There are many benefits that come with ditching the traditional office and opting to work remotely. However, there are many professionals who do not feel confident making the switch because they still meet with clients from time to time. If you find yourself in that situation, it may help to explore options for meeting with clients that do not require a traditional office setting.

Meet in a public spot

In some industries it is appropriate to have business meetings in public places over coffee or a meal. If you find that the majority of your client meetings happen in public places, you may be able to get rid of your office altogether. Take a look at your meetings over the last few months. How many of them occurred outside of the office in public places? For the ones that did happen in the office, would you have been comfortable having the meetings at a coffee shop or restaurant instead? If the answer is yes then you are already in a place where you can start planning to get rid of your expensive office lease in favor of working remotely.

Meet at your home

Having meetings in your home office could work but it highly depends on your industry and the design of your home office. If your home office is a desk in your bedroom then it is not an appropriate place for a client meeting. On the other hand, if you have a dedicated home office with a separate entrance, it may be appropriate for some types of client meetings. You need to take a hard look at your industry and client base to determine if meetings at your home office are an option.

Meet at a co-working space

A co-working space can provide you with a professional place to have meetings without requiring you to maintain a lease on an entire office. Co-working spaces often have conference rooms and executive suites available to use for group or private meetings. It provides the privacy that public meeting spots lack and the professionalism that would be difficult to get in your home office. The transition from a traditional office setting to a co-working space can be made smoothly and provide you with a great option for meeting with clients.

The fact that you meet with clients from time to time should not prevent you from moving out of the traditional office setting – if that is what you want to do. Alternative meetings places like the local coffee shop, your home office, or a co-working space can allow you to meet without being tied down to an expensive corporate lease. The key to determining which meeting alternative is best is looking at what is considered appropriate by your clients and within your industry.