to get the most for your rent:

1. Search for office space available in the best area for your business.
2. Get the features you need in a single package with executive office services.
3. Plan the office space that will help you work.

Action Steps
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Get the executive office space in the location you want

Executive office suites exist all over the country, making it easy for you to find the ideal location without having to do a lot of traveling. Simply use a search tool to find office space for rent in the prime location for your business, whether you're moving into a new office or from coast to coast.

I recommend: You can use executive office space to cut down on your need to do a lot of shopping around for real estate. Search Office Space and HQ both offer state by state listings of office space for rent, so you can save time and money on the search for a business location. Consider employee transit time when choosing a space to maximize your productivity and satisfaction, as recommended by Corporate Real Estate.

Get additional services with your executive offices

Many executive office suites offer a complete range of business services, including networking utilities, supplies, telephone answering services and more. Most executive office suites provide furnished office space. Contact the office suite firm to find out if and how you can customize the appearance of your office space.

I recommend: Regus offers fully furnished offices and allows you to browse by the type of office space your business needs. For a comparison of features you can expect to find in most executive office suites and should check for when shopping, consult Corner Office.

Choose a productive layout for your executive office suites

Many executive office suites allow businesses to submit preferences for layout and design of office space. Even if your office suite comes furnished, create an office plan that will help your business achieve its goals and collaborate with the executive office suite firm on how to get your ideal space.

I recommend: Use a workspace planning tool like those offered by One Work Place or IKEA to plan your office layout. Before you choose a space, sit down with the executive office suite firm to talk about your office plan and whether or not the executive suite will be able to serve your needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When locating an executive office space for your business, investigate existing corporate business parks to find out the types of businesses currently located there. You can get extra advantages by locating your office nearby potential business partners or business that already draw a customer base that you could share.

Executive office suites can be an ideal setting for small businesses that don’t want to set up shop at home and can’t afford to shell out big bucks for their own commercial real estate downtown. That's because corporate suites offer the cost savings of a home office, plus all the amenities of traditional office space.

Executive suites usually come furnished with all the workstations and office equipment you need, and many are staffed with receptionists and clerks to support the day-to-day operation of your business, all for significantly less than the typical cost of commercial real estate. As such, executive office suites are versatile enough to accommodate any number of space-starved companies. Still, they’re most ideal for:

1. New small businesses that need affordable commercial real estate.
2. Companies with only a few employees that would benefit from having serviced offices.
3. Businesses that need short-term or temporary office space.
4. Companies with modest space requirements that are looking for office space for rent.

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Compare and contrast executive office suites and traditional commercial real estate

Executive office suites aren't for everyone. Check into the costs and services provided before taking the plunge.

I recommend: Start at OfficeFinder, which offers an “Executive Suite vs. Conventional Office” cost comparison calculator. Also consult the Office Business Center Association International (OBCAI), which offers resources on choosing an OBC as well as an executive suite search function.

Use commercial real estate search engines to find corporate suites near you

The Internet is chock full of commercial real estate resources. Use it to narrow your search for executive office suites locally, regionally and nationwide.

I recommend: Popular websites where you can search for executive suites include Cityfeet.com, Offices2share.com, OfficeFinder, Esuite.com, Officelist.com, Instant Offices and Worktopia.

Select executive suites with the facilities, equipment and staff that you need most

Most executive office suites come furnished with desks, cubicles, printers and copiers. Other amenities may include postage meters, coffee and snack service, voicemail and fax machines. Some corporate suites offer shared facilities, too -- such as a kitchen, conference rooms and copy centers -- and many also come fully staffed. These serviced offices often supply their tenants with a live receptionist, assistants and even administrative and accounting staff.

I recommend: Leading providers of executive office suites nationwide include The Regus Group, Alliance Business Centers, BusinessSuites, Office Suites PLUS and Synergy Workplaces, all of which offer basic business facilities, services and equipment.

For occasional or infrequent use, consider virtual office space

An increasingly popular type of temporary office space for rent is virtual office space, which provides home-based businesses physical space when they need it and a professional address in a high-profile city.

I recommend: To find virtual office space, look to The Regus Group’s HQ, Intelligent Office and Davinci Virtual Office Solutions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Most executive office suites can accommodate between 10 and 15 people. There are options, however, for as many as 50 people and as few as one.
• •  Corporate suites can be up to 40 percent cheaper than conventional commercial real estate offices.
• •  With executive office suites, you don't just save money on the space, you save on equipment and employees, too.
• •  It might not be wise to share executive suites with competitors, although sharing them with potential partners, peers or vendors could be advantageous.
• •  Most executive office suites have leases of six months or a year, but other terms are often available.
• •  Many serviced offices have temporary office space for rent by the day or the hour for home-based businesses and traveling executives.

Furnished office space, also known as executive offices, offers you turn-key services so you don't have to go to the expense of renting office space, paying utilities and renting furnishings. Depending on your business needs, executive office suites also come with executive office services, which can include everything from phone and mail services to Internet and videoconferencing capabilities.

Renting an executive office space can provide you will all of the benefits of an office space at a fraction of the cost. Despite this, there are still ways to save even more money when making arrangements with an executive office service to rent an executive office suite. If you are looking to pinch pennies where you can, consider the following ways of saving money on executive office suites:

1. Look for cost savings with longer contract agreements on executive office space.

2. Pay only for the executive office services that you need and skip any bells and whistles that are not necessary for your business.

3. Take advantage of special promotions offered by executive office suite firms.

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Look for cost savings with longer contract agreements on executive office space

One benefit of renting a furnished office suite is that these firms generally offer flexible contract options, allowing you to rent for an hour, a day, a week, a month or even a year. Many times it is possible to negotiate cheaper rates by signing a longer lease. Be sure to inquire about this with whatever firm you are considering.

I recommend: Officelist offers flexible leasing terms with greater discounts for longer leases. Eagle Executive Suites in Eagle, Idaho, offers flexible contracts from monthly up to five years.

Pay only for the executive office services that you need

Most executive office suites offer service tiers -- the higher the tier the more services that get added and the higher the cost. Why pay for videoconferencing when all you need is phone and mail service? Save by paying only for the services you need to run your business.

I recommend: Skytek Executive Office Suites offers four different plans -- full-time executive office suites, boardroom only rental, virtual offices and mail room services. Office Suites PLUS also offers a series of tiered services including full and part-time office suites, telephone answering service, mail service, videoconferencing facilities and dedicated meeting rooms.

Take advantage of special promotions offered by executive office space firms

Many firms try and stand out from the crowd with promotional offers. If you sign up with these firms at a time when a promotional offer is in effect, the savings can be substantial.

I recommend: Regus is offering the first month free on fully furnished and equipped office space. Premier Business Centers is offering one month free with a 12-month contract.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  From time to time executive office suite rental firms will throw in added incentives to make rental offers more enticing. While these freebies may be small, they can add up, saving you time and money. A common freebie is coffee and tea service, which can add that touch of professionalism that can make all the difference when hosting potential clients and customers in your executive office space.

Executive office suites can be ideal for a small business in need of a location to use as their home office. The size and features of these suites vary to suit any company's needs. Executive office suites often have a lot of options to offer companies, so don't get confused when it comes to the details. Instead, learn the meanings of executive office suites key terms to know exactly what you'll be getting and to make sure it's exactly what you need.

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Corporate identity programs

Corporate identity programs boost corporate visibility in your industry. Corporate identity programs often include features such as branding and trademarking. Some executive office suites offer corporate identity programs.

I recommend: Discover more about corporate identity programs at BNet. The Answers website also offers details about corporate identity programs.

Virtual offices

VOs, or virtual offices, are phone and email services that answer phone calls and emails and then forward them to the correct person, or take messages after working hours. These services are designed for smaller businesses so there is no need for a receptionist.

I recommend: Visit Technology Marketing for more information about virtual offices. My Word also provides information about virtual offices.

VoIP

VoIP, or Voiceover IP, is a phone service that allows companies to use an Internet connection as a phone line. With VoIP, users can make phone calls to wireless, LAN or other VoIP users at little to no cost.

I recommend: Understand VoIP better with information from Disruptive Telephony. Find out more about voiceover IP at TechTarget.

WAN

WAN, or wide area network, is a computer network that covers a large area with many computers. WAN lines are often used in office buildings with many floors and offices. A WAN may contain many LAN connections.

I recommend: WebMediaBrands offer more information about wide area networks. Visit Cisco for complete information about WANs.

LAN

LAN, or Local Area Network, is a group of computers are connected with a network router. Most local area networks are used in small offices and homes. With a LAN, users can share files and software over their closed network.

I recommend: Learn more about LAN connections from the Montney Family. TheFreeDictionary also has information about local area networks.

VPN

A VPN, or virtual private network, uses the Internet to transport data instead of using a WAN or LAN. With VPNs, the data is uploaded to a secure FTP site for others to view. It also allows users to connect remotely to a network.

I recommend: UO Information Services provides information about VPNs. HowStuffWorks also offers details about how a virtual private network works.