Mistakes to avoid when relocating a business to Canada
Inrnrecent years, Canada has seen a steady economic growth. Encouraging tax creditsrnand government grants are another factor that's making this country more andrnmore appealing for businesses. So, if you're thinking of relocating yourrnbusiness to Canada, we certainly understand why you want to do that. However,rnyou should be careful when relocating a business. There are definitely somernpitfalls that can hinder the entire operation. That's why we've preparedrnthis post. After reading it, you'll be well-equipped to handle all the problemsrnthat can (and probably will) come in your way.
Hire the services of qualified professionalsrnto help you during the process of relocating a business
Thernfirst potential mistake occurs when business owners overestimate their movingrnresources. Moving your house is almost always a very stressful andrntime-consuming procedure. So, you can imagine how hard it is to move an entirernbusiness. It is, in fact, a very tough operation, whose size can evenrnovershadow most other business operations that your company is involved withrn(unless, of course, you work for Microsoft or Google). Achieving it on your ownrnwill be very hard. On the other hand, with the help of qualified professionalsrnwho know what they're doing and have a strong safety record, such as Neeley's Vanrnand Storage, the process of moving a business will go much morernsmoothly.
Apartrnfrom their safety record, it is also important that the company in question hasrnexperience with insurance. You'll definitely need adequate insurance for anrnoperation of this magnitude. Unfortunately, accidents do happen, and people dornget injured. Local relocation gets easier with good movers,rnand the same is true when we're talking about interstate moving as well.rnQualified professionals will be able to give you solid advice on choosing thernright insurance options. With them on your side, you'll be able to focus onrnyour business and leave the logistics of relocating a business to thernprofessionals.
Communicate with your customers
Don'trnwait for the relocation to be over to communicate to your customers that you'llrnbe moving. Ifrnthe move entails a different distribution standard or if there'll be some costsrnthat your customers won't expect, you should prepare a detailed statement sornthat they know what to expect. Even if you have talked to them about this, theyrncan still be upset by the changes. A proper statement, on the other hand,rnshould do the job of preparing your customers pretty well. Early in thernplanning process, think about what advantages your new location might bring tornyour customers. Hearing about these benefits will make them accept the changesrnmore easily.
Supplies,rnon the other hand, are not such tough customers. However, you might need tornrenegotiate your terms. All of that will bring both good and bad changes tornyour relocation budget, so be sure to factor them in.
Make sure that relocating a business doesn'trnput a dent on your reputation
Andrnwhile we're talking about your customers, think about the changes to your brandrnthat will ensue after the move. There's a good chance that your customers willrnno longer be able to visit you directly. They won't be able to interact withrnyour sales team. As a result, your reputation in the community will probablyrnchange.
That'srnwhy it's very important to heavily involve your marketing team in the movingrnpreparations. Of course, they'll update all of your marketing materials withrnyour new address. However, that should be just the tip of the iceberg when itrncomes to your marketing team's involvement. They'll need to think about thernfinancial effects of the move and how it will affect your brand. They'llrnneed to devise a marketing strategy that will enable you to preserve yourrnhard-earned reputation.
Consider the timing of the move
Itrnis also very important to think of the timing. You'll want to avoid holidays,rnas your employees won't like the fact that they'll have to pack and move yourrnbusiness instead of spending the holidays with their loved ones. What's more,rnholidays mean - traffic. And holiday traffic is, of course, best to be avoidedrnwhen relocating a business.
Still,rneven if you avoid holidays, your employees will definitely want to take arnvacation sometime. That's why you should notify them that you'll be moving atrnleast a year prior to the move. If you can, you should do that even sooner.rnThat way, they'll be able to plan their vacations so that they don't interferernwith the move. Also, think about their children. If you're moving to Canadarnfrom some other country, that means that your employees' children will have tornswitch schools. So, if you can, organize the move during the spring break.
Also,rnif there's not much time before the move and your budget doesn't look thatrngood, it's better to postpone the move than endanger your businessrncontinuity. Sure, you'll move later, but you'll ensure the safety of yourrnbusiness.
Have your employees' needs in mind
Besiderntheir vacations, you should generally focus on your employees' well-being.rnMoving to another state is far from not being a big deal. These people might bernleaving the cities were they've spent the entirety of their lives. So, dornall you can to make the process of relocating a business as painless to them asrnpossible.
Thernfirst step is to find a location that will suit their needs. When choosing anrnappropriate location in Canada, don't just think in terms of your business'rnneeds. Think about your employees as well. Are the neighborhoods in thernvicinity of the location suitable for your employees? Are there adequate publicrntransportation options for those employees that don't drive? If you'll bernmoving to a prosperous business area, then this might not be such a problem.rnHowever, be sure to take this seriously.
Andrnof course, if you can, you should help your employees financially as well.rnYou don't have to pay the entire cost of their moves, but you definitely shouldrnprovide a financial package that will help them during the process ofrnrelocating a business.