Parking spaces are an important commodity for any company operating in a major city. Despite the availability of public transportation and the ever-increasing cost of gasoline, many workers still prefer the convenience of driving their own cars to work. Most big-city statistics would support increased registered cars that are out on the roads and this number is anticipated to even double within the next ten years.

Business Owner Considerations

What does this mean for the business owner? No matter what type of company operation, an allocated vehicle spot is always a necessity. So every company owner has two factors that need to be considered about parking space: an area for clients and an area for employees.

• Employees – The main problem being considered by workers is whether or not to drive their personal car to work – and most are not looking at where to put their vehicle but at traffic congestion they will face when driving that round trip every day. For any employer, this reality could mean an increased necessity for parking spaces and the probable existence of a shortage.

• Customers – On the other hand, clients are certainly going to prefer driving a private car as opposed to public transportation because of the convenience factor, and they certainly expect the same consideration once they step out of their vehicles. Whether the company is located in an office building or a fancy restaurant in a business center, it is the responsibility of the owner to offer clients the necessary parking spaces. Any customer anticipates that they should be able to leave their car at a safe place nearby without any worry about any police tickets in order to arrive at a business destination.

Options to Consider

Commercial establishments at business locations usually come with parking spaces at or near the building premises. The size of that space varies depending on the size of the company. In many cases, the number of available parking spaces is unfortunately limited, which results in car-stall congestion during peak or business hours.

Locating a company or an office within a building with limited car stalls can be a real issue especially if the majority of the clients use private vehicles. An unavailability of parking spaces could potentially turn away customers.

Necessary Research

To avoid such a problem; when choosing a location for a company, it is imperative to find a commercial building with sufficient parking space for clients. Survey the area surrounding the business site as meticulously for sufficient allocated vehicle spots as one would with other essential amenities of the building. Do this during business hours to see the actual condition of the parking area, whether it is generally filled or somewhat open during the business day.

Some companies require larger physical parking spaces than others. To get a good grasp of the area required within a given location of all the companies that operate there, conduct research of all the businesses within the area being considered. Such research should provide a clear picture of the number of clients traveling within an area and the preferred mode of transportation.

A parking area size is influenced by factors such as the business’s targeted market as well as the hours that clients spend within the business premises. For example, a restaurant may require a larger area compared to a convenience store simply because restaurant customers tend to stay longer than convenience store customers, so an overall number of parking spaces would be greater for a restaurant. When leasing or purchasing an office space, always use these factors to get a complete picture.

Available Options

For established businesses with a limited parking space problem where moving to a different location is not be an option, the best way to solve this dilemma is to provide clients with alternative allocated vehicle spots nearby, perhaps in commercial car stall lots provided by the business owner. This may not, unfortunately, help with the similar problem for employees.

If company growth has caused this new concern, consider asking nearby companies and establishments if they have parking areas they could share or even make available by lease. A good example of this arrangement would be a restaurant located in a downtown area that primarily serves evening meals; that company and their clients could share a parking area with a firm that operates during normal daytime business hours.

The best way to handle this problem is to look carefully at this issue when selecting a specific building to lease. Many commercial buildings can offer restricted car stalls for leasing tenants even if it comes with an extra charge. This may need to be something that is included in the office space lease so that client and employee allocated vehicle spots are provided.

The bottom line is to make sure that adequate client and employee car stall spots are provided with any office space lease being considered. Location is important; however, parking is also important to any business, so look for a work-site that provides adequate facilities for customers and employers and both will be satisfied!