Moves fail when they’re treated as errands. Treat yours like a launch. Define the scope: what must be live on Day 1 to keep revenue flowing, and what can wait a week. Create a short, visible backlog: Internet live, phones routed, payment terminals tested, top-10 customers notified. Assign owners with due dates. It’s not glamorous, but it’s clarity.
Run a ‘Two-Office’ Week
For one week, operate as if you have two offices. Keep a lightweight “production pod” in the current space with the essentials: sales lines, support inbox, invoicing, and anything that moves money. Meanwhile, build the new space in a separate “setup pod.” This split prevents the classic moving-day blackout, where everything is on a truck and nothing is working.
Protect Revenue Hours
Block two daily windows as sacred revenue time—no packing, no cable wrangling. Sales calls still happen. Support still replies. Publish a short, honest banner on your site and email signature: “We’re upgrading our space this week. Service hours unchanged; response times may vary by ~1 hour.” Customers forgive transparency. They don’t forgive silence.
Label Like You’re Shipping to Strangers
Labels aren’t for you; they’re for future-you who’s tired and can’t find the receipt printer. Use colour zones (Blue = Reception, Green = Ops, Yellow = Finance) and number items: Green-07 Monitor, Green-08 Dock, Green-09 Cables. Drop a simple inventory into a shared doc so anyone can locate Green-09 without phoning you. Pack “desks in a box” with a welcome card: power strip, HDMI, pens, notebook, and snacks. Morale matters.
Outsource the Heavy Friction
You don’t need to become a logistics expert. Bring in commercial movers who can provide proof of insurance, weekend availability, and a written timeline with load/unload milestones. Ask for workstation reassembly and e-waste haul-off so you’re not stuck with a pile of dead keyboards on Monday. The right partner removes friction you don’t even see yet.
Pre-Wire the New Space Before a Single Box Arrives
Power, data, Wi-Fi heat-mapping, and printer placement should be decided and tested while the rooms are empty. Mount access points, confirm signal strength at every workstation, and place a taped floor plan on the door of each room. If you use VoIP, test call flows and voicemail routing. Don’t let your first call from the new office be a troubleshooting session.
Flip the Switch with a 60-Minute Go-Live Drill.
On “Switch-On Day,” run a fast, scripted drill:
- Can customers reach you by phone, chat, and email?
- Can you invoice and take payment?
- Can you print, scan, and ship?
- Can remote staff log in without VPN drama?
Log issues in one shared sheet, assign owners, and resolve in order of revenue risk. Momentum beats perfection.
Celebrate the Restart, Not the Move
Moves are a tax. Restarts are a signal. Post a quick note on LinkedIn or to your newsletter: new address, new capabilities (larger meeting room, better parking, faster turnaround), same values. Thank your team by name. Close the loop for customers with a fresh photo of the space. That’s how you turn a logistical headache into a brand moment.
Relocation doesn’t have to stall your business. With a clear launch plan, a split-pod week, ruthless protection of revenue hours, and the right partners, you’ll arrive on Monday ready to work—just at a different address.
