When a new SME is looking for office space it often has an extensive list of criteria. These typically include factors such as price, location, quality, flexibility and access to extras. All these factors are well worth thinking about at length. Compromises are often the order of the day. However, when the management of a new SME are searching for an office solution, they often overlook something which can prove to be of some significance over time.

Whenever a firm contemplates entering into a contractual relationship with another firm it should look beyond the apparent benefits of the deal. The deal itself is of course of crucial importance, but making a deal with a company which lacks ethics or corporate responsibility can lead to problems down the track. If the arrangement is likely to have large consequences for the SME then the values of the other company are particularly relevant.

An office solution provider should ideally have progressive values embedded in its organisation. The values of a firm can be hard to discern. However, there are some indicators which can be checked. Its commitment to environmental sustainability and its possible charitable donations can be ascertained. A firm which has creditable values is more likely to be reliable.

Hiring a serviced office can be a prudent move for a new firm. However, especially when the money is being spent on a quite significant scale at an early stage in a firm’s development, it makes good sense to acquire the use of that serviced office from an office provider which adheres to strict values and rigorous standards.