Now that you’ve signed your office lease it’s time to start getting it ready to occupy. During the construction of your tenant improvements (if needed) you want to plan the move, get the IT stuff (phone/data cabling & other IT equipment set up, get property and general liability insurance, and shop for office furniture.
Shopping for office furniture is not as easy as you think. There are a bunch of different types of furniture to choose from AND you want to make sure you coordinate with the office colors and layout. Also you have to decide whether buying or renting office furniture is right for your business. For example if your in a short term lease then you might want to consider renting office furniture until you are in a long enough lease that it makes sense to purchase.
If you don’t have the time to deal picking the right office furniture then consider hiring a good interior designer that specializes in office build-outs. In many cases the architect you choose may also offer interior design services.
Services You Should Expect From Good Office Furniture Stores in Austin
- Free test fits to help you evaluate office spaces before signing a lease
- Free office space planning, interior design, and layout after lease is signed
- Sells used, refurbished, and new furniture
- Offers furniture rental services
- Office furniture delivery, assembly, & installation
- Office furniture moving and relocation services
- Local Austin warehouse or showroom to be able to see examples
Should You Rent or Buy Office Furniture?
If you are currently leasing office space in Austin on a short term basis then it would make more sense to lease office furniture or if subleasing an office with short term left try to negotiate to use the existing furniture.
If signing a longer lease 4-5 years or longer then it might make sense to purchase. HOWEVER every company is different. It’s important to carefully evaluate your current and future needs as well your cash flow and determine which is the right decision for your company.
Lease Expensive Office Furniture in Austin
If you are on a budget your best bet is to purchase USED office furniture from one of the vendors listed below………or shop Ikea’s office furniture. I know many companies that still buy their furniture at Ikea even though they are not in start up mode anymore. Ikea’s office furniture is not as high quality as others however it will still get you what you need.
Office Furniture Stores Austin Tx
#1 Office Furniture Now
Located in Southeast Austin at 4201 Supply Court, Suite 100, Austin, Tx 78744. http://www.officefurniturenow.com/
They have been selling and installing used, refurbished, and new office furniture since 1997. They offer consultations & space planning. They sell new office furniture and pre-owned furniture. They have a 20,000 sf warehouse / showroom full of office desks, workstations, chairs, and accessories. From modern office furniture in Austin to traditional they probably have or can get what you need.
#2 Smart Buy Office Furniture
Located in North Central Austin at 8910 Research Blvd #F2, Austin, Tx 78758 https://www.smartbuydesk.com/
They specialize in laminate office desks that come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. They have modern desks, contemporary, and traditional office desks. They also sell other types of new and used cubicles, office chairs, and accessories.
#3 Cox Office Furniture
Located at 8650 Spicewood Springs #140 Austin, Tx 78759 http://coxofficefurniture.com/
They operate out of a 17,000 sf retail store and focus primarily on selling used office furniture (e.g. clearance, dented, and scratched), however they also sell some new furniture.
#4 Texas Office Products & Supply (TOPS)
Located in Northeast Austin at 11055 N IH-35 Austin, Tx 78753 http://www.topstexas.com/
TOPS specializes in pre-owned brand name commercial quality office furniture from desks, cubicles, conference tables, and file cabinets
#5 Facilities Resource Inc
Located in central Austin at 11100 Metric Blvd, Suite 450, Austin, Tx 78758 http://www.facilitiesresourceinc.com/
They are a full service company that only sells, delivers, and assembles new furniture. They also provide project management, facilities management, and space planning services
#6 Workplace Resource
Located in downtown Austin at 1717 W 6th St, Suite 190, Austin, Tx 78703 http://wrstx.com/
These guys specialize in only high end new and modern office furniture. They do not have a warehouse however do have a small showroom in their office. If you like They work with over 200 manufacturers including Herman Miller, DIRTT, and Kimball.
Conclusion
Again shopping for office furniture is more of a process than you think. Also it’s expensive so you want to make sure you maximize the efficiency of every square foot. Whichever company you choose make sure you take advantage of their space planner.
A full service lease is a type of commercial lease in which the quoted rental rate includes all costs associated with renting the space such as the taxes, building insurance, electric, maintenance, janitorial and other operating expenses.
