When building an HQ, there are several significant logistical challenges to overcome. Security, accessibility, and cost considerations are just the tip of the iceberg. If the number of moving parts involved with setting up your international HQ feels intimidating, don’t worry. We’ve put this article together to ensure that building your dream HQ goes smoothly.
Keep reading for a list of 5 logical considerations to take into account when setting up an international HQ.
1. Security
One of the main logistical concerns to keep in mind when setting up an international HQ is security. You want to take measures like setting up CCTV systems and finding security guards for hire. Hiring guards for your HQ can deter loiterers, thieves and vandals from entering your premises. You want to make sure you have guards posted both between work hours and after hours, as bad actors are a danger at all hours.
Besides hiring human security personnel, you should also utilise technology to keep your international HQ safe from potential threats. This can include installing cameras, setting up electric fences around sensitive areas and password-protecting entrances to the building.
And speaking of password protection, you also shouldn’t neglect cybersecurity. Use firewalls, install monitoring software on office computers and take advantage of generative AI to detect and respond to digital dangers. When setting up an HQ, make sure your business is protected from both physical and online threats.
2. Location and Accessibility
When choosing a location for your international HQ, there are a few points to consider. Ideally, your HQ should be located in the city centre of a major city like Tokyo, London or New York. This makes it easily accessible by major roads, public transport and airports, allowing staff to travel to and from your office conveniently and making your HQ accessible to clients, investors and business partners.
Set up your global HQ close to where your operations are already taking place. This is where you and your employees will be used to working. Besides this, you’ll have easy access to your stores, factories and other offices. Setting up an HQ in your home country also means you’ll be familiar with local tax and business laws.
On the accessibility front, you want to make sure your HQ is welcoming to your differently-abled employees and visitors. Install accessibility infrastructure like automatic doors, ramps, lifts and braille elevator buttons to give everyone an easy time going to and from your HQ.
3. Scalability
When expanding internationally, scalability should be near the top of your list of concerns. This is especially true when building a global HQ. The property you choose should allow for easy expansion if you need to build new offices or facilities. You might also want to build factories near where your HQ is located, so choose a part of town with suitable plots of land nearby.
When building an international business, you should always project for growth. Opt for a location with more space than you currently need. This will save you the time, money and effort it takes to move your entire HQ from one place to another if your business outgrows your current plot of land.
When choosing where to set up an HQ, it always helps to think big. Buy land for where your business will be in five years, not where it is now.
4. Aesthetics
Appearance matters. When setting up an international HQ, it’s important to consider aesthetics, as how your home base looks can have a big impact on employee satisfaction and the impression outsiders form of your business. Psychologically, how your office looks can have an impact on how happy your people are and how they perform. Nobody wants to work somewhere that looks like a dump.
Your HQ’s physical appearance will also impact how clients and the general public view your company. You want your business to look as professional and impressive as possible: a sleek, shiny, well-designed building has a way of wowing outsiders and giving them a positive impression of your business. You also want your physical headquarters to align with your existing brand elements.
You should also take local laws into account when setting up your HQ. Some cities might have rules for how high buildings can be and what colours you can use. When designing an international HQ, it’s important to be creative while working within the constraints of the place in which you’re setting up.
5. Cost
When discussing the logistics of setting up an international HQ, it’s impossible not to mention cost. First, you need to weigh the cost of buying or renting the space on which you want to set up your HQ against the value your business will receive from it over time.
There are also significant costs associated with setting up your physical HQ. When buying property, consider whether there’s already a usable building on the premises. If there’s an existing structure that isn’t at all suitable for your purposes, you’ll also need to pay to have it demolished.
When setting up a global HQ, it’s vital to take costs into account when making plans. If you find that you can’t currently afford your dream HQ, either scale down your plans or delay them.
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As we’ve just gone over, there are plenty of logistical considerations to take into account when building an international HQ for your business. You’ll need to take factors like cost, security and scalability into account.
The key to successfully setting up an international HQ is planning. In this article, we’ve given you some important considerations to take into account as you think about building your dream HQ. Incorporate these into your planning process to ensure that setting up your HQ goes off without a hitch.
