Moving Your Business to a New City? Here’s What You Need to Do

Whether your business has grown and you want to reach a bigger market, or you simply want to run it from a different location, there are lots of reasons why you might want to move to a new city. However, a move isn’t always easy and it’s important to plan it out. Here’s what you should do before you move to a new place.

Scope out a new location

It’s important to ensure you can find a suitable office, retail unit or other location for your business. In some cities, they are in short supply, so finding a new location can be a struggle. Many businesses use serviced offices when they move to a new city, which gives them a convenient place to work without the hassle. As they grow, they can then find their own office, or they can stay long term if they like the place.

Research the local market

Unless you do all your business online, you’ll need to make sure you’re moving into a city where you can make money.

You can do this by:

• Looking at the products and services you sell and seeing whether there is a local market for them.

• Checking out the competition to ensure you will have enough customers to buy your product.

• Making sure you are selling a product relevant to the local area.

• Look at the local demographics to see if your business is relevant – for example, if you own a luxury brand, can local people afford it?

It’s important to know you’re making the right choice when you move to a new city, and the only way you can do that is by doing as much research as possible.

Let customers know as soon as possible

One of the toughest parts of moving house is letting all your customers and suppliers know about the move. It’s important to do this as soon as possible, so that you can work out any practicalities and ensure a continuity of service. There are usually a few things to sort out when a business moves, so give as much notice as you can. Also, redirect your mail, just in case any customers don’t get your message and try to send you something important.

A new city can be a fresh start for your business, and while a move can be stressful, there are ways to make it easier. Doing your research ensures you know what you are up against when you move, so you don’t come across any nasty surprises when it’s time to make the move and take a big step. When you move to a new city, get organised and make sure you let people know in advance, so they can plan around your move too.