Your Business & Commercial Office Relocation Guide

The past few years have seen scores of business owners relocate to the Western Cape as they join the wave of semigration that is boosting the province’s economy. If you’ve decided to take the leap and enjoy all the great things that living and working in Cape Town has to offer, the next crucial step you’ll need to take is planning and carrying out your business relocation.

Moving house is complicated enough, and moving a business or a commercial office to Cape Town can be even more difficult but – not if you have an excellent plan. We put together this guide covering the main points to plan around before you relocate your business.

Making the decision to relocate your commercial office

The first step in a business relocation may seem easy on paper, but in reality it’s one of the most crucial decisions for any organisation.

Taking the strategic step to move your entire business to a new city or even within the Cape requires careful consideration of the pros and cons of doing so.

The current economic and political climate in South Africa, with high crime rates and failing infrastructure in many metros, is influencing business owners to relocate like never before.

The Mother City’s superior service delivery and a strong economy that is weathering the current high inflation and cost of living crisis are strong selling points, but it’s still important for business owners to visit and understand the commercial landscape of the city before jumping in.

Business relocation is a long-term investment which can reap several benefits for entrepreneurs moving to Cape Town, including:

Excellent service delivery
An educated young workforce
Breathtaking views and beautiful scenery
A coastal luxury lifestyle that rivals the best that developed countries have to offer

Once you’ve taken the decision to relocate, it’s time to find out exactly how much office space you need before you move.

Calculating your commercial office space requirements

Selecting an office space in Cape Town is easier when you know roughly how much floor space you need. Here’s how to find out your estimated floor area.

As a general rule, you should aim for between 10 to 12m² per employee with additional spaces for meeting areas and reception, if necessary.

Another important consideration when it comes to space requirements is your company’s projected growth.

If you’re relocating a business to Cape Town with a rapid growth strategy in mind, the 50m² you currently require may balloon to 100 or 200m² over the next decade – especially if you encourage workers to be on site most days of the week.

Buying vs Leasing Office Space in Cape Town

Business owners are cost conscious by nature, and when it comes to deciding on a major asset purchase like a commercial property, there is every reason to take a careful approach before making the decision to buy.

Commercial property has seen impressive gains in recent years as the demand for office space in Cape Town continues to skyrocket. This makes an office building or other commercial space an attractive investment proposition which still needs to be judged against the cost of financing, managing, and maintaining the property.

On the other hand, a rental property makes sense for a relocated business that is still testing the local market and adjusting its expansion plans accordingly. This is especially true in industries like finance, legal services, or tech where floor space requirements tend to be smaller than those of retail, logistics and light industrial companies.

Choosing the best location

Cape Town has a variety of excellent business locations with modern office spaces catering to the needs of large and small businesses alike.

In our previous article, we outlined some of the most popular industries and commercial districts in the city and the various benefits they offer.

No matter which area of Cape Town you choose for business relocation, you can rest assured that you will be trading in an economically and politically stable location with excellent future growth prospects and a dynamic economy that is embracing modern industries, including tech and clean energy.

Dealing with inventory and logistics

If your business involves buying, selling, or manufacturing durable goods, you’ll need to consider the impact that relocating will have on your inventory and logistics planning.

Building up a healthy stock of inventory before the move can help to prevent supply shortages and bottle necks while you set up your new premises and secure relationships with new suppliers.
Larger suppliers may have a presence in every major city in South Africa, making it easy to switch over to their local branch in Cape Town, but you may need to get recommendations for smaller suppliers and niche products. Your local industry association or the Cape Chamber of Commerce may be able to help in this regard.

Take the leap and relocate to the Western Cape with our team backing you all the way

Deciding to relocate your business to Cape Town could be the best thing you do for your future growth. The Commercial Space team has decades of experience helping dynamic businesses to relocate to South Africa’s most sought after metro.