Space for ideas

Unusually, I've three empty offices to rent here at Turnpike Farm. I've been letting space to young businesses here for years and only ever ask for one month's commitment. I know from experience that starting and growing a business means you need flexibility.

But as I heard yesterday, not everyone has the same approach. A friend was talking about some office units in a nearby town where tenants are expected to take a six year lease with the option to break after three. What's more there's no parking for staff or visitors.

It's too easy to assume that the space your business needs today will still meet your needs in six months. Six years ahead for many early stage businesses is just too far ahead to imagine. Do you rent the space you need right now and can afford, or do you rent the sapce you hope you'll need but really can't afford?

Perhaps I should be shouting louder that here we have free parking, are just three minutes from the A11, include everything in the rent - even use of a shared photocopier, and only ask you to commit to one month.

Do you know people worried about taking on a lease? Send them here where they can concentrate on what's important; generating winning ideas!