Tips for Choosing the Right Office Space for a Private Practice

Finding a suitable counseling office space is one of the most critical aspects of private therapy practice. Having a secure and inviting space to see clients makes a world of difference to your work. The pragmatic choices you make will impact the success of your business. Here are a few basic steps to consider as you go about finding a space that suits the needs of your private practice.

Working with a Real Estate Agent

While you can certainly search for a therapy office space for rent on your own, a real estate agent can do a great deal to help you locate the space of your dreams. Searching for a therapy office for rent takes time and can pull you away from your clients. To avoid this, hiring an agent can help take the stress off your hands, while also tapping into their resources and professional network to find the right location. 

Not sure where to get started with a real estate agent? Here’s what to plan in advance.

Decide If You Need a Realtor

While you can certainly search for a therapy office space for rent on your own, a real estate agent can do a great deal to help you locate the space of your dreams. Searching for a therapy office for rent takes time and can pull you away from your clients. To avoid this, hiring an agent can help take the stress off your hands, while also tapping into their resources and professional network to find the right location.

Not sure where to get started with a real estate agent? Here’s what to plan in advance.

Decide on Your Budget

You should determine a budget based on the rates of private practice rental offices in your desired area and your approximate income. All things considered, the budget usually dictates the type of office you rent. If you’re just starting out, it’s probably a good idea to budget 10% lower than what you can afford, so you have some spare cash for miscellaneous expenses that may crop up.

Decide on the Type of Lease

There are a number of different lease types when looking at a therapy office space for rent in Chicago.

Renting full-time can be a pricey option, especially in cases when your client's schedule doesn’t fill all the hours of the work week. Other options include:

• Subletting one day a week;
• Subletting by the hour;
• Flexible leasing options, such as a monthly, six months, or yearly basis.

By opting for these shorter leases and renting options, such as choosing to rent an office for a day, you can achieve great flexibility while you work to create a more consistent flow of clients.

If you do choose to rent full-time, it’s important to plan for the onset costs beyond just the lease. This includes acquiring furniture and other design elements to ensure your clients feel safe and comfortable. An essential part of any therapy office is a comforting, positive environment, which will result in the retention of more patients.

Book Your Office Now!

Time to secure your therapy office space. At 620 N LaSalle, we offer a host of different rental options, from renting an office for a day to monthly rentals of private office space to best suit your practice's needs. 

To secure your private practice office space for rent, contact us today. 

Choosing the Right Office Space for Private Practice 

Office Location

One of the most important considerations when renting office space for therapy is location. You not only want to look for a space that is easy to get to, but consider how the location could affect clients.

Before signing a lease, consider these questions:

How Much Space Do You Actually Need?

Calculating office size for your practice depends on a number of different factors. To avoid choosing a space that is too small or too large, consider:

• How many people work in your practice?
• Do you require a separate waiting room?
• Do you need a space to accommodate group counseling?
• How much space will client files take up?

Study the Market Before Making a Choice

Doing preliminary research will give you a benchmark for the average rental prices in different areas. Prices generally fluctuate based on amenities, location, and whether you want to sublet or rent full or part-time.

Scams abound online, so it’s important to use regulated websites. And even if you are searching with a trusted site, do your due diligence. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. For instance, any property listing that doesn’t have photos should be avoided.

However, even those with photos may be misleading, utilizing retouched or outdated photos. It is crucial to visit the property yourself before putting pen to paper.

Think about Patients’ Needs

At the end of the day, choosing the right psychotherapy office space comes down to what space will best suit your patient's needs. Think about their experience as you go through the process to ensure you sign the right lease and what can be included to make them more comfortable. 

Elements to include are:

• Furniture: What chairs, desks, couches, or sofas do you need? Depending on the clients you work with, you may only need a comfortable couch, but consider this before signing to ensure you have the space. 
• Decor: No matter what lease you sign, you can elevate your new office with decor. Add color, plants, or art to make the space more comfortable and homey. 
• Lighting: To add to your office’s atmosphere, avoid harsh, bright lighting. Instead, purchase lam with soft lighting for a calming effect. Additionally, having as much natural light as possible will create a more calm environment. 
• HVAC System: To ensure your therapy office is always comfortable, make sure that your HVAC in the building you choose is available on nights, weekends, and bank holidays. If it is shut off in the building on these days and you are meeting with clients, it can make for a very uncomfortable session. 

Listen to Your Inner Voice When Visiting the Office

It’s cliché, but beyond the practicalities, when looking for a counseling office space, always trust your gut. If something feels dodgy, it probably is. Our intuition is wired to protect us, and it shouldn’t be ignored any less than our conscience. And even if all the paperwork adds up, but something feels off, rather don’t go through with it and find something better suited.

Conclusion

Renting a counseling office space takes time and planning but can also be incredibly rewarding when you find a place that works. Are you unsure where to find an office for your therapy practice? Our beautiful office space for rent in River North, Chicago, comes with flexible leasing options to suit your business needs. At 620 N Lasalle, we’d be happy to help you launch your private therapy practice. Contact us!