One of the major reasons we chose to locate our office at this incubator, was because it was focused on technology, and as a print-on-demand/blogging company, we were all about technology. Little did we know that their concept of "technology" involved widgets - physical things one could sell. Our business sold books, sure...but they weren't widgets, no one was going to make millions overnight on them, and they never did get the blogging part of what we do.

While we were at the incubator, we did meet some new people. We even got a blog client out of it. But, for the most part, we were writing that monthly check - to cover rent, Internet, and other miscellaneous expenses (which did not include copies, faxes, or the conference room, those were extra)... to show the world that we were serious about our company. Serious enough to locate in an office building, where we could invite clients and prospects in without worry about dirty dishes in the sink, or dirty socks lying on the floor.

Thing is - we did and still do, most of our business online. We seldom had people in. In fact, our prospects were often entrepreneurs or solopreneurs, and they asked to meet with us at a local coffee shop. We were fighting traffic every morning and night (night was the worst - we stayed well beyond closing, and still made it home in the same amount of time as if we had left right at 5:30pm), spending a LOT of money that would have been better used on business development, and no one really cared. Our "address" meant nothing to anyone. Except the incubator.

After 12 months, we came to our senses. We moved our offices back to the house - after all, we bought the house because it was big enough to put the office furniture and people in, in the first place. And we began putting that extra money to better use.

Lesson learned: you don't need to start out with a dedicated office. Be careful how you spend your money. PLAN the year in as much detail as you can, including conferences you want to attend or speak at. Keep some money aside for months when clients are late with payment - and they will be late. Trust me. Give yourself time to evolve - and then, maybe, if you still feel like an office outside of the home is necessary, look for one that is reasonably priced, in a GREAT location, and professional enough to make you look good.

Me - I'm never renting office space again. Home sweet home is where I do business. Anyone who feels that's not professional enough for them, is not a prospect for me.