When and How to Scale Your Office Space (Or, When Half Your Team Is Working Out of the Hallway)

Scaling your business is an exciting time!

You’ve got the clients, the cash flow, the momentum—and now, all of a sudden, you’re running out of space. Office growth is a great problem to have, and it’s probably time to rethink your digs. Here’s how to know when your office space is holding you back and what to do about it.

1. People Are Starting to Physically Bump Into Each Other

There’s a special camaraderie that comes from office proximity—until you’re all practically sitting on each other’s laps. You’re officially bursting at the seams. If one more “excuse me” from a colleague is about to turn into “please, just move,” it’s probably time to look for a bit more elbow room.

2. Meetings Have Become a Game of Musical Chairs

When scheduling a meeting feels like strategizing an elaborate heist to “book” the one open space, it’s time to reconsider. You know you’re in trouble when you have to kick people out of your only conference room for a client call. Your meetings deserve better than a standing room in the break area.

3. Your Team’s Productivity Is… Dropping Off the Map

At first, you thought it was just a tough week, but now it’s a pattern. Your team’s productivity has taken a hit, and everyone seems a bit frayed around the edges. Turns out, productivity and morale take a nosedive when people don’t have a little privacy. Not everyone can focus with five other conversations in the background, so if work is starting to feel like one big blur of noise and distractions, it’s time to give your team some room to breathe.

4. Equipment Is Sharing More “Personal Space” Than You’d Like

If your office equipment is taking up prime real estate that used to belong to, you know, people, it’s a red flag. Office space isn’t just for the team to sit – it’s also for the tools they need. And if your equipment is becoming a trip hazard, consider it the universe’s way of suggesting a move.

5. The New Hires Keep Asking, “So, Where’s My Desk?”

When onboarding a new hire means scrambling for a chair, table, or even a corner to set them up, that’s a pretty solid clue you’ve maxed out. Sure, cramming in one more person “for now” sounds easy—until “for now” becomes “forever,” and you’ve practically started an office-wide game of Tetris.

6. Your Brand Is Growing… But Your Office Isn’t

If your company’s getting big client names, more interest from investors, and tons of potential hires, then great news! Your brand is flourishing. But if the office still feels like a “starter apartment” from your early days, it’s no longer serving your brand.

How to Start Scaling: The Next Steps

So you’ve decided it’s time to expand. Here are a few practical (and sanity-saving) tips for scaling up:

1. Look for Flexible Lease Options
   Avoid committing to a multi-year lease that might not suit your future needs. Look for flexible leases that give you options to upgrade or expand your space. Office space is a commitment, but you don’t have to put a ring on it!

2. Consider Shared Office Solutions
   If you’re not ready to take on an entirely new space, check out co-working spaces with private suites. They let you add space as you grow, without the hassle of long-term leases. Plus, many come with free coffee. It’s a win-win.

3. Prioritize Layouts with Room to Expand
   When you’re scouting new spaces, think about layouts that can handle your team’s growth. Open floor plans, modular furniture, and flexible spaces mean you can reconfigure as needed without breaking the bank on new furniture every six months.

4. Think Big Picture – Location, Location, Location
   Make sure any potential space is in a location that will work long-term. You want an office that’s close enough for your current team, accessible to clients, and ideally in a neighborhood that’s less “construction zone” and more “up-and-coming.”

5. Budget for Growth Costs
   Moving isn’t cheap, so factor in costs like renovations, new furniture, moving expenses, and all those other “surprise” expenses (because there’s always at least one). Prepare for a little sticker shock and maybe even add an extra buffer. It’s all part of leveling up.

6. Don’t Wait Until You’re Desperate to Move
   You know that saying, “Don’t go grocery shopping when you’re starving?” Same thing with moving offices. Start planning before everyone is visibly frustrated by the current setup. The sooner you plan, the better your options, and the more thoughtfully you can choose a space that’ll last.

The Bottom Line: Give Yourself Room to Grow

Scaling your office space is a sign you’re doing something right. So take a breath, start assessing the signs early, and embrace the fact that growing out of an office space is a positive problem. After all, a little elbow room never hurt anyone. (And neither does avoiding awkward supply closet meetings.) Here’s to finding that next perfect space – one that fits all the people, plans, and coffee makers your thriving business needs.