Gigpreneur

Where is the best place to hold client meetings? You have three choices: invite the client to your home office, the local Starbucks or rent a shared office space. Personally, I would go with the latter, inviting the client to Starbucks or invest in a shared office space. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of all three options:

Invite a Client to Your Home Office

The major advantage of inviting a client to your home office is that you don’t have to leave your office. If your client decides not to show up, it’s not a waste of time. Another advantage is that a client gets a chance to see that you’re a legitimate business. I found one entrepreneur on a work from home blog who believes inviting a client to your home gives one a chance to connect with the client and makes your business relationship more personable. I don’t necessarily agree with that. The disadvantage of bringing your client to your home is mainly for security reasons. If you’re client turns out to be a lunatic, they can just show up at any time. Now, if you have been to your client’s place of business and you’ve known the person for a while, that’s a different story. Inviting a client to your home can be a little too close for comfort, especially in today’s crazy society.

Invite a Client to Starbucks or Local Café

This is perfect if you’re business is computer based because you can bring your laptop and catch up on work while you wait for your client to arrive. I have made my local Starbucks my official office space. Alternative places: Panera Bread or a local Bookstore Café. The only downside to inviting a client to a local café is that it can get very crowded at times and extremely noisy. Plus, you’re not always guaranteed to find a good seat, especially if you’re meeting a client during lunch time. If you’re going to choose this option, try to schedule your meeting during off peak hours (before 10:00 am and after 2:00 pm). I have found from personal experience that these are the best times to meet with a client with very little interruption. This all depends on which café you choose of course.

Invite a Client to your Shared Office Space

This is by far one of the best options, if you can afford it. In most cases, you can rent a monthly shared office space with a receptionist. This will really impress your client. You can lease a 6 to 12 month office space and it doesn’t require all the hoopla that’s normally involved in renting a traditional office from a realtor. The only disadvantage is that it can become a bit pricey if you’re just starting out. However, it is a lot less expensive than traditional office rental.

When choosing a place to meet with your client always remember, the key to having a successful client meeting is to invite him/her to a professional yet comfortable environment.