6 Challenges faced by small companies | The Office Pass

Cost Effective Office Options for Small Companies

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Small companies often have a lot on their plate—from building the right team and finding and retaining customers to much more. However, along with the aspects that drive a small company’s business forward are tasks that might not be exciting but affect the company in the long run. One among those tasks is having a proper place to nurture and grow the company. In other words, suitable office space is among the necessary pre-requisites for growth.

CHALLENGES FACED BY SMALL COMPANIES

Finding a suitable office space for small companies can be quite a challenge. Most small companies are unaware off and grossly underestimate the real estate prices in their city of operations. When reality sets in, the available option to lease office spaces, often eats into a company’s limited budget.

However, this challenge to find the right office space indirectly highlights the benefits of a shared office or a coworking office space. Here’s how a shared office space reduces the challenges that many small companies face. Know about 6 common problems faced by small business are mentioned below:-

COST EFFECTIVE OFFICE OPTIONS FOR SMALL COMPANIES

6 Common Problems FACED BY SMALL COMPANIES

  1. Long term commitment is a huge problem
  2. Cash flow issues
  3. Fluctuating team size means varying space needs
  4. Buying office space can be too expensive
  5. Good amenities are hard to find
  6. Connectivity concerns are a big worry

1. Long term commitment is a huge problem

Leasing a commercial office space involves a long-term commitment. Most leases for office spaces have a minimum term period of two to three years (out of a total term of 9 years). The minimum term is also known as a Lock-in period i..e, the period before which the company cannot terminate the lease. The last thing a small company wants to do is to sign a long-term commitment only to realize later that the office space doesn’t suit its needs anymore. In the initial days, team size may grow rapidly making the existing space in-sufficient for operations. The same is true if the company reduces manpower. Getting a perfect size is a BIG challenge, as the company is unsure how the business will play out.

Coworking spaces eliminate this pain-point as they do not drain the company’s scarce capital in a long-term lease. A small company based out of Gurgaon or any other city doesn’t have to lease a commercial property at exorbitant prices. Instead, they can go for shared office space in Sohna Road. A coworking space in Golf Course Road or Cyber City, Gurgaon is also a great option as you just pay per seat.

2. Cash flow issues

Most small companies have a fixed budget for all their expenses. However, unproductive real estate expenses like 3-6 months equivalent of rent for a security deposit, approximate INR 1200- 1400/- per square feet of office infra cost & fixed monthly rental sends this budget into a tailspin. Increasing commercial property prices further increase a company’s expenses unnecessarily. Office rentals and office running expenses easily consume 30-35 percent of a small company’s operating costs. This leads small companies to burn cash faster than they generate. Using a shared office space in Gurgaon is more cost-effective than renting a similar space in the cosmopolitan business haven.

3. Fluctuating team size means varying space needs

People come and go and this applies to small companies as well. The number of people in a small company almost always fluctuates. It’s hard for a fixed office space to cater to a growing company in terms of accommodating everyone. At the same time, attrition is unpredictable and comes with its own set of problems. The size of the office space shouldn’t be too small or too large for the company. Too small means chaos in the office; whereas too large means unproductive expenses. This is not a problem in shared offices where you pay per seat (irrespective of the varying team size).

COST EFFECTIVE OFFICE OPTIONS FOR SMALL COMPANIES

4. Buying office space can be too expensive

If a small company keeps buying an office space over renting it as an option, it should be prepared for the complications that come along. Other than the fact that finding an appropriately sized office space is difficult, the paperwork involved in the buying process is even more so. If real estate is not a founder’s cup of tea, it can be quite a task to understand the complex language of the document, which can sometimes be confusing too. The property is built on illegal land is only one of the problems to be concerned about.

Also Read: Coworking is the future of work

5. Good amenities are hard to find

While every small company aspires to have a similar setup as that of Google, it’s not practical to spend precious resources on fancy facilities like a fully equipped kitchen, an extravagant bathroom, or special relaxing zones. Although some office spaces come with basic facilities, they are often not enough to make the workplace comfortable for the employees. Amenities and facilities are taken care of in shared office spaces.


6. Connectivity concerns are a big worry

These might look trivial at the onset; however, they have a major effect on companies. What use is it if a company finds the perfect location or office space that lacks Internet connectivity or power backup? The presence of multiple reputable broadband service providers and a good phone network are basic necessities that are often taken for granted. But not at coworking spaces!

Innovative solutions are the key to solving the challenges of space crunch, especially for small companies. This is where shared office providers like TheOfficePass.com come into play. The array of facilities and membership options on offer are transforming the way small companies function, helping them save costs, and increasing their productivity. Small companies looking for Coworking space in Gurgaon can What’s APP The Office Pass @ +91 8999 82 82 82 or drop an e-mail to hello@www.theofficepass.com/toppings.

Happy Coworking

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8 Reasons why a freelancer hates working out of a cafe | The Office Pass

8 Reasons Why a Freelancer Hates Working Out Of a Cafe

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Before turning into a freelancer, every time I scurried in for a LattĂ© – as I had to clock into my corporate life before 9.15 a.m. – I saw freelancers at my favourite cafĂ© savouring each sip of their coffee while they typed on their laptops. I envied them. Well, who wouldn’t, from far? After all, there is something ‘cool’ about munching on cookies as you worked away to the smell of freshly brewed coffee every single day!

But now that I am a freelancer, I keep away from cafĂ©s whenever I have to get the work done. It isn’t that pretty a picture as it seemed to be from far. Here’s why:

8 REASONS WHY A FREELANCER HATE WORKING OUT OF A CAFE

8 Reasons Why a Freelancer Hates Working Out Of a Cafe

  1. The Ruckus & Distraction
  2. Unnecessary Stuffing
  3. Wifi Blues
  4. The right Community
  5. Dignified Business Address
  6. Timings
  7. The Work Essential
  8. The Washroom Visits

1. THE RUCKUS & DISTRACTION

A cafĂ© is unlike a coworking space where everyone is there to work. Another breed of people that frequently visit cafĂ©s is chit-chatters who don’t even pause the talking to swallow. They probably won’t even notice you trying to hint at your discomfort. And when you see a group of college kids with guitars and musical instruments walk in, you definitely know it’s time to wrap up and leave. On your worst days, you might even encounter crying toddlers.

8 REASONS WHY A FREELANCER HATE WORKING OUT OF A CAFE

2. UNNECESSARY STUFFING

You don’t want to look like a cheapskate, so you order a beverage at the very least. You drink it slowly and steadily. Then come the “It has been 4 hours, are you really not going to order anything more, you miser” stares from the waiters which start stinging. Finally, you give in and order something more, and then even more. There are others who might just ignore the stares but can’t ignore their appetites, urging them to keep eating. Over-eating has consequences we all know about. Not to forget, the huge amount of food going down your throat is also a burning hole in your pocket every day.

8 REASONS WHY A FREELANCER HATE WORKING OUT OF A CAFE

3. WIFI BLUES

This one goes without saying. Internet and a freelancer at work go hand in hand. Slow Wi-Fi is worse than no Wi-Fi and if you have to use your Hotspot for hours, you might as well go home! It may not apply to all cafés but some do enforce a limit on the free Wi-Fi and then starts the saga of using different numbers and plugging in OTPs to gain extra hours of free Wi-Fi. And if you have to pay for the Wi-Fi, well that just kills the mood right away!

4. THE RIGHT COMMUNITY

People at a café go about their own business. You may strike up a conversation upon overhearing a Game of Thrones discussion but might not go past the small talk. Everyone at that café need not be in a similar headspace as opposed to people you are coworking with. Sharing ideas, knowledge, and experiences is more likely to happen in a coworking space in Gurgaon than a Barista or CCD.

5. DIGNIFIED BUSINESS ADDRESS

Imagine giving your business card to a customer with the address of a Café. It is unlikely to create an impression and may compromise your otherwise good credentials. A professional business address is a small, but important element of your business and its value should not be underestimated.

Also Read: Difference Between Coworking and Shared Office Space for Freelancers

6. TIMINGS

A great idea just struck you and you need to jot it down before it fades away from your memory, but it is lunch or dinner time and the cafĂ© is full of people eager to fill their belly. This just ruins the whole flow! You might just be granted a few more minutes but you can’t stretch it any further.


7. THE WORK ESSENTIALS

The essential comprises a lot of items from facilities to infrastructure. Take, for instance, the case of a printing urgency. You would be very lucky to be in a cafĂ© with a printer – highly doubtful – otherwise, you have no choice but to leave. Many of you might require a proper table and chair to keep your head straight and functioning. Most of the time, cafĂ© stools or chairs are awfully uncomfortable and just not suitable for long hours of work. Further, not having a charging point next to your cafĂ© table is a huge inconvenience. We all hate the whole practice of giving your gadgets to the waiter for charging. All these hindrances may contribute a great deal to lowering your productivity.

8. THE WASHROOM VISITS

There is no guarantee that your coffee table will look the same once you are back from the washroom, so what do you do? Take the risk and try getting it done quickly or ask a stranger on the next table to watch over your things. Also, can you really create a scene if your pen goes missing? There is a third option too – pack up your bag and then visit the washroom. But be prepared to lose your table if you opt for that option. I would rather not put myself in this situation in the first place!

We all love cafés, I agree. It is also a universal fact that freelancers constitute a large proportion of the coffee shop dwellers but when it comes to working out of one, there are many hitches. That is why I simply avoid working out of one and opted for coworking space for freelancers in Gurgaon.

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The Office Pass raised fresh investment

The Office Pass, CoWorking Space Provider Raises Fresh Funding

Gurgaon-based TOP Technologies Private Limited that runs a coworking platform The Office Pass raised a fresh investment round from a group of individual investors led by Dhruv Agarwala, CEO of PropTiger, Makaan & Housing & an institution.

The company will use the funds for hiring technology & product talent and drive the expansion of coworking centers over the next 18-24 months. This investment comes within months of their seed investment round that was closed earlier this year.

The Office Pass, Coworking Space Provider Raises Fresh Funding

The company opened its 1st coworking center in Gurgaon in March 2017, which is fully occupied. “Our 1st center has helped validate many hypotheses that we had, before starting the business. We now feel confident to expand our network in a capital-light model, using technology with the objective to expand profitably. Most office-goers waste precious time, effort and money in commuting to work. If they are able to work from high quality, yet affordable, office near-by, it will solve a big productivity problem for Indian companies.” says Aditya Verma, Founder & CEO, The Office Pass.

Commenting on the investment Dhruv Agarwala added, “The Office Pass has shown good traction within a few months of its launch and that opens up exciting possibilities for rapid expansion. The company has a strong founding team led by Aditya, and has a good understanding of the role technology can play in scaling up the business in a capital-efficient way”.

UNIT ECONOMICS OF COWORKING BUSINESS

The unit economics of the coworking business are favourable, with a gross margin of over 50%, making a strong case for sustainable growth with limited external capital. The use of technology can further improve this margin. The company recently launched an Online Booking & Payment Platform that allows existing & new coworkers to book office space, meeting & conference rooms through a 100% online experience, which reduces manpower dependence.

Also Read: Coworking – Best Way to Battle Skyrocketing Office Rentals In NCR

WHO SHOULD USE COWORKING SPACE?

Finding an office is a major challenge for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) and freelancers due to their inability to get into a long lease and block money in security deposits. Many of them are forced to work from home and cafes, reducing their productivity. This segment remains below the radar for developers, agents & property owners who find it difficult to service this segment in a cost-effective manner. The Office Pass aims to solve this problem by offering flexible terms & the use of technology.

TEAM BEHIND THE OFFICE PASS (TOP)

Co-founded by three former employees of Makaan.com, Aditya Verma, Nikhil Madan and Sachin Gaur, TOP launched its operations in March 2017.

ABOUT THE OFFICE PASS

The Office Pass, part of TOP Technologies Private Limited, is a technology platform that connects companies & professionals to ready-to-use, high-quality and economical co-working office space. The company takes care of all expenses associated with opening and operating an office. Expenses such as security deposit, maintenance charges, lock-in period, furnishing & equipment, rental, electricity, WiFi, security, housekeeping etc are all clubbed into “a small fee per seat”. This saves its customers valuable time and money, which can be used to improving the productivity of their business. The company also provides on-demand meeting and conference rooms through its platform.


For additional information Contact: Nikhil Madan, Co-founder, The Office Pass (TOP) @ nikhil@www.theofficepass.com/toppings or +91 9891 833 008

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Book Coworking Office Space Online in under 3 minutes | The Office Pass

Book coworking office space online in under 3 minutes

posted in: Coworking | 0

Gurgaon based coworking office space provider The Office Pass (TOP) has launched an “Online booking & payment platform” on its website that allows existing & new coworkers to book office space, meeting & conference rooms through 100% online experience. Users will be able to choose a start date, select number of seats & duration for which the office space is required and make payment online to confirm their booking. This makes it convenient for freelancers, self-employed professionals & small companies to book a coworking office space in less than 3 minutes without going through a painful & lengthy conventional process.

The conventional process of identifying, shortlisting, negotiating, closing, furnishing & moving to an office space can take anywhere from 2 to 6 months depending upon the demand and supply in a particular area. Professionals & companies have to pay a security deposit (equivalent to 3-6 months of the monthly rent) and provide a lock-in period of 2 to 3 years. This makes the process unaffordable and painful to say the least. Coworking office space, in general, does away with these stringent requirements which are good news. The online booking & payment platform from The Office Pass takes this convenience to the next level (as it shrinks this time to under 3 minutes).

Book Coworking Office Space Online in Under 3 Minutes

As per Aditya Verma, CEO of the company, “It was important for us to get our online booking & payment platform in place before we expand our coworking footprint. With our online strategy beginning to fall in place, we will use technology to expand with minimal additional manpower, which will be a huge differentiator in the coworking category in India.” Till now The Office Pass website was used for information dissemination & lead generation, while the rest of the member journey was managed offline. With the new platform, the company plans to shift manual processes online. This will not only help increase % conversion through the website but also create consistency & transparency in the pricing for all coworkers (due to no manual intervention).

Also Read: Amazing Shared Office Spaces in Delhi NCR for Startups & SMEs

The system allows coworkers to enjoy discounts if they book the space for a longer duration and there is an additional discount for female coworkers. If coworker(s) joins before the 15th of the month, the online system calculates the price pro-rate for the remaining month. For coworker(s) who join after the 15th of the month, membership gets computed for the remaining days in that month and next month.


Now professionals & companies don’t have to waste time, effort & energy in office hunting and painful negotiations; simply open your computer or mobile & book a coworking space online in under 3 minutes.

Cheers & Happy Coworking.

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