Prefabricated buildings answer a nagging question for small business owners: How can I possibly afford bigger facilities for my business? Prefabricated buildings, or modular buildings, are ideal real estate solutions for small businesses because modular office buildings are affordable, adaptable and accessible. And while the most inexpensive models aren't always the prettiest, more and more modern-day modular offices are both attractive and functional.
If you can't afford to build an office building from scratch or to lease expensive commercial space that's as impractical as it is pricey, modular office buildings might be worth a look. Pre-built in sections, then assembled on site, they have many benefits. Among them:
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Shop for prefabricated buildings by size and type
Prefabricated buildings take on many forms. From small to large, they include portable classrooms, research labs, construction trailers, storage facilities and even large, multi-room modular offices.
I recommend: Builders such as
Comark Building Systems,
MBMI Metal Buildings and
Pac-Van offer virtual showrooms in which you can browse prefabricated buildings in order to get an idea of the sizes and scopes of modular offices available to you.
Choose between prefabricated steel buildings and prefabricated wood buildings
Companies that manufacture prefabricated buildings offer a variety of materials with which to build both the interiors and exteriors of modular offices. There are companies that specialize in building prefabricated steel buildings, for instance, and companies that specialize in building prefabricated wood buildings.
I recommend: Companies offering prefabricated steel buildings include
General Steel,
American Steel Span and
Allied Steel Buildings. Meanwhile, companies offering prefabricated wood buildings include
American Standard Building Systems,
Blazer Industries and
Lester Buildings.
Consider only modular buildings within your budget
Modular buildings typically cost between $35 and $200 per square foot, depending on their size and scope. And while they still require a considerable investment, prefabricated buildings are certainly a cheaper alternative to new construction.
I recommend: At
360MobileOffice you can get free quotes from up to four different suppliers that manufacture modular buildings. Check for more suppliers of
modular offices at Business.com.
Look for modular office buildings with attractive amenities
Typically, you can purchase either prefabricated steel buildings or prefabricated wood buildings. Both can be aesthetically customized, however, with brick or stucco exteriors, multiple doors and windows, unique roofs and interesting interiors.
I recommend: Look for manufacturers who can design and build custom modular buildings, such as
MetalBuildingDepot.com,
Premier Modular,
M Space and
Pacific Mobile.
Remember, home offices can be modular offices, too
Modular office buildings aren't for everyone. But even if you have a home-based business, you can take advantage of modular design, as there is a large market for affordable prefabricated homes.
I recommend: Penn Lyon,
Sandcastle Group and
Altamont Homes are among the country's many modular homebuilders. Visit
Modular Today to look for modular homebuilders in your area.
Think past prefabricated buildings
Even companies that don't have modular office buildings can have modular offices when they look beyond prefabricated buildings toward purchasing modular interiors. You can find modular furniture, cubicles and workstations, and even interior offices with which to remodel your existing space.
I recommend: Companies providing modular interiors for both traditional and prefabricated buildings include
Inscape,
Haworth and
National Partitions.
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