How Much Does a Mobile Office Usually Cost?

Rohan Mathew

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You’ve almost got everything you need to start up your business. All you have left is finding a building to work out of. If you can’t afford a traditional building or you plan on moving around a lot, it might be a good idea for you to rent a mobile office.

They’re pretty popular amongst construction companies and can even be used as a portable classroom. They still cost money and you’ll have to set up utilities but it might be easier on your wallet than renting an office building.

Check out this guide to get a complete price breakdown and learn more about what mobile offices are.

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What Are You Paying For? 

Before we talk about the cost of a mobile office, let’s discuss what you’re paying for. What are mobile offices? They are affordable pre-manufactured spaces that business owners can rent or buy. 

They’re used a lot at construction sites. Contractors are always hopping around from job to job so it doesn’t make much sense to have a permanent office setup. 

They also make good temporary offices for companies who are just starting out and can’t afford the monthly fee on a building yet. If this is the route that you want to go down, you’ll have to pay maybe 500 dollars a month to keep the trailer. It’s pretty cheap compared to the thousands a month you’ll pay to rent a traditional space. 

Mobile Office Sizes

Your monthly rate will depend a lot on what size unit you need. Granted, there are other factors such as the time of year you decide to rent and utilities. Size is going to impact the price the most though. 

Small offices will run you about 200 dollars each month. Medium office buildings will cost about 300 hundred. If you need a large office, you’ll be paying the 500-dollar price point. 

So, how do you know what size you need? There are a set of questions that you’ll have to ask yourself. 

How Long do You Need the Unit? 

If the mobile office trailer setup is only temporary for your business or you plan to move around a lot, it makes more sense to go for a small unit. Getting the cheaper trailer will allow you to save up to move on to a more permanent office solution. They’re also easier to transport around because they’re lighter. 

If the mobile trailer is your permanent setup and you won’t be moving too much, go ahead and spring for the large office. This will give you some wiggle room to expand as far as employees go if you want. 

How Many Employees Do You Have? 

To accommodate all your office employees and equipment, you need to plan to use about 100 square feet per person. If you’re a small startup that’s working with 2 or 3 employees, a small or medium trailer will suit your needs. 

If you’re working with several people who are all typing away on computers, you’ll need room for the workers and desks. If you go with a small unit, your employees will be squished and uncomfortable.

They have to be able to maneuver around. They can’t be productive and get their projects done if they can’t even get to the printer. 

How Are You Planning on Using the Trailer?

If you’re not too sure how many people will be in the office at once, ask yourself how you plan on using the trailer. If you’re only going to have a few construction workers in it at once, a small unit is fine. 

If you’re a teacher that’s going to be instructing several students, you’ll need something a bit larger. Even if you’re only teaching a bunch of tiny elementary school children. 

Where Are You Putting the Trailer?

How big is the area where you’re putting the mobile office? The contractors need to have enough room to install and later tear down the unit when you’re done with it. 

If you don’t have much land to work with, you’ll have to get a small unit and use it to the best of your ability. You don’t want to make the contactors strain themselves. 

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Rent or Buy? 

The truth of the matter is that mobile office trailers aren’t meant to be a permanent solution to your needs. Construction companies will rent one for a 6-month job, for example. To this end, most people rent them. 

If you like the idea of having an office that can move around, it will hurt your wallet to buy it. We’re talking 30,000 dollars kind of hurt. 

Other Things That Will Affect the Price 

Remember when we said several things can affect mobile office prices? Time to breakdown those costs! If you buy your office building in the spring or summer, expect to pay more. These are the busy seasons so, installation is going to cost you. 

Try to rent your space in the winter or fall if you need to keep the price down. Even in the off-season, there’s a pretty hefty delivery fee. Try to budget for at least 1000 dollars. 

If you need any additional accessories such as a skirt that will hide the wheels on your trailer, you’ll have to obviously pay more for that. The larger trailer units come complete with bathrooms. 

Your employees will appreciate not having to walk a long distance to find a restroom but you will have to call up a plumber to hook everything up. 

Prepare to Pay for Your Office Trailer 

Investing in a mobile office is a lot cheaper than renting a traditional building. They make it easy for startups to get going. For companies that move around constantly, they’re a lifesaver. 

Even though the monthly fee isn’t that bad, the initial cost can be a bit expensive. Use this guide to create your budget and find a unit to meet your needs. 

So, you’ve found a mobile office for your startup. Now what? Check out the business section of our blog to learn how to keep your company going.