Do you own or rent your office?

[MichaelCorfman]

For too many years I've been a renter of office space. Ages ago, when working on my own, I had an office in my home that I used, and which I owned since I own my home. But for the last 25 years our business has rented office space. Recently the lease for our office space came up for renewal again, and this time I'm looking very seriously as buying office space rather than leasing again and paying rent for another five years (commercial leases here generally run that long). So I'm curious about what other folks do for office space.

Do you work out of your home, that you either rent or own?

Do you work for a business you own out of an office that you either rent or own?

Or do you work for an employer out of an office that they either rent or own?

And be sure to share a bit about your own office arrangement, what you like and what you don't, how your office arrangements have evolved over time, and if you have plans to change them in the future.

Michael

[wonderpunter]

I used to rent.. but moved.. but will be renting again as I see productivity is much higher, If I had plans to remain in the same city i would buy, it's tax deductible and also an asset

[suffolkpoker]

I bought an old coal yard,which I run my vehicle hire, self storage and affiliate business. I also rent out from the same yard. I also rent out parts of my yard to other business ie hand card wash etc. This has created a cool dynamic of small businesses.

like wonder said its tax deductible, assets, planning uplift (housing) or even use the property as a pension pot.

[JackTenSuited]

I travel a lot and rent apartments as I go. Hope to buy somewhere permanently soon though.

[Doolally]

I work in an office at home but if I was looking to move to a commercial office space, and had some collateral, I'd be wanting to buy.

A commercial mortgage makes sense over renting as you own the asset which should appreciate.

Dependent on your needs and financial situation, perhaps a purchase of excess commercial office space whereby you take what you need and rent out the rest with you becoming the one collecting the rent. You win twice with an appreciating asset and some business diversification.

[golfbettingsystem]

I work in my office at home. Aside from not having to travel/pay for premises, I also claim a proportion back as an expense through the business. On a personal level I also get to see far more of my kids than I did when I was a corporate slave which is great.

[Rostick]

I work at home in a proper office surrounded by beer cans, wine bottles and the occasional forgotten thong

On the other hand, shame on me because my parents own the apartment. However, with the current legislation in my country I can`t get a credit in my line of work and I don`t see the point in throwing money at rent just so I can say I don`t live in my parents' flat. Looking at options to buy a living space in another city, somewhere around a Skiing resort, with a colder climate. But it will probably take a couple of years for me to afford that.

[Triple7]

My office is in my home. As I work with freelancers who aren't situated nearby, there's no need for me to throw away money in renting an office. Office prices are also quite high here. If I would rent an office, it would be somewhere where office prizes aren't that high.

[Mikew]

We work from an office which is technically speaking on the backyard of my parent house

I don't live with my parent anymore but I am around almost everyday as they were kind enough to let us use this small room at the back for our business at no cost. So right now we have no intention to move from there. That's less thing to worry about and we are so grateful to them for that.

[Moonlight Cat]

My office - in my laptop and mobile phone. My freelancers is physically located in: Panama, Venezuela, Spain, India, Ukraine and Donetsk People's Republic (unrecognized state). I am physically located: some times in Russia, some times in South-East Asia.

So, for us is absolutely impossible to rent office, becouse we located for thousand miles from each other.

[RacingJim]

Work from my office out of my own house. Have wrestled with the idea of having a proper office somewhere else, but weighing up the pros and cons I hate a commute more than anything. I like working in my slouchy clothes and not having to give a ****.

[sweetbet]

I work from an office in my home. The other persons who work on the site reside in different parts of the world and work from their own space.

[ARZ]

I used to work from home too, but the productivity was not such big, as I wanted. I have an office not far away from my home, no luxury, quite cheap and I can tak a 5 mins. walk and I am there I cannot imagine work from home again, there are so many things that can drive you away from work, such as kids, wife, dog etc.. Even when you leave to office in the morning, come back in the afternoon when you focused 100% on the work, you can take a rest and not feel guilty.

[agsgroup]

Work from a rented office.. i get so much more done.. but the nice thing is, if I don't fancy going in that day - i'll work from home

[RacingJim]

Last 2 responses have made me think about getting an office somewhere nearby. I can see my productivity suffers a lot being at home with all the distractions as you guys mentioned, be they high maintenance family members, TV, long lunch breaks, house jobs etc etc.

[Planet Mark]

+1 for the increased productivity of an office. I have a home office and also rent desks (for me +my assistant) in a co-working place. Can do the odd day at home, though after a week or so the line between working / not working becomes way too blurred which is not good. At the office it is 100% focus and a clean break at the end of the day. 'Social' aspect and proximity to nice restaurants for lunch helps too.

Mark

[Roulette Zeitung]

My "office" is the body and - thankfully - I own him.
I want to make the spirit want to live in it.
We ought should not think and behave about money all the time.
Who refuse, regales of lot of other "offices", and that deserves a thank you.

Even a homeless could be part of this industry.
He only need a laptop, a prepaid Master Card and a public Wlan.

But we also rent our "offices" for a limited time.
Our destiny is not to make money.
Principles of universe knows no money.
It's our self-chosen destiny.
We kill us because of money, hate us, trick us and forget everything else.
Also in this industry 90 % of everything is simply cold as ice, so many things mendacious, that you have to beware to damage your "office" ... before it's too late and has to be closed.

Leopold

[Triple7]

Last 2 responses have made me think about getting an office somewhere nearby. I can see my productivity suffers a lot being at home with all the distractions as you guys mentioned, be they high maintenance family members, TV, long lunch breaks, house jobs etc etc.

Same thing here. A lot of times I think of renting an office, but on the other side. I'm sure I will be more productive at the office, but on the other side: at home I've got all I need, I do see my kids a bit more, same thing for my dogs... That are big pro's for me that are more worth than being 5% more productive and making 5% more money...

[Ares]

I used to rent.. but moved.. but will be renting again as I see productivity is much higher, If I had plans to remain in the same city i would buy, it's tax deductible and also an asset

You make a great point there about productivity being higher when renting. So true.

[RacingJim]

Same thing here. A lot of times I think of renting an office, but on the other side. I'm sure I will be more productive at the office, but on the other side: at home I've got all I need, I do see my kids a bit more, same thing for my dogs... That are big pro's for me that are more worth than being 5% more productive and making 5% more money...

Yeh it's important for me to have a line I think between work and personal life. I feel that working from home I'm always 'at work', whereas an office would give me a place to work and then come away from work and draw the line i.e. if something needs doing it waits until tomorrow.

I think we all can find our own way though, we have choice and freedom to find what works best for each of us. I think my producutivy would probably go up 25-50% in an office, plus my private time would be more enjoyable as I'd have 'left work' and can then focus on my life and hobbies outside of work in the other time. I'm willing to give it a try anyways!