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Category: Blog

five0six Chooses The Business Exchange for Its Energy and Flexibility

By TBE Africa | April 18, 2018 | Blog

April 2018 – five0six Communications, a specialist in branding and advertising, is just one of The Business Exchange’s (TBE) latest tenants who chose to rent fully-serviced shared office space in Rosebank.

After being in a lengthy 10-year lease, Evan Sotiropoulos – owner and Creative Director of five0six, wanted a change. As a relatively small business, Evan found that traditional landlords were inflexible when it came to renting out small office spaces, and so he started considering the idea of a shared office space with a more flexible landlord.

Cost-Effective Shared Office Space in Rosebank

“I liked the idea of the shared office space, and how it consolidated many office services and cut down on various costs,” said Evan. “Location was also a big factor. We chose to occupy shared office space with TBE’s Rosebank business centre which is literally 2kms from where we were. It has good access to the highways and the location has a nice energy.”

Shared Office Services at The Business Exchange

  • A professional reception and switchboard answering service
  • Centralised documentation hub for scanning, copying and printing
  • Meeting and training rooms with the latest video conferencing technology
  • Wi-Fi high-speed fibre internet
  • Onsite cafes
  • Regular business events to maximise networking opportunities
  • Dedicated on-site Business Manager

About five0six

Evan started five0six in 2002 with only one client, but this quickly grew to three within the first month. His idea was to merge various, traditionally separate departments into one to provide a turnkey design and advertising solution for his clients, which didn’t work in larger agencies. Evan felt that being the ones who worked on the various brands, thereby developing a full understanding of their essence, the progression into different areas of communication would be easier to roll out and would save time in getting to market. His idea worked!

five0six clients started to understand what Evan was offering and through their interactions with the team conceptualising and executing their projects, they realised that their communications became less fragmented, saving them time and money in the long run.

“I believe in listening to the client first. Picking up on insights and nuances about their business, to clearly understand what they need to achieve and to then deliver a solution that is relevant and makes them stand out. We do this by creating brand awareness that immediately resonates with our clients,” says Evan. “Communication and design is a very subjective thing, which people consume in different ways. There is no set rule for a great design. Each project is unique and you express the objective in different ways that make the product or service come to life. But when you get it right – people react to it.”

five0six specialises in design that covers various aspects of communication and advertising, from developing logos and branding to full corporate identity programmes, marketing campaigns and various forms of collateral. The company prides themselves on being Thinkers with an ability to make ideas tangible through the use of different media.

The company aims to enable its clients to understand the value and power of what good design is and how it can ultimately help achieve business growth and specified business objectives.

As a statement of their success, five0six still maintains their very first client after 16 years.

Contact:        Evan Sotiropoulos

Email:            evan@five0six.co.za

Number:       +27 (0)11 728 7280

Website:       www.five0six.co.za

The Business Exchange Welcomes the Trade Commission of Chile, ProChile

By TBE Africa | April 11, 2018 | Blog

April 2018 – The Business Exchange (TBE) recently welcomed the Trade Commission of Chile, ProChile, to one of its fully-serviced private and shared office spaces, in Sandton.

Why ProChile Chose TBE Serviced Office Space in Sandton

Although the Embassy of Chile is located in Pretoria, most companies with whom ProChile interacts are based in and around Johannesburg. When asked why he decided to choose The Business Exchange’s office space in Sandton, Trade Commissioner of ProChile, Hernan Gutierrez, said, “Our decision to choose TBE office space was based on the fact that its Sandton offices have a very good location and its office space service-offerings are the best on the market.”

About ProChile

ProChile was founded in 1974 as a key institution to foster Chile’s economic growth through increasing and diversifying its exports. It is a public institution of the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that promotes Chilean exports to the South African market and investments in Chile. The company also organises trade missions, whilst generating economic intelligence and facilitating contact between businesses people.

During the 1990’s, ProChile became a crucial factor in supporting Chilean exporters to take advantage of the benefits of more accessible markets through its strategy of opening markets through free trade agreements. To date, ProChile has successfully secured 25 free trade agreements.

Business Networking Opportunities at The Business Exchange

The Business Exchange is an ideal platform for ProChile to further these business opportunities, since – not only does it offer private and shared office space in prestigious locations – but it also enables all its tenants to build on their existing business contacts through a number of networking opportunities offered monthly, at each of its premises.

Objectives of ProChile’s

ProChile’s main objectives are to offer its services to 60% of Chilean national exporters, whilst contributing towards decreasing the risks of the import process to enable approximately 500 companies to extend their reach into new markets. It also boosts innovation through programmes and training for exporters, to have at least 500 companies with innovative products and services ready for export.

The main products and sectors which are targeted by the Trade Commission of Chile in South Africa include;

  • suppliers of manufactured goods and services to the South African mining industry;
  • suppliers of raw material and final products for the South African agricultural industry, and;
  • the export of wood products to South Africa.

In summary, ProChile aims to increase and diversify the exports of Chilean products and services to South Africa, through a wide range of initiatives, such as; high level information systems, participation in important international exhibits and programmes designed for developing export business skills.

Contact ProChile

ProChile has 15 regional offices in Chile and abroad, as well as 56 commercial offices internationally.

Contact Person:       Cecilia Roca

Contact Number:      +27 (0)10 286 2230

Email:                         iveloz@prochile.gob.cl

Website:                     http://www.prochile.gob.cl/

Etiquette in Co-Working Office Space

By TBE Africa | October 5, 2017 | Blog Coworking Space

The growing trend towards co-working office space, or shared office space, has been boosted by the introduction of new technologies as well as the desire of vibrant entrepreneurs to work from an affordable and professional office environment, where they can benefit from interactions with other like-minded business people.

 

As a tenant of this type of office space, you are obviously not able to choose whom you share an open office with, and depending on your work ethos, it may take you some time to adjust to your new neighbours – especially if they are unaware of the negative effect they may be having on others around them. This can make this type of communal office model challenging.

 

Most challenges in a co-working office can be attributed to;

  • An imbalance in perspectives about giving and taking in the community of tenants
  • A lack of, or breakdown in, trust and communication between tenants
  • The tenants becoming too comfortable with each other and taking advantage of one another

 

In terms of handling the various challenges that may arise in a co-working office space from time to time, these seem to be the most prevalent and are quite often easily dealt with by keeping one’s emotions in check and maintaining open channels of communication;

 

Distractions in an Open Office Space

Noise and activity, although expected, can be very distracting to some people in an open plan office if it becomes excessive. Unusually loud conversations conducted between colleagues or over the phone should preferably be moved outside or to a private meeting room, so as to cause minimal disruption to others in your co-working office space.

 

Mess in Communal Office Areas

Unfortunately, not everyone may be as neat as you and people often fail to clean up after themselves. While most companies who rent out office space, such as The Business Exchange, employ office cleaners to keep the premises clean and tidy, there may be times that the mess left in the kitchen by one of your co-workers, or their untidy office desk just gets too much.

 

Cultural Values and Manners

In our melting pot of cultures, an action that may seem perfectly reasonable to one person may seem insensitive and rude to another. This is an ideal opportunity to communicate with each other about the perceived problem and to learn more about both cultures. However, a co-worker who, for example, constantly takes off their shoes and puts their feet up on the desk, may need some guidance in terms of manners!

 

Social Interactions in Shared Office Space

Due to its flexibility, co-working office spaces, which allow tenants to quickly take up rented office – or move out, it may be difficult to understand when you are intruding on a new co-worker’s workflow. Under these circumstances, it is best to be informed about formal networking times, until you understand your co-worker’s business process more thoroughly.

 

Missing Belongings

Another annoying factor that sometimes arises in a shared office environment, especially between co-workers who have been working together for a long time, might be the ease with which they borrow your office supplies or phone charger and not return them. In a case like this, a polite request to return the equipment in future may be required, or you may need to lock more valuable items up if you are away from your desk for long periods.

 

Overstaying Meeting Room Bookings

Another frequent annoyance for some companies who rent meeting rooms is when the host of the previous meeting overstays his/her booking. This is a typical example of when, as the tenant, you do not get involved but address the issue with the on-site Business Manager.

 

4 Tips for Handling Conflict in a Co-Working Office Space

  1. Keep your emotions under control
  2. Ensure that you have all the correct facts to evaluate how big the issue really is
  3. Decide if you can manage it yourself without having to escalate it to the on-site Business Manager
  4. Discuss it with the relevant person and give them your perspective, then ask for and suggest your own solutions to come to a mutually agreed compromise.

 

These tips all point to how important it is to create a healthy culture within the tenant community, which is something that The Business Exchange has managed to successfully create within its own business centres in Sandton, Rosebank and Rivonia.

 

David Seinker, CEO of The Business Exchange, says, “A healthy culture of open communication within our tenant community has enabled our tenants to find common ground with each other and we have found that there are very few issues that cannot be resolved when you have this culture present.”

 

Tenants of The Business Exchange manage to sort out most problems with each other if they arise, but they also have a level of comfort in being able to take any major concerns to the Manager of the relevant business centre. “If our tenants are feeling uncomfortable or are experiencing a constant problem, our Business Centre Managers are always more than happy to assist with resolving the issue at hand,” says Seinker. “If you build the right kind of culture in a shared workspace, the tenant community will make it work because they are happy there and want the status quo maintained.”

 

At the end of the day, the fundamental rule for all co-workers sharing office space is to be considerate of others. This means not doing something in the open office environment which may annoy or irritate others sharing the same space with you.

 

BOOK A VIEWING

Contact us to setup a meeting with one of our office managers, view our offices and to secure your office space at The Business Exchange.

CONTACT US

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS – TBE Business Breakfast on 14th September

By TBE Africa | September 28, 2017 | Blog Events

September 2017 – The Business Exchange recently held a highly successful networking breakfast in Rosebank, at one of their prestigious Business Centres, where 11 speakers addressed over 150 attendees about the need to persevere as an entrepreneur.

Our exceptional speakers, all part of our tenant community, shared their positive experiences about The Business Exchange and how The Business Exchange was supporting them through their entrepreneurial journey throughout the challenges and successes.

Such events enable our tenants to learn from the experience and to grow their businesses, whilst collaborating with other likeminded entrepreneurs, and accessing the greater TBE network.

Our speakers highlighted 6 important factors for entrepreneurs to consider;

  1. Take risks – there is no perfect time.
  2. Challenges in life can become opportunities.
  3. Stay humble as you grow.
  4. Friends and families are a great place to start looking for support when first starting up.
  5. Africa has a lot of potential for business.
  6. Don’t be scared to ask for what you want – the worst thing someone can say is No.

We would like to extend our thanks to everyone who attended our networking breakfast in September as well as our speakers, whose input was of immense value to all delegates.

Shana from Intellicred: 

Intelligent credibility is what IntelliCred™ is all about. We live in a connected world where ease of access means complete vulnerability. IntelliCred™ is working tirelessly to create a safe and secure cyberspace, where you can trust what you see and protect what you value from brand to identity. We are a driven team, passionate about our company and helping our customers from falling prey to scams of all kind.

https://www.intellicred.com/

Sean from Currencies Direct

Currencies Direct Ltd is a UK-based foreign exchange broker and international payment provider. It delivers currency exchange services in a number of countries to individuals, online sellers and businesses.

https://www.currenciesdirect.com

Conrad from Hashtag

Hashtag South Africa is a Technology (digital media focused) company in line with the National Development Plan 2030 of South Africa to introduce, implement and integrate the use of Social Media, Fibre Communication, Cloud Computing and Mobile Application Development into SME, Corporate and Public Sector in #SouthAfrica. Preparing tomorrow as we welcome AI.

http://hashtagsa.com/

Cezanne from Britain Renecke

Britain Renecke is a boutique corporate commercial law firm, established at the start of 2015.  We are 100% Black woman owned. Like all law firms, Britain Renecke aims to offer “excellent, unparalleled quality of world class, value-added and meaningful services, together with fresh and innovative and unique innovative solutions with a high degree of client care and partnership. Unlike other law firms, Britain Renecke has based its business model on running lean and is not confined by conservative corporate conventions. We understand that our clients want fair and equal value. The skill set of the Britain Renecke team is unlike that of other law firms. Our unique combination of skills, the quality of our thinking and consistent delivery, is what sets us apart.

http://www.britainrenecke.co.za/

Andrew from Command Quality

Command Quality was one of the first in South Africa to master the use of Agile and SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) test automation tools and with our extensive experience in these tools and others, we deliver more cost-effective testing, implementation and delivery. We are proud of our proven test automation knowledge and we are confident that we have the best automation testing resources and methodology available, to implement tailor-made customised test automation processes for our clients at competitive rates within the shortest time. Command Quality deploys experts in key positions of the testing life cycle. These experts have comprehensive expertise across diverse products, domains and technologies.  We are well versed in the traditional Waterfall as well as the more recent Agile test methodologies over the last decade as well as using commercial and open source testing tools. The Command Quality team has experience in the insurance (life and short term), health, retail and telecommunication industries. This list, while not complete, illustrates Command Quality’s knowledge and expertise to assist its clients in achieving their most challenging goals.

http://commandquality.co.za/

Nehson from Software Arkitex

In 2006, a group of industry Architects collaborated to improve the Architecture that software projects yearned for. The ability to combine Business Architecture, Solution Architecture and Domain Architecture was fundamentally lacking in the market. Our vision and DNA shaped our approach. We arrived at a unique methodology to deliver the art of Architecture. Softare Arkitex was formed in 2008 where our founders believed that we had a recipe for Architecture value propositions that were different, yet necessary. Our industry strengths at inception were Insurance and Financial Services and we later transitioned into the Telcom industry.

http://www.arkitex.co.za/

Debbie from Swift Momentum

Swift Momentum’s mission is to be the most dynamic specialist recruitment firm in the IT, Telecoms, Digital and Tech sectors in South Africa, working with the most respected and innovative companies in the country. As a technology-focused recruitment business we know what it takes to empower the inspired. Championing the highest standard of integrity, confidentiality and business ethics, our team is driven, committed and passionate about the industries we serve and take great pride in sourcing the most suitable, progressive and game-changing individuals. http://swiftmomentum.com/

Tendai from Purple Orchid

We are a young team who is passionate about world class events and bringing our clients’ dreams into reality. We create memorable experiences that evoke emotions, shape opinions and make things happen. Providing unique ideas and concepts, we cover everything from furniture to catering.

http://purpleorchidluxury.co.za/

Antoinette from KGI holdings 

We develop effective, target focused market penetration strategies stretching from South to North Africa. http://kgiholdings.co.za/

Denver from Den Africa Corporation 

Den Africa Corporation assists businesses expand their businesses into the rest of Africa through their business network.

Didi from Mwabu

We bring talent, teachers and technology together across Africa, ensure a high level of education from which all learners can benefit from and contribute towards a new future for themselves and their continent.

https://mwabu.com

The Business Exchange is Regarded as More Than Just a Landlord of Rented Office Space

Each of the speakers also thanked The Business Exchange for adhering to their ethos of being more than just a landlord and by the end of the function, it was clear that The Business Exchange is recognised by its tenants, for the collaborative journey that it takes its tenants on to create a close-knit tenant community within all the business centres.

It is also a place, where tenants who rent office space from The Business Exchange in Sandton, Rosebank and Morningside, are assisted and encouraged to expand their business networks through other events held by The Business Exchange throughout the year.

CEO of The Business Exchange, David Seinker says, “We take a personal interest in the success of each of our tenants who rent office space from us we and provide them with as many opportunities as possible to be mentored and to network with other like-minded companies.”

Office Space in Sandton, Rosebank and Morningside

The Business Exchange has fully serviced offices for rent in Sandton, Rosebank and Morningside and is currently embarking on an expansion programme to reproduce these successful business centres throughout the rest of South Africa as well as into Africa and Mauritius.

Potential tenants can rent private or shared office space, as well as a Virtual Office, on a flexible lease at any one of the Business Centres. Not only will these tenants receive modern and spacious offices in prestigious locations, but they will have access to;

  • 24/7 security access
  • High-speed fibre optic internet
  • Professional reception and call-directing services
  • Centralised business hub for copying, faxing, etc.
  • On site-restaurant and coffee-bars
  • Meeting and Training rooms for hire

The Business Exchange also extends invitations to its tenants to attend regular networking sessions with guest speakers.

If you are looking for office space to rent and would like to become part of this vibrant community, please contact The Business Exchange today for competitive and flexible office rental rates.

 

BOOK A VIEWING

Contact us to setup a meeting with one of our office managers, view our offices and to secure your office space at The Business Exchange.

CONTACT US

6 Future Trends of Traditional Office Space

By TBE Africa | September 14, 2017 | Blog Office Space

September 2017 – A new approach to South African commercial realty practices is making waves in the corporate office space sector, with large companies such as Regus, The Business Exchange and The Business Centre leading the way with shorter-duration leases, more flexible and social working environments, private, shared and virtual office space, as well as technology-enabled meeting rooms and business networking functions – all within their well-located business centres across the country.

If the places in which we work haven’t changed much over the last half-century, the way in which we work certainly has and it is imperative that commercial office space quickly adapts to keep up with this current workplace evolution.

Progressive Landlords Carving Out the Commercial Office Space of the Future

These next-generation landlords, who provide flexible office space on short-term leases, are non-traditional in their approach to renting out modern offices space at their business centres. They understand that where people live and how they work has undergone a significant change over the last decade, since the concept of co-working in shared office spaces was first introduced. Up until recently, landlords who rent out commercial office space, have been targeting entrepreneurs and freelancers who are at the initial stages of setting up their businesses and need affordable, yet professional office space. However, forward-thinking landlords, although still targeting entrepreneurs and freelancers, are now also marketing to larger businesses and corporates, whom they hope to attract with an extensive range of additional business services and offerings.

Millennials and Post-Millennials Influencing Work Space Designs

The entry of the Millennial generation, (those born from 1982 onwards), into the workplace environment fast-tracked the requirement for co-working office spaces and virtual offices. This was mainly due to their technological inclination and moreover, their desire to be able to work from any place at any time.

A recent whitepaper, Securing Work Spaces for Tomorrow, produced for Dimension Data surmises “… close to 80 percent of knowledge workers globally work remotely at least one day per week. By 2020, up to 1.55 billion workers will be responsible for work that does not confine them to a desk. Enterprises that are not adapting to the changing expectations and failing to offer a flexible, autonomous and creative work environment risk difficulties in attracting and retaining next-generation talent.”

In today’s competition for skilled talent, broadminded companies understand the importance of attracting the right talent by creating high-end office spaces of the future, which are comfortable environments to work in and which encourage employees to be creative and productive, while at the same time promoting their well-being.

Some examples of these new work space approaches include;

  • On-site restaurants and coffee bars
  • High-speed fibre connectivity
  • Online collaboration systems and document sharing tools
  • Formal meeting rooms fully equipped with video-conferencing equipment
  • Private, serviced office space
  • Co-working office space / shared office space
  • Hot-desks with “plug and play” capabilities
  • Creative, open spaces to stimulate brainstorming
  • Events spaces
  • Mood-lighting
  • Soft-seating lounges
  • Documentation hubs
  • Business networking functions
  • Rooftop gardens
  • Parks
  • Mini golf courses

Business Centres Creating Stimulating Office Spaces

Providers of flexible office space such as Regus, The Business Exchange and The Business Centre have carefully considered all these factors and created work spaces aimed at stimulating greater collaboration and networking opportunities between co-workers and colleagues. While they may not have a mini-golf course in their business centres, these landlords have successfully adapted their service offerings to provide the right balance of a professional work environment and creative, stimulating community who are equipped with all the technology required to conduct their daily business.

Employers Enabling Employee’s Effectiveness

Today’s employees demand a workplace that takes their happiness, health and wellness into consideration, and an employer who understands this. Business centres designed for the future, offer a variety of office space configurations and have adopted diverse approaches to make the work space environment more enjoyable and efficient, while using the latest technology to become more productive. These business centres understand that work is not only accomplished by being stuck at a desk and that the workforce needs to be redefined to become a community.

One of the major benefits of sharing office space is that it is a more open and social meeting place for quick, casual interactions where employees no longer sit in cubicles or behind office doors and where creativity is no longer stifled. Shared office space is a place where co-workers become a community.

David Seinker, CEO of The Business Exchange says, ““We hold regular events and facilitate networking between companies. Firstly, it helps to communicate with other start-ups when you’re just starting out. Starting a business can be a lonely experience. Secondly, relationships lead to business opportunities. We’ve seen many examples where an informal chat with someone from another business led to a great opportunity. We view our tenants as a community and take a personal interest in their business development.”

More Affordable, Short-Term Office Space Leases

However, the future of modern offices is not purely about social factors. A significant shift in the commercial office space landscape, is the option of shorter-term leases. According to Convene, a flexible workspace operator based in New York, this may well be attributed to the current average life expectancy of a company being 7 years, bearing in mind that while start-up companies may fail often and quickly, mature companies, nowadays, are more likely to enter into joint ventures or merge – thus changing the need for specific office space configurations. A short-term lease is appealing to both start-ups and mature businesses as they are not tied into an inflexible lease and can quickly upscale or downscale as the need arises, without any significant cost implications from lease penalties.

Modern Technology Guiding Office Space Designs into the Future

These carefully created, modern office spaces are designed to be a physical extension of the characteristics of Millennials and post-Millennials. Millennials are now starting to enter managerial positions, while post-Millennials are only just entering the workplace for the first time. Well-thought out work spaces ensure that this new breed of employee is neither restricted by time nor by space, and that the technology provided is not only state-of-the-art, but fast, efficient and available on-demand. As technology rapidly evolves and impacts on business models and processes, companies are required to think out of the box and consider all available technologies that may enable their employees to perform more efficiently.

It is vital that commercial landlords recognise that office space has become a more fluid and flexible working environment, where the on-demand consumption needs of the new generations must be met. These landlords are going to have to continually expand both their physical and digital offerings to stay ahead in the race for flexible office space.

BOOK A VIEWING

Contact us to setup a meeting with one of our office managers, view our offices and to secure your office space at The Business Exchange.

CONTACT US

Need to Rent Office Space on the Move?

By TBE Africa | July 13, 2017 | Blog News

11 July 2017

On your next business trip to Gauteng, consider renting professional office space in Sandton for the duration of your visit, to host important supplier negotiations, client conversations, training, events or seminars in an elegant office space setting.

The Business Exchange has three business centres, conveniently located in prime locations in and around the prestigious Sandton area, which cater for the specific needs of travelling business people by providing them with shared or private office space, fully-equipped meeting rooms and professional on-site business services – all administered by an efficient and dedicated Business Manager.

If you are a business executive who appreciates the finer things in life, you will equally appreciate our spacious business centres with tastefully furnished and beautifully designed office spaces, filled with inspiring works of art to impress your clients, suppliers and other strategic partners.

  • Fully-furnished shared or private office space to rent
  • Attractive reception areas, staffed with a professional receptionist
  • Documentation support and document hubs
  • Meeting and boardroom rentals – fitted with the latest conferencing technology
  • Events space to rent
  • Training rooms for hire
  • High-speed fibre optic internet

Uninterrupted Office Space Functionality

The Business Exchange ensures that, even though you may be travelling far from your own office, you will always be provided with the office space and functionality needed to enable you to maximise your productivity and efficiency.

Office Space to Rent on a Short Term

Our rentable office spaces are cost-effective and available by the day, week or more if required. In addition to our office space rentals, we also have very popular onsite coffee shops and restaurants for more informal meetings as well as our own private whisky bar for those special conversations or confidential business meetings.

Rent a Conference Room for Your Next Workshop

We rent meeting rooms, boardrooms, training rooms and event spaces for seminars, workshops, conferences, product launches and any other business event that you may wish to host while you are on your business trip. Our dedicated, on-site Business Managers add their personal touch by always ensuring that everything runs smoothly on your big day and that you can concentrate on your primary task at hand.

Spontaneous Collaboration Leads to New Business Opportunities

An interesting consequence of renting short-term office space in a co-working environment is that it is ideal for networking and uncovering new business opportunities. If you are constantly travelling for business to Gauteng, consider renting professional, short-term meeting or office space from The Business Exchange.

Contact officespace@thebusinessexchange.co.za and let’s develop some great ideas for your next business trip to Gauteng.

 

BOOK A VIEWING

Contact us to setup a meeting with one of our office managers, view our offices and to secure your office space at The Business Exchange.

CONTACT US

Looking For Office Space in Johannesburg 2017?

By TBE Africa | November 29, 2016 | Blog News

November 2016 – The new year is just around the corner and you may be on the lookout for new office space but confused by the wide range of options currently available on the market. Remember that the basic purpose of an office is for it to be sufficiently functional in order to enhance your company’s productivity. However, there are also other important considerations which you need to bear in mind when searching for the best office space for your type of business.

  • How accessible is the location?

Office space in a prestigious area with secure parking is obviously first prize. Renting office space with a great location and easy access to major highways and transport hubs needn’t be expensive as there are now a variety of office space choices available.

  • How many employees do you have and how much space will you need?

When you consider how much office space to rent, you will need to take into account your company’s future growth as well as the original reason that you were looking for office space. Are you in the process of downscaling? Will your business be experiencing a growth spurt in the near future?

A landlord who offers flexible office space will offer a variety of office space configurations, including private or shared office space. Sharing office space also means that you can cut down on your office leasing costs, which is especially important when you are starting a new business.

  • Look for office space offering flexible lease periods

Don’t get tied into signing an office lease for a number of years. If your company booms or busts, you may need to adapt your office space accordingly and at short notice. A lengthy office lease will be very restrictive. There are landlords who are flexible enough to offer you different office space without incurring penalties.

  • What is your budget for an office space rental?

You will need to consider what your highest total monthly expenses will be as well as your lowest possible income and budget accordingly. Remember that if your landlord offers enough office space flexibility, you can always adapt your office space size as your business requirements change.

In addition, renting serviced office space with a centralised document station means that you won’t have to worry about building or office maintenance, cleaning services or leasing expensive electronic office equipment. A fully equipped and furnished business centre will provide you with all the tools you need, including high-speed internet. All you have to do is bring your laptop and plug it in!

  • Where will you meet your clients and guests?

Wherever you rent private or shared office space, you need to receive and meet with guests and clients. Ensure that your office space provider offers a professionally-staffed reception area with a personalised call-answering service and fully equipped meeting rooms onsite.

The Business Exchange is a provider of fully-furnished private and shared office space in prestigious locations within Gauteng. Our flexible leases from one month and upwards allow you to quickly adapt to changing business circumstances. Click here to learn more about our upmarket office space and business centres.

Important Considerations Before You Lease New Office Space

By TBE Africa | August 18, 2016 | Blog

August 2016 – If you have outgrown your “home office” or are on the lookout for new office space to rent, there are a couple of questions that you will need to address before you put pen to paper and sign a lease for your new office space.

As a business owner, you will already understand the importance of having a proper strategy in place to meet your business objectives. When it comes to office space, it is just as important to understand your office space objectives and to put a proper strategy in place for this as there are so many variables at play.

How Cost-Effective Will My New Office Space Be?

One of the major factors to consider will always relate to the cost-effectiveness of potential office space, especially in the early stages of your business. A reputable landlord will understand that in today’s competitive environment, an office space rental agreement should include most, if not all, of the following benefits;

  • Professional Reception area & services
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • High speed internet
  • Flexible office space
  • Fully furnished offices
  • Fully equipped meeting & conference rooms
  • Flexible leases
  • Documentation station
  • Postal & courier services on site
  • Office Manager on site
  • Easily accessible restaurant / coffee bar
  • On-site, secure parking

Is My New Office Space Strategically Located?

The location of your new offices should ensure safe and easy access, near major routes for both clients and employees. Office space that is located in or close to prestigious CBD will have the added benefit of enhancing your company brand. Secure, on-site parking will also contribute towards a favourable response from your clients and employees.

How Will My New Office Space Increase My Business’s Operational Efficiency?

When searching for office space, you will need to consider premises that will cater to your future business requirements, should you need to up or downscale your office space at any stage. Landlords should be considered who offer this office space flexibility and allow you to do this without incurring penalties.

Ideally, you would want to consider a provider who is able to offer the different office space configurations below for different business requirements according to your business growth;

  • Virtual Office Space

At the end of the day, your choice of office space really comes down to how it will affect your business strategy, operations and productivity. A worthy landlord will be one that realises this and takes a personal interest in assisting your business to succeed, wherever possible.

WHAT DO OLYMPIAN ATHLETES AND SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS HAVE IN COMMON?

By TBE Africa | | Blog

August 2016 – Unless you have been living like a hermit, you would have been unable to miss Wayde van Niekerk’s glorious achievement at the Rio Olympics this week, where he obliterated the previous world record of 43.18 seconds set by Michael Johnson for the men’s 400m sprint in 1999 and brought home South Africa’s first gold medal.

As an entrepreneur setting out in the business world, there are some interesting analogies that can be made in terms of learning how the world’s best athletes are able to thrive under the immense pressure of competition.

Have a Game Plan

It’s going to be tough in the beginning; all training is until you get fitter. However, it is important that each entrepreneur knows where they are going and what they want to achieve so that they do not become side-tracked by competitors. Wayde ran in Lane 8, a lane well-known for being unable to see where your competitors are during the race. However, he had a strategy – and that was to focus purely on his race and not his competitors. Your strategy should be flexible but don’t copy your competitors. Always remember why you created your game plan.

Become Mentally Resilient

The ability to excel under crushing pressure is an attribute common to many successful athletes. They are able to maintain their focus and bounce back from obstacles as they have a strong belief in themselves and their ability. Building a company is a bit like a marathon as entrepreneurs need to maintain their pace over an extended period of time. You may even find that, just as Wayde gave an extra push in the second half of his sprint, you may need to work twice as hard when you really feel that you don’t have any more energy to do so. Always run, never walk but reserve a bit of energy for when you may need to up your pace.

Train with Others

Wayde trained for three weeks with another elite athlete, Usain Bolt’s team prior to the Olympics. Training on your own can become lonely and demotivating. Entrepreneurs also require stimulation from networking and collaborating with other like-minded business people and mentors. The Business Exchange hosts a number of business events in order to assist its tenants, who rent office space from them, to network with other successful business people and potential investors.

Embrace the Pain and Celebrate Successes

Athletes may enjoy running and entrepreneurs may enjoy building their business, but it is natural that you are not going to enjoy it every single day! Whether it’s overcast and raining and you have to go and train or your car won’t start and your supplier let you down – you still have to perform in order to become “race-ready”. Wayde was committed and driven; he overcame his pain and is now celebrating a fantastic success. All successful business people will tell you that building a company is not easy, but with the correct strategy, networking opportunities, commitment, discipline and time management – you will reap the benefits and be able to eventually celebrate your successes.

Never Give Up

If Wayde had not remained committed to his goals and his training programme, he would never have come this far. As an entrepreneur, it is vital that you commit yourself to the duration of your race, no matter how far it is. You need to push yourself to the limit and make sure that you meet your daily goals; once you do this, your weekly, monthly and yearly goals will fall into place and you will finally taste success!

Entrepreneurial Inspiration in the Heart of Africa

By TBE Africa | February 5, 2016 | Blog News

 

Btmt Capital, a tenant at The Business Exchange in Sandton, is led by a remarkable business woman, Busisiwe Mdletshe, who has an equally remarkable story and is an inspiration to any entrepreneur, determined to succeed.

LEAD SA Smart Business Woman of the Year

In January 2016, Busisiwe was acclaimed as the LEAD SA Smart Business Woman. She has also been shortlisted out of 50 000 applicants from the African continent, and if she’s successful, she’ll attend the YALI Leadership Programme offered by President Barak Obama in the USA. In addition, Busisiwe has been invited as one of the first Tax Panel Members for a live discussion on Tax Budget 2016 at CNBC TV on 24 February 2016, sharing the stage with experts from KPMG and Wits University.

Overcoming Adversity

Raised in KwaZulu-Natal by parents of humble origin, Busisiwe’s family struggled to find the means to provide their daughter with a university education. However, by applying for an early retirement in order to withdraw his pension, Busisiwe’s father and stepmother managed to send her to university to complete her Bachelor of Accountancy and further studies at the University of Pretoria and in the USA. Despite the financial worries which troubled her throughout her studies, this determined young lady soared with flying colours.

At the outset of her career, she worked as a trainee accountant serving her SAICA articles with one of the prestigious auditing firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) and later as a Financial Accountant with Mercantile Bank. She worked her way up through the ranks culminating in a highly-respected position which she held at the South African Revenue Service (SARS) where she headed up a team of financial investigators and auditors.

Busisiwe currently holds the position of Chief Executive Officer with Btmt Capital, a rapidly growing company that is responsible for Accounting, Tax and is a Business Advisory.

“As founder of Btmt Capital, one of the highlights has been the partnership that we formed with Inkunzi Investments Wealth Group, led by Owen Nkomo, where Btmt Capital took responsibility for the tax planning of Inkunzi’s high net-worth individuals” Busisiwe said.

Btmt Capital Services

Btmt Capital offers a unique team of accountants and tax consultants with proven expertise as business consultants. They also provide a variety of valuable and innovative services that enable both individuals and businesses to optimize their profitability and to minimize their tax exposure.

Looking ahead, Busisiwe says, “I’m looking at partnerships which will help us to grow regionally and nationally in this industry. Our major goal is to develop Btmt Capital into a reliable financial solution brand.”

The BusiM Foundation

A philanthropist at heart, Busisiwe has used her own experiences to help the youth of her village by securing bursaries for matric learners, through the establishment of the BusiM Foundation (www.busimfoundation.org ) and in collaboration with Tongaat-Hulett, the South African Property Owners Association, Bowman Gilfillan and the SA Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).

Live Appearances

Busisiwe appears live on the Metro FM show, Finance Mondays at 11h00 with Bonang Matheba “Queen Bee”. She is also live on the UkhoziFM show, Finance Tuesdays with Nongcebo at 21H50. Tune in and listen as they discuss; personal finance, budgeting, savings, investments, business sustainability, tax compliance, tax planning and many other relevant topics.

www.btmtcapital.co.za         Tel: 011 057 7796

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