Five Places You Should Never Meet With Clients
- Starbucks or any other Wi-Fi equipped coffee house
- Barnes and Noble, Borders or any other high-end bookstore
- Public Libraries
- Hotel Lobbies
- McDonald's or any fast-food restaurant
Starbuck's has become practically the de facto standard for a meeting place for solopreneurs, and I've never had the impression of being "surrounded by students and twenty-something novelists". You also don't meet people during morning rush hour, but late morning or early afternoon, when it's much less crowded.
And I can't agree with his take on hotel lobbies, either. "Hotel lobbies can be quite beautiful and on the outside, seem like a great space to meet, but they also are busy." Do your homework and make sure you're not meeting at a hotel with a huge convention going on. Busy has never been a problem for me. "There is a lot of foot traffic there, including large groups of tourists." Not at business-oriented hotels. "[H]otel employees will not cater to your needs unless you are a guest." Or buying drinks and tipping well.
So what does Jeff suggest? Unfortunately, in his article, he doesn't. But his tagline tells us: "His company...helps small businesses nationwide make the leap from home office to "real" office with simple and cost-efficient alternatives." Ah-hah! He has an agenda! That explains everything.
The idea that home officing means you don't have any resources - that you're only doing it because you can't afford a "real" office - is still floating around out there, but it's changed significantly in the past decade. If you need an office outside your home in order to have a comfortable work environment, minimize distractions, and get some basic office support, then great - go rent an executive suite - I think they're terrific! But don't do it just to cowtow to prejudices against home officing. If you do that, you're perpetuating those misplaced prejudices.
And a lesson here for entrepeneurs on what not to do... Article marketing, or even a regular column, is a great way to increase exposure and gain credibility for your business. Provide information, even a strong opinion, but if your agenda is too transparent, it can actually backfire on you and damage the credibility of your content.
What do you think? Where's the best place to meet with clients? What do you think about meeting at Starbuck's, hotel lobbies, etc.? Leave a comment below.
Comments
Hey Scott:
I have a comment as well as an agenda. Let not the later distract from the former.
One of the ideal places I have found as convenient for hosting client meetings of one person to many is in private business/social clubs.
First of all there is the cost issue to be addressed. When you look at the cost of entry and yearly membership maintenance cost it usually works out to be a lot less then renting an “executive suite,” which is hardly impressive anyway.
Furthermore, it is a good “out of office location” for meeting in any event. It is neutral ground, which is naturally comforting and a much less distractive enviornment that enhances a more client centric focus for the meeting.
Most private clubs are restrictive, some more so than others. Dress codes, no cell phones and no camera rules, even no business papers on display or computers in use except for specific areas within the clubs, I find are these rules very adventagous for creating a more socially relaxing atmosphere for gathering. If a show and tell presentation is an absolute must, clubs usually offer space to accommodate the need.
If a meal with your guests is on the agenda private clubs usually offer an exquisite dinning experience at competitive pricing.
In my case I travel frequently and fortunately my club memberships offer access to a network of affilated reciprocal clubs across the nation and around the globe that provide the same consistent standards of quality and excellence in just about every city on my travel itinerary. I strive to make it happen that way.
Let me tell you about another valuable use of “meetings at clubs.”
An effective non-business use of clubs for families traveling with kids is a trick I used for many years when my three younger children (18 months apart)were together with us, my wife and me on vacation trips.
I held memberships in several of the airline travel clubs located at the major airports. Most of them did not allow kids in them, which defeated the purpose for us until I figured out a trick - book a “meeting” in conference room within the club. It was a great idea and in those days they didn’t charge to reserve the room for two hours or so which was often our layover time in places like Chichgo where the rooms overlooked the tarmac for holding the children’s interest in viewing the planes coming and going and baggage handlers scurring about. The rooms had whiteboards for drawing and tables for crawling up down and over for our trio of four years old and under when we started using this “travellers aid” we discovered.
My wife or I would sit back to the door so nobody would exit except for the other parent who would be shuffling kids back and forth to the join and replenishing runs to the bar for more free soda and chips. It provided a controlled environment for the kids to have unleashed space without bothering anyone.
This has been a long held secret until today mainly because the my young adult children are in the process of graduating from college these days and we no longer need to keep the secret. So it is time to pass it along to others to use and enjoy.
It is also a story to suggest that we should all take a closer look at private clubs; you may find them adventagous in meeting your meeting objectives.
And yes, in the interest of full disclosure, I am in the process of launching a site (www.entrepreneurroundtable.com) to extend an invitation to a limited number of individuals to join other creative leaders in a small elite discussion group of entrepreneurs meeting over an exquisite lunch at a prestigious private club to share a moment among peers.
I would hope my comments offer more as a positive contribution to the discussion of place to meet for business, than being construed to be just a pitch for my offering.
Good luck hosting meetings that work to acheive the mission intended wherever they are staged.
Barry
One of my entrepreneurial mentors, Tom Leavesley, had a membership in a country club that was a member of a large organization like you describe, and when he was out of town and wanted to have a lunch or dinner meeting with a client, he’d have it at the local reciprocating club.
It was fantastic - quiet, great service, no one trying to rush you out, comfortable and impressive surroundings, etc. And you’re right - if all you need is a nice meeting place, then a private club might make much more sense than a permanent executive suite.
And sorry if I seemed to come down a bit hard on the author. Everyone who writes has an agenda, and businesspeople who write to improve their visibility and positioning will have even more of one. I advocate this approach, and hope I didn’t come across as coming down on it. I just personally think this author has such a strong personal bias based on his business that he’s not giving accurate information (and by the way, I read his other three articles on the site and it just confirmed that opinion even more). That’s when it gets to be a problem.
Thanks for your comment and good luck on your new venture — sounds like a great idea!
I think that he’s pushing his point of view and setting himself up as a guru, and in that, he’s INCREDIBLY heavy handed. So yeah, hidden adgenda much.
Sitting down and ignoring that, and still evaluating the article, he’s not offering solutions so no, I don’t really agree with what he’s saying - I think that you have to tailor to two things when setting up meetings - your OWN needs, and the needs of your clients. And I didn’t really seee much of that from him, I’m afraid to say.
If the client is ok with it - great - use starbucks, and any other facilities you readily have access to. If not, then contact your local chamber of commerce, or an office building with surplus, leasable space - if you need it on a regular basis and its furnished, its just about win win for you and your client.
Kai
You know….I could help that man, I think he needs a newsletter for has- beens and I’ll suggest he call it “I used to have a home office”.
I guess if you visit my website you’ll get what I’m talking about.
Yep Scott…he has his agenda.
;)
I’ll still be at Starbucks on Friday
Hmmm…as one who often conducts meetings at Starbucks and hotel coffee shops, I cannot agree with the author.
Impressions of success are exactly just that - impressions. The moment you open your mouth and nothing but air is found between your ears, it won’t matter who designed your power suit or which Zen-inspired boardroom you’re in. Like beauty, an impression of success might get your foot inside the door but you better be able to deliver on something more after your 15 minutes are up or else you’re in trouble.
Personally, I prefer country clubs or private business clubs. Quiet and perfect for business meetings without the stress of the office ambiance. Coffee is sometimes vile but one cannot have everything.
Best,
S.
I have met many prospective clients at the local Starbucks and I was not the only one while I was there. In fact it was a perfect atmosphere as most other tables were being used by solopreneurs there to work. My clients never thought it unprofessional. Many of them even suggested it as a good location to meet.
Scott –
I think you pegged it! That writer definitely has an agenda.
As one who has been in business for over 10 years and who used to have a “real” office, I can tell you it was a true waste of money. You see, I was never there. I was always out meeting with clients at their site or at some remote location (like a hotel or Starbucks
.
I don’t think entrepreneurs need worry about being pressured into having an office. As long as prospects or clients aren’t complaining and discussions are productive (wherever they are having them), they should do what suits them best.
Best regards,
Denise O’Berry
Well, of course it depends on the business as to what is appropriate; I sell recycled pet supplies in Houston and meet people in grocery store parking lots, their vet clinics, where
ever is mutually convenient. This wouldn’t fit many businesses, but it works for me.
The author is just falling into the current craze of internet marketing. Publicity people say, correctly, that articles with “lists” are read…….
Greetings, Scott.
Yes, the old-school prejudices about home-office-headquartered enterprises are alive and well, and you put your laser-beam on the Inc. author’s underlying agenda of selling his own commercial real estate consulting services. This is a great defacto example of the need for subtlely when using articles to market your services!
I’ve done both — home-office-headquartering and having an office space outside of my home office. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. With both, there were many times I met with clients over tea, coffee, or a meal in a third-party location like a tea house or restaurant.
The value in Jeff’s article, and moreso in your more thoughtful followup, is that we use discretion in choosing a meeting location, to ensure that it’s not an unpleasant or disruptive space. Focus instead on someplace aesthetically attractive, calm, pleasant, and (if appropriate) with good and subtle service.
That does rule out fast-food restaurants!
Wishing you all very well!
Sincerely,
Jamie Walters
Founder, Ivy Sea, Inc.
Author, Big Vision, Small Business
If you belong to your local Chamber of Commerce, you can usually use meeting rooms they maintain for just this purpose.
As a solopreneur with clients who span the nation, I do most of my work by phone, so my home office is perfect. However, I am not adverse to face meetings with clients living in my area. At those times I have used library conference rooms which are easy to get since I know the local librarians. The setting is quiet and comfortable. I see nothing wrong with that. Other times I use the comfortable sofa seating at a local coffee shop called Expresso Euphoria. They actually expect me on certain days and make sure no one gets “my spot”. I used Starbucks only long enough to realize that the music was way too loud and the coffee is not good anyway. Plus they charge for internet!
San Francisco is blessed with many meeting places which do not require exclusive membership and yet provide a professional if not energizing atmosphere. My favorite is the Ferry Building with its easy access via public transportation. Outdoor tables dot the building’s SF Bay side. The fresh air and bay views reflect the spirit of entrepreneuralism without the staid walls of an office.
Likewise the city’s Palace Hotel and its famous Palm Court is the classy indoor venue.
Doing business is an art and the venue can be a beautiful frame.