You can have all the makings of a great business such as: ingenious marketing, a solid product, and wonderful customer service. However, what’s your curb appeal like? Does your building look great, inside and out? Are customers turned off the second they drive up to your place of business because the area seems rundown? On top of this, ask yourself, does the state of your place align with your brand?
If you’re worried and feel unsure whether you fall into this category, continue reading. Here are some of the best tips business owners should keep in mind if they want to stun their clients and customers.
Boost your company’s curb appeal
One of the best tips for business success is to hire a commercial lawn maintenance team to boost your property’s curb appeal. The first thing guests will notice when approaching your place of business is the front of the building. Therefore, a commercial landscape company is worth investing in. Much like a cover on a book, your customers will draw their own opinions at just a glance.
What does it say about the way you run your business? If your plants are dying, and the grass is overgrown, prospective clients may hightail it out of there. However, if the landscape is luscious and full of life, people passing by will notice.
If you struggle with maintaining the area yourself, hire professional landscapers to do the work for you. They can also trim branches that can potentially fall and hurt your current customers too. Professional landscapers can also bring the beauty back to the area if it’s been neglected for years.
Install heating and cooling
Heating and cooling installation is not just something anyone can accomplish alone. Even with the proper experience, commercial HVAC repair can vary from residential repair.
Having a working HVAC system is crucial when it comes to tips for business success, so call the pros — having your heating and cooling systems break can drive away customers and also overwhelm your employees — no one wants to work in freezing or sweltering conditions. This can also put your products at risk if they need to be kept in a temperature-regulated area.
To ensure your unit doesn’t break in the middle of the hot summer, keep it maintenance year-round. Replace the filters every six months. Additionally, inspect the bearings, belts, and fan bi-annually.
Check out the property’s plumbing
One of the other great tips for business success is to make sure your property’s plumbing system is in good shape by calling a commercial plumbing service. Moving on from the HVAC system, your property’s plumbing is another critical aspect you must overlook if you want to make your space seem presentable. When getting your commercial property ready for business, get the pipes checked for leaks.
You’ll know that your plumbing needs to be checked by a commercial plumbing company if you can smell a foul odor, but can’t pinpoint the source. These are two other signs you should watch out for when trying to determine if you should hire a plumber. If you hear dripping, or the water in your toilets won’t go down. Your team of commercial plumbers can fix issues that can potentially drive all of your customers away and taint your business’s reputation.
Make sure the roofing is in good shape
Your roof might not be the first thing to come to mind when it comes to tips for business success. But if you live in a windy and stormy area, having a solid roof over your place of business can save lives.
You want to make sure your roofing is in good shape and repaired by hiring commercial roofers. Get it inspected often, and always take the time to observe the state of your roof after a tornado, rainstorm, or heavy bout of hail. If you notice severe damage, call a trusty team of roof builders to repair or replace the faulty roof.
Give your business interior a facelift
Now that we’ve discussed the mechanics — such as wiring, pipes, and roofing, it’s time to dive into tips for business success and dressing up the interior area of your building. It’s a good idea to hire interior contractors and designers to improve your interior. You can certainly make a positive impact by using high-quality furniture and excellent lighting.
No matter what kind of business you run, you want your guests to feel comfortable, and sitting on a ragged chair or stepping on an old and moldy carpet will not give that impression. For the best results, hire an interior designer. They can make the smallest and most cramped space seem spacious and modern. Best of all, they can work with your budget and unique needs, so that your space feels fresh but still aligns itself with your brand.
Pay attention to the details
One of the smaller tips for business success is to pay attention to the little details that could set your business apart from the competition and leave a lasting impression on your target audience.
Leave out a bowl of candy, or hang up a whiteboard and write an inspirational quote. Don’t be afraid to add some personality to your office or workspace. Your employees and guests will love you for it too.
Add comfortable seating
Make sure there are ample places for your guests to rest. Own a beauty salon? Ensure that there are enough chairs for both your clients and their guests so everyone can feel comfortable while you work.
Make sure your place of business always smells inviting
You know that age-old trick where real estate agents bake a tray of cookies, so the inviting scent can help them close a sale? You can apply that same logic. You don’t necessarily have to bake cookies. However, spray some air freshener, burn a candle or some incense, or just make sure there’s no trash lying around to stink up the place.
Stay up to date with the latest technology
Don’t risk your computers crashing and losing all of your data. You want to be prepared for power outages, floods, or any other natural disaster than can wipe your hard drives clean. Even hackers can get ahold of your data and ruin all of your hard work.
Therefore, ensure you’re using the latest technology and working with a trustworthy tech support team to keep your business up-to-date with the rest of the world. Speaking of tech, call up an electrician to make sure your building is up to code. They can conduct electrical repairs that can be dangerous for the average person.
Establish a good relationship with other tenants
If you live in a building with other small businesses around you, make sure you have solid relationships with all of your neighbors too as not to cause any uncessary conflict.
Use light colors indoors
If you have decided to try your own hand at decorating your commercial space, keep this tip in mind. Use lighter colors to create the illusion of more space. Using plenty of mirrors can also brighten up the area. However, there’s no shame in asking a pro for their opinion either!
Make sure to receive an inspection every year
Getting your yearly inspection ensures that your building isn’t breaking any codes. Your inspector may analyze the roof, ventilation system, paving, landscaping, and more.
Make your digital presence known
This is one of the most vital tips for business success. While these maintenance tips for your building are imperative, you have the responsibility of making your business stand out on the web too. Build your presence by staying up to date with social media.
Conduct a solid plan in case of an emergency
These tips will ensure that your building stays strong and reliable year-round, but there may come an event that’s so cataclysmic, no one can prepare for it. Natural disasters like floods and tornados can happen when you least expect them to. That’s why it’s so important to prepare ahead of time. Do your employees know the safety drills by heart? It could save their lives, so make sure this is part of your onboarding process.
Make sure your staff is happy
Speaking of your staff, if you want to maintain an orderly building, this is an often overlooked aspect. Your employees are the heart and soul of the building, so make sure all of their needs are met. Foster open communication, so they feel as if they can approach you with any issue. Make sure your break room is stocked with snacks, and that they’re taking a sufficient amount of breaks throughout the day.
Keep your area clean
This is perhaps one of the easiest tips for business success you can implement, as it just requires you to be more mindful of the waste you’re creating throughout the day. Once you’re done eating a snack while at work, dispose of your garbage immediately. Encourage your workers to do the same.
Leaving food out can be a recipe for disaster. Not only will your workspace look unprofessional, but the clutter will hinder your ability to think clearly. The human brain favors order, so ensure your area is organized at all times. Accomplish this by purchasing an adequate amount of trash bins for the office.
Call pest control as soon as you notice an infestation
At the first sign of an infestation, call an exterminator right away. Roaches can enter your building through cracks in the wall or through the drainage system.
They are typically attracted to crumbs, pieces of leftover food, and moisture, so make these items forbidden in your office space to keep things cleanly and bug-free. These pests can bring in diseases, but they can also scare off your customers too.
Purify the air
If you live in a humid part of the country, use an air purifier to cleanse the air, and make it easier to breathe in the building. You can also try adding some indoor plants. They absorb the excess carbon dioxide in the air and create more oxygen. Not to mention, they’ll also look lovely and create a more inviting environment.
Install security
This is another measure you should take if you wish to keep your inventory safe overnight. Invest in a trustworthy security system, so you can survey the property while your miles away. You should also invest in sturdy commercial wood fencing for the entire building. A solid fence can also act as a noise barrier, so everyone in your building can stay focused on their work — without the blaring sound of traffic interrupting them.
Install automatic doors
Door handles are completely infested with germs and bacteria. The best way to prevent these germs from spreading person to person is to install touchless doors, like a revolving door, or an automatic sliding door.
Installing an automatic door can also benefit any of your clients who are in a wheelchair, making your building more inclusive for anyone with a disability.
Some final thoughts on these tips for business success
In conclusion, these design tips for business success will propel you onto another level. You’ll seem more trustworthy, and your business will also look professional and well put together. When you consider the landscape, the HVAC installation, the interior, and the health and happiness of your employees, you’ll be ready for business — no matter what life throws your way.