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The location and premises you choose for your business will depend on what you're doing. If you don't need specific premises like a shop, café or workshop, you might want to work from home, at least in the early days.

This will save money and if you're only using a spare room as an office, you won't need planning permission. You can also offset the costs of working from home against profits when calculating income tax.

A major disadvantage is that you'll have to be very disciplined in your work/life balance and not allow work to take over at home. Another potential disadvantage is that if clients are likely to come to you, it doesn't look very professional holding business meetings in your living room. There are alternatives though, and it may be better to have some meetings at a local coffee shop or café.

If you do need premises outside home, it's all about getting the right premises in the right location. If you're in retail or running a café, restaurant or bar, you'll want to be in a busy place with plenty going on, like the high street or a shopping centre.

Location can be just as important for an office. You need to think about car parking, accessibility and proximity to services like your bank. If you just need a small space, working in a communal, open plan office with lots of others around you can be a very useful solution. You'll have the buzz of an office environment and people you can chat with and bounce ideas off.
 
If it's a workshop or small industrial unit, you'll want somewhere secure and with good access for deliveries.

You can either rent, buy or lease premises for a fixed period. Set yourself a maximum monthly payment and stick to it - and have a chat with your accountant for advice on the best option.

To find out what's available, talk to estate agents who specialise in commercial property or contact your local authority to see what premises they own and rent. Your local Chamber of Commerce can also be a useful contact for finding premises.

Whatever your business, you'll need equipment, so make a thorough check-list of your needs - things like telephone, fax machine, computer and furniture. If you're renting part of an open plan office, make sure there are sufficient power and phone points.

Top tips

Before choosing premises, check:

Size - is there enough room for you to expand?
Location - make a proper day-time visit to see what's going on around the premises, and a night-time visit too.
Security - is it a high crime area?
Image - if it's a shared office, is the reception area smart and attractive? Are you close to local services and amenities?
Cost - can you afford it?