What to know about moving your business to a rural area

Photo by Lex Photography

Businesses have historically wanted — or needed — to be where the action is, which means they’ve had to be located in a city. However, that’s no longer necessarily the case. With more and more elements of work taking place online, location is becoming less of a factor. We see that in the increasing number of employees working remotely, but it can also be applied to the physical location of your business premises. By moving to a more rural area, you’ll enjoy more space and cheaper costs, and, if you do it correctly, then it should have minimal impact on your business operations. 

In this post, we’ll look at some essential things to know before you make the move. 

It can be worthwhile building

For most businesses, it’ll be impossible to think about building your own premises in the city, where real estate is extremely expensive. But in rural areas, that goal becomes much more realistic. In fact, it can be recommended. After all, once you’ve built the space, you’ll own it — and that can be a lot better for your long-term finances compared with renting. Not all businesses have a need to build and own their own space, but if you think it’ll be worthwhile, then consider it.

You’ll need to think about the essentials

One of the key advantages of being in the city is that the infrastructure for all the things you need will already be there. In rural areas, that won’t necessarily be the case. That doesn’t, however, mean that they can’t be there. There’s a solution for everything! If there’s an unreliable water supply, then water tanks can come to the rescue. If there’s no internet connection, then satellite internet can ensure that you can connect to the web. Don’t give up hope just because some key details are missing — in this day and age, it’s highly likely that there’s a solution. 

Think of the commute

You’ll have plenty of options when deciding which rural area you should move your business to. However, it’s important to make the decision based on one key factor: the commute. You and your employees will need to travel back and forth to your new premises each day, so they can’t be too remote. Any place that takes more than an hour to reach should be discounted. You may also wish to consult with your team of employees before making your final decision. 

In addition, you should also consider proximity to key suppliers. You’ll only be making your business operations more challenging if it’s difficult for your essential goods to reach you. 

Slow transitions

Finally, be sure to make the move to your new rural premises slowly. There’s no law that says you have to move in one move overnight. It’ll be better if you view the move as a long-term goal. This will allow you to identify the correct location, make sure it has all the infrastructure you need, and then slowly move your operations there. Once you have, it’ll be full steam ahead.