Disclaimer: I’m a frugal guy.
A common question of church planters is whether or not do rent office space. Let’s start with the advantages of rented space.
- An office in a visible place will serve as a great marketing tool. It lets people know that you are legit.
- Office space provides a place to hold meetings, seminars, small events, etc.
- Office space gives you a place to store mobile equipment.
- Office space provides a safe place to do counseling.
- When you have multiple staff it allows camaraderie to be built.
- It provides a place for volunteers to come in and help.
- For those with young children, it can provide fewer distractions. I say can because office environments can also be full of distractions.
Now the advantages of a home office.
- It is CHEAP. Pay for a cell phone or VOIP phone and high speed internet for each staff person and let them work from home. In most suburban and city areas you will pay a minimum of $1000 a month and more likely $2000 for office space. Tack on utilities and you’ll be saving a fortune for your new church. Cash flow is important. Without it you will severely limit your ability to do ministry.
- It forces you out into the community. When you work out of the home, free wi-fi is music to your ears. Being out in the community while working will provide you with more opportunities to meet people.
- A home office provides more time. NO COMMUTING! Ok, I’m sold. Give me the home office. No commuting would save the average American an hour a day. This is an hour to be spent relaxing, spending time with God, exercising, with the family, the possibilities are endless. One extra hour a day is nearly 11 extra days of the course of year. Having a home office is like getting an extra two weeks of vacation a year. It also reduces your carbon footprint (for those of you who take God’s mandate to care for the earth seriously).
Round 1 Goes to the Home Office. Round 2 will focus on ideas for a making a rented office work.
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[...] Church Planting: Home Office v. Rented Office (we’ve gone with the former). Check it. [...]
[...] In Round 1, I highlighted some of the benefits of both home offices and rented offices. Round 2 will focus on ideas to making a rented office work. Do you have any additional ideas. Post a comment. [...]