The best rate on credit cards
Start by checking out what your bank offers, then do some comparison shopping. As with personal credit cards, there are numerous no-annual-fee cards out there, so avoid paying such charges unless you truly require the particular services or reward-program benefits of a certain card. At sites like CreditCardGuide.com, CreditCards.com, and MyRatePlan.com (go to the credit card section), you can compare cards and apply online.
Fun and Games
Nothing succeeds in conjuring that giddy dot-com mood quite like little plastic soccer players. A new Striker foosball table retails for $699. But you almost always can find better deals at online specialty stores, many of which also include free shipping--which is no small matter, since delivery of a foosball table can cost a couple hundred bucks.
Here's a sampling of some of the best deals on office amusements:
Foosball Table Striker foosball table
$499, shipping included, at justfoosballtables.com
Air Hockey Carrom Premium Hydralumina With Scoring, six-foot model
$540, shipping included, at christophersgames.com
Ping-Pong Table Prince Competitor table tennis table
$359, shipping included, at dickssportinggoods.com
Pool Table Charleston eight-foot table
$1,787, crating and air freight included, at pooltables-direct.com
Pinball/Arcade Simpsons game
$4,800, with shipping, christophersgames.com
1979 Space Invaders cocktail table arcade game
$700 (plus $350 shipping), recently listed on eBay
Turn Your Office Into an Art Gallery
Why buy pricey art for your office walls when you can rent? A number of major art museums have rental programs--and many will even help you choose the best pieces for your space. The Artists Gallery at San Francisco's Museum of Modern Art charges about $350 to rent a $5,000 painting for three months; a $1,000 painting rents for $170. Like most museum rental programs, SFMOMA's program focuses on local talent and has thousands of work in all media; photography tends to be the least expensive option. Other museums with rental programs include Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Portland Museum of Art, the Seattle Art Museum, and the Racine Art Museum in Racine, Wisconsin. Local galleries may also rent to businesses.
The Office of Your Dreams
Right now, the cheapest downtown Class A rents in major markets can be found in Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, and Seattle--places where $20 per square foot can land you palatial digs that would cost three times as much in New York City. Wherever you live, make sure you keep up with local business news. When companies close, downsize, or move out of town, they're often left with time on their existing leases. "Subleasing is where a smaller business can really pick up a bargain," says Andrew Abramson, a senior vice president with Grubb & Ellis in Washington, D.C. Abramson points out that in addition to lower rent, expensive improvements that were made by the previous tenant--such as phone systems and furniture--are often thrown into the deal as an incentive. Meantime, if you forgo a view and instead take lower-floor or obstructed-view space, you can save anywhere from 10 to 30 percent on rent. (Go to grubb-ellis.com/research to check pricing in markets throughout North America.)
Location, Location, Location
How much do real estate prices fluctuate nationwide? To find out, we searched for Class A office space in three major markets--Denver, Atlanta, and San Francisco. In each city, we found a plush office of about 6,000 square feet (enough for about 20 people) in a fancy, downtown building with all the amenities-health club, concierge services, covered parking, etc. The annual lease rates, of course, were all over the map.
San Francisco $37 per square foot
Denver $25 per square foot
Atlanta $29 per square foot
Start by checking out what your bank offers, then do some comparison shopping. As with personal credit cards, there are numerous no-annual-fee cards out there, so avoid paying such charges unless you truly require the particular services or reward-program benefits of a certain card. At sites like CreditCardGuide.com, CreditCards.com, and MyRatePlan.com (go to the credit card section), you can compare cards and apply online.
Fun and Games
Nothing succeeds in conjuring that giddy dot-com mood quite like little plastic soccer players. A new Striker foosball table retails for $699. But you almost always can find better deals at online specialty stores, many of which also include free shipping--which is no small matter, since delivery of a foosball table can cost a couple hundred bucks.
Here's a sampling of some of the best deals on office amusements:
Foosball Table Striker foosball table
$499, shipping included, at justfoosballtables.com
Air Hockey Carrom Premium Hydralumina With Scoring, six-foot model
$540, shipping included, at christophersgames.com
Ping-Pong Table Prince Competitor table tennis table
$359, shipping included, at dickssportinggoods.com
Pool Table Charleston eight-foot table
$1,787, crating and air freight included, at pooltables-direct.com
Pinball/Arcade Simpsons game
$4,800, with shipping, christophersgames.com
1979 Space Invaders cocktail table arcade game
$700 (plus $350 shipping), recently listed on eBay
Turn Your Office Into an Art Gallery
Why buy pricey art for your office walls when you can rent? A number of major art museums have rental programs--and many will even help you choose the best pieces for your space. The Artists Gallery at San Francisco's Museum of Modern Art charges about $350 to rent a $5,000 painting for three months; a $1,000 painting rents for $170. Like most museum rental programs, SFMOMA's program focuses on local talent and has thousands of work in all media; photography tends to be the least expensive option. Other museums with rental programs include Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Portland Museum of Art, the Seattle Art Museum, and the Racine Art Museum in Racine, Wisconsin. Local galleries may also rent to businesses.
The Office of Your Dreams
Right now, the cheapest downtown Class A rents in major markets can be found in Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, and Seattle--places where $20 per square foot can land you palatial digs that would cost three times as much in New York City. Wherever you live, make sure you keep up with local business news. When companies close, downsize, or move out of town, they're often left with time on their existing leases. "Subleasing is where a smaller business can really pick up a bargain," says Andrew Abramson, a senior vice president with Grubb & Ellis in Washington, D.C. Abramson points out that in addition to lower rent, expensive improvements that were made by the previous tenant--such as phone systems and furniture--are often thrown into the deal as an incentive. Meantime, if you forgo a view and instead take lower-floor or obstructed-view space, you can save anywhere from 10 to 30 percent on rent. (Go to grubb-ellis.com/research to check pricing in markets throughout North America.)
Location, Location, Location
How much do real estate prices fluctuate nationwide? To find out, we searched for Class A office space in three major markets--Denver, Atlanta, and San Francisco. In each city, we found a plush office of about 6,000 square feet (enough for about 20 people) in a fancy, downtown building with all the amenities-health club, concierge services, covered parking, etc. The annual lease rates, of course, were all over the map.
San Francisco $37 per square foot
Denver $25 per square foot
Atlanta $29 per square foot
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