By Ryan Miller
Based in a refurbished historic office space built in 1929 that was the former home to Godwin Motor Company Parts Department, the Suffolk Executive Offices are conveniently located in Downtown Suffolk, strategic for small business development and substantial to the local economy of the city altogether.
Suffolk Executive Offices provide professional, fully furnished offices and workspaces for entrepreneurs and businesses so they can focus on managing and growing. Its amenities include compatible office space; two fully equipped conference rooms complete with a projector, whiteboard, HD-Smart TV and DVD player; café onsite and the city’s first coworking space. Its services include telephone, wireless Internet, promotional advertisement through Suffolk Executive Offices and inclusion into a business directory. Virtual packages provide a business address, phone services and on-demand and shared office and meeting room space, which is ideal for those who may need an address to conduct business in Suffolk, meet with clients, collaborate with colleagues or close a deal.
All of this comes with no strings attached, as the business incubator doesn’t force its tenants into prolonged contracts lasting years for using its space. Offices can be rented by the hour or per day at a minimal fee of $15 an hour, or businesses can sign up for a flexible month-to-month agreement, or for three months, six months or a year depending on however long they may need the workspace to meet their needs. For dedicated businesses committed to using the space for an extended period, the offices even offer a long-term agreement for its executive suites.
Suffolk Executive Offices Community Manager Justice Green and Owner and Co-Founder Richard Chaing.
Founded in June 2017, Suffolk Executive Offices were established after Richard Chaing, owner and co-founder, discovered that many local, small businesses were spending excessive amounts of their startup capital on buildout, décor and office furniture, telephone and Internet systems while locking themselves into three- to five-year contracts for storefronts. Unfortunately, the amount of their initial revenue was insufficient to the detrimental costs of expenses in leasing space, and consequently they would fold.
The Suffolk Executive Offices were created as a low overhead solution for small businesses to grow and connect with the community. “I see it as a transient place,” shares Justice Green, community manager for the executive offices. “For small businesses, it bridges the gap for being a startup to purchasing a storefront.” Once a business has found its success and a stream of revenue, the Executive Offices partner with Suffolk Economic Development to help the business find a permanent space. “It’s kind of like a pipeline; we’re setting them up to get to higher heights,” Green commends. “We’re trying to give them the best services possible so that they can succeed in business.”
Conference rooms come with a projector, whiteboard, HD-Smart TV and DVD player.
Compatible office space.
On-site cafe.
Beyond ambitious startups, Suffolk Executive Offices’ clients extensively range in background and business industries. They emphasize assisting growing small businesses that have been around for two to three years and entrepreneurs that have outgrown the ability to run their business from their home office that are looking to attract clients and need administrative assistance and meeting areas. However, there are also larger companies with dispersed workforces, including accounting and law firms that need flexible office space so they may be situated based on the location of a client. Virtual clients are another key group of professionals the offices benefit. These are professionals that need a business mailing address, desire coworking spaces for networking and require meeting rooms with on-demand access.
“Based on the community that we’re trying to build here, we’re trying to get one or two of each business in each industry,” explains Green. Currently the offices have been an asset for its tenants consisting of real estate and home healthcare businesses, a travel agency, tax services provider and a photography company as well as individual lawyers and realtors.
While the office space provides a quiet atmosphere without distractions, they also host events for professional collaboration between businesses. On the second Friday of each month, 757 Connect at Suffolk Executive Offices brings in small business owners from different cities in the region for 15-minute educational talks on a specific business idea that can be implemented. The offices have also partnered with ODU for more casual events welcoming professionals to unwind in a relaxed setting and network over hors d’oeuvres. These events help further imbue a sense of community and uphold Suffolk Executive Office’s mission for developing a thriving economy through the success of local business.
To learn more, visit SuffolkExecutiveOffices.com.
