studio

[bryan]

Hi troops, now due to the scottish government giving small businesses, non domestic rates for free. im seriouly concidering opening a photostudio, but how much room will i need, obvioulsy more the merryier, but due to being charged by the sq ft i would like to keep this to the min. so in your opionion whats the min space required :).

[Shaun]

a bare minimum of 10/11 feet wide..... but that's still going to be small and at least 20foot long. You could fit a studio in a smaller space... but think how unprofessional it would seem. If I had the choise Id have a 20'x30' space... that would be quite a nice space, without being too small or big

[flook]

I need to move to Scotland :confuse:

[bryan]

a bare minimum of 10/11 feet wide..... but that's still going to be small and at least 20foot long. You could fit a studio in a smaller space... but think how unprofessional it would seem. If I had the choise Id have a 20'x30' space... that would be quite a nice space, without being too small or big

so something around 500-600 sq ft should be ok, obviously i would know the second i viewed a property, but im still at "the idea stage" at the moment and looking at local units etc online, in the shopping center would be great, but too expensive, on the village high st, non available(and i dont know ££ for going rate), but theres industiral type units available, prices start at £1500 per annum to £5000 per annum. 1 of these could be ideal. would just need to make it nice and welcoming to the public!!

[Shaun]

hmm yeh, with industrial buildings, you'l suffer from no passing trade... but if its only £1500 per annum you could make that back.. nothing to live on though

[badbadman]

I need to move to Scotland :confuse:


Me too. :D

so something around 500-600 sq ft should be ok, obviously i would know the second i viewed a property, but im still at "the idea stage" at the moment and looking at local units etc online, in the shopping center would be great, but too expensive, on the village high st, non available(and i dont know ££ for going rate), but theres industiral type units available, prices start at £1500 per annum to £5000 per annum. 1 of these could be ideal. would just need to make it nice and welcoming to the public!!

hmm yeh, with industrial buildings, you'l suffer from no passing trade... but if its only £1500 per annum you could make that back.. nothing to live on though


Not necessarily Shaun.

The studio if big enough could be used for product shoots like motorbikes etc.

Just need good advertising and good prices, and some car parking space. :)

[Shaun]

true that would be good. As long as people can see that your there, whether its through advertising or actually seeing the studio. Local papers a pretty useless really... not many returns

[bryan]

hmm yeh, with industrial buildings, you'l suffer from no passing trade... but if its only £1500 per annum you could make that back.. nothing to live on though
yeah i know what you mean, but heres the dilema unit in shopping centre, with passing trade, costs £12500 per annum, unit in very neat and tidy small industrial site, all units roughly same size etc 200sq-600sq ft owned and managed by local council.£1500 per annum to £5000 per annum

heres the linky (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/17999/11199/Scheme) telling me about free rates

[Jeni]

with advertising and stuff you could make it work couldnt you? then theres always the possibility of hiring the studio out, not sure if thats something you would want to do though?

the ones ive seen in town centres near me tend to be upstairs above shops. the one in Ashton town centre seems to be the whole shop, whereas the one ive noticed in Hyde town centre is above a camera shop. if you can get something like that then these sorts of places usually have huge windows so good for natural light too.

[Sarah]

true that would be good. As long as people can see that your there, whether its through advertising or actually seeing the studio. Local papers a pretty useless really... not many returns

Hate to argue shaun, but of all the advertising I have tried the local paper has had by FAR the biggest returns

[Shaun]

Hate to argue shaun, but of all the advertising I have tried the local paper has had by FAR the biggest returns

ah nice one.. sorry i meant that the studio im working in have tried and have had little return... guess its different in every area! :)

[badbadman]

Adverts have to grab the attention of the viewer in the first few seconds or they won't bother.

If you want me to review your Ads Shaun then let me know, I used to do the shops ones when we were in Havant and we always got good feedback from them. :top:

[Shaun]

I haven't actually seen them becasue the shop owner has done all that.. im just the picture taker :top: but if you have any advice, that would eb great!

[purplepaul]

I went to view a propperty last week it was on the main road in the town i live in. It have two levels, the shop front and basement. I want two seperate levels so the studio can be out of the way so i can have a waitning area and a seperate sales room with a large LCD TV and a fridge full of wine (for the clients not me).

The rent was just over 10k a year plus other rates.

[flook]

ouch :(

[Pipeman]

I went to view a propperty last week it was on the main road in the town i live in. It have two levels, the shop front and basement. I want two seperate levels so the studio can be out of the way so i can have a waitning area and a seperate sales room with a large LCD TV and a fridge full of wine (for the clients not me).

The rent was just over 10k a year plus other rates.

Take care, Paul - "other rates" will be the Business rate which can be expensive, especially if on a main road (contact your local council), , water, electricity, insurance, repairs and maintenance (find out who is responsible),
These items add up and you will easily get to £15,000 a year, before you begin to earn for yourself.

[purplepaul]

I had about 15k a year as a ball park figure :cry:

WHich would mean i would need to be making £315 a week just to stay open but as i am the only one who works (wife looks after 2 babies) i would need to be doing £600+ a week:shocked:

I will be looking for a cheaper place but i feel with the prices people charge in the area (closest studio is 6 miles away) their prices are £60 for a 7x5:shocked: If my quality is as good and my price is lower i might be ok. i think the hardest part will be staying open in the beginning.