What is a Satellite Office

Growth is the primary goal of virtually any business.

With this growth, many businesses must decide to stay in their current location or move to another to better suit their increasing list of needs.

Uprooting an established headquarters can be costly and complex, especially when employees and business owners don’t want to move out of town or worse; out of state.

Enter the satellite office.

A satellite office is an excellent alternative that can help your company expand without eliminating or moving your current headquarters.

What is a Satellite Office?

A satellite office, which is sometimes referred to as a branch office, is part of a larger company but is located in a different location. Satellite offices are typically smaller than the headquarters and may be hundreds of miles away from the main operations.

What Types of Companies Use Satellite Offices?

The history of alternative workspace proves that nearly any type of company may benefit from opening satellite offices. Here’s a closer look at the types of companies that use satellite offices.

Growing Businesses That Lack the Space

As you hire more employees and expand your team, it’s inevitable that you will need more office space at some point. Some companies offer remote work or rotating shifts for their employees as a remedy to their lack of space issue, but not every company benefits from this type of schedule or workflow.

Satellite offices provide adequate workspaces without requiring a larger move and depending on your business goals, setting up employees in satellite offices can help you grow and expand in other locations.

Businesses Seeking Collaborative Environments

Many growing businesses are dispelling the myth that working with the competition is bad. If your business is the type that can benefit from working with other startups or companies in a shared workspace, satellite offices as a collaborative environment may be a great solution.

Working with the top talent from other companies, in a shared workspace, can benefit your business and help with growth.

Businesses Exploring New Markets in Different Locations

Unless your company is specific to a region, you might be looking for ways to expand to different locations. Setting up satellite offices in different locations, either locally, regionally, or globally, is a cost-effective and relatively easy way to see if your business will thrive in different locations.

Businesses Looking to Improve Customer Satisfaction/Experience

Businesses who are located in the same area (or nearby) their customer base not only have a better understanding of what their customers need and want, but customers tend to have a better experience overall. Happy customers result in company growth.

Brands Seeking Status Locations

Many businesses, particularly those in the retail industry, benefit from using satellite offices to help diversify their brand image. Expanding your business brand can help you become well-known with a larger audience beyond your headquarter location.

New Businesses Wanting to Reduce Costs

Regardless of how much of a budget you have to work with, new businesses have a lot of expenses to consider before expanding to a bigger location. Even if you decide to use satellite offices temporarily, it can help reduce your costs rather than worrying about construction costs or rental agreements.

Big Companies Relocating a Particular Department or Team

Every department in your company is undoubtedly important, but they may not all need to be housed under the same roof. Depending on your business and the needs of your customers, moving departments to satellite offices may improve efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Satellite Office Benefits

Some businesses may see satellite offices as an unnecessary move or expense. Here are some satellite office benefits to consider as a business owner.

Easier Recruitment

Once you determine your target talent pool, opening satellite offices can make recruitment easier. Since satellite offices are different than traditional work environments, many employees are attracted to the alternative work environment.

Depending on your location, your satellite offices may be attractive to potential employees because of reduced commute time.

Cost Efficient

If your employees don’t need to be in the same space at the same time, satellite offices can help you reduce costs.

Reputable and Professional Address

Despite the nature of your business, you need a reputable and professional address. A satellite office provides you with a legitimate address and private offices to meet with clients.

Increased Networking Opportunities

Similar to creating a collaborative environment, satellite offices are a great “neutral” space to increase your networking opportunities. Networking, as you know, can help your business thrive and expand.

Reap the “Local” Benefits

Whether your goal is to improve your local customer support or strengthen your connection to your community, satellite offices can help you engage with local talent and even partner with other local businesses.

Considerations to Keep in Mind

There are numerous benefits to opening satellite offices, but here are a few things to keep in mind to get the most out of these workspaces.

Your Business Goals

Before you make a move to open a satellite office, it’s important to consider the goals for your business. Do satellite offices benefit your current and future needs, or will it limit your goals?

Branding and Business Culture

While the importance of branding is popular in industries such as retail, every business needs to think about their own brand and business culture. How will satellite offices change your brand or office culture?

Future Inter-Office Logistics

If your business already works collaboratively as a team, transitioning to a satellite setting will be relatively easy. Satellite offices often eliminate traditional supervisory roles and create more equal roles.

Will this improve or harm your team’s working dynamic?

Location/Accessibility

Many companies may choose a specific satellite location to reduce costs, but it’s important to consider how a location will affect your employees. Is the location centralized, convenient, and close to public transportation? Is the space safe, comfortable, and an enjoyable environment?

Space and Layout Requirements

Not only should your satellite workplace meet the current space and layout requirements of your team, but it should also have enough space for expansion.

Infrastructure and Facilities

Like any traditional workplace, satellite offices should have amenities and features that benefit everyone from employees to visiting customers. Inner-office kitchenettes provide a great space for impromptu networking sessions while clean meeting rooms with up-to-date technology can positively reflect on your reputation as a business.

Technological Needs

All employees, regardless of what department, that you have working in a satellite environment should have access to technology that will help them efficiently perform their duties and tasks. Whether you use laptops or Wi-Fi, the technology needs to be in good working order and up-to-date with the rest of your company.

Rental Fees and Agreements

Before you settle on a satellite office, it’s essential to examine and consider the rental fees and agreements carefully. If you’re looking at a few satellite offices, you need to weigh the benefits (such as location to customers or employees) and make sure you understand the terms of the agreement.

Are Satellite Offices Right for You?

As a growing business, there are many benefits to utilizing satellite offices, particularly if your goals are to improve customer satisfaction and meet the needs of your employees.

As you revisit your business goals and explore your options, think about what type of satellite office suits your best. Would you benefit from a private office or thrive in a shared workspace?

At IQ Office Suites, we have experience in helping all types of businesses from startups to large corporations find an office space that meets their specific needs as they grow.

Depending on your preferred location and needs, our meeting rooms start around $49 per hour for a small three-person space and up to $500 per hour for a 250-person conference/meeting/classroom space.