1 ) Location, location, location! This is known as the number one rule of real estate for a reason. Make sure your office is located close to where you clients live and work.
2) Your office also needs to be in a place where your signs can attract new clients. You want a place where there is a lot of foot traffic, shoppers, commuters, etc. Ideally, your office will be situated in a smart place relative to your niche market. For example, if you
specialize in weight loss coaching, your office could be near a large gym.
3) The location needs to be representative of your business and the services you are offering. Make sure your office is located in a neighborhood where your clients will feel comfortable.
4) Your office itself has to be appropriate to the seriousness of your business. It should look and feel great. Your client must be ready to be coached from the moment he walks in the door. Consider buying a desk and chairs, as well as preparing a waiting area.
5) Make sure that your office is spacious enough. You may want to work with multiple clients, or move around during coaching or do NLP timeline coaching, all of which require extra space. Think not just about what services you offer now, but what you may want to do in the future as well.
6) Budget Wisely. The expense of your office space needs to be in-line with your business plan. You need an appropriate space and location, but you do not want to cripple yourself with an outrageous expense. A good rule of thumb is to spend on an office (per month) about the same amount as you would receive for 5 - 10 hours of coaching, assuming a full client roster. Keep in mind that while there may be 80 coaching hours in a month, you will also be spending a great deal of time on marketing, advertising, preparations for coaching, etc.
7) Consider important visual elements like light and windows. These aspects are especially important for visually and kinesthetically orientated clients.
8) Ensure that your coaching space will be free of interruptions and loud noises.
9) Make sure you can adjust the temperature of your office! This may sound like a small point, but making yourself and your clients feel comfortable will make a huge difference in your success.
10) If you are starting a coaching practice without many clients or with a limited network, weigh your decisions carefully! Starting a coaching practice requires for you to be very creative, proactive, and patient. It takes time to build a practice. If you are amazing at what you do, your client list will build fast enough through word of mouth, but be aware that you may need a chunk of money to slowly build the practice from the ground up.
Nicole Schneider is a Senior Trainer at Global NLP Training, the international leader in NLP and Life Coach Training courses.