If you think writing your business plan or getting funding is the biggest hurdle you'll jump when it's time to get your business off the ground, think again. You probably haven't even thought about setting up your new office yet. So what's the big deal? Think about all the planning it takes to move in to a new home, equip it, furnish it, and decorate it -- and multiply that work times 10.

Setting up a new office is a mighty task -- whether you're looking for the right location, negotiating a lease, designing a workplace, or deciding whether to buy or rent the equipment and services you'll need to do business in your new space. We'll take you through this process step-by-step with this collection of advice, Buyer's Guides, and tools from Inc.com.

Finding the Right Place

The Top U.S. Cities for Doing Business

Inc. magazine has examined 274 population centers looking for job creation and other signs that businesses are thriving. Use our interactive database to search our extensive findings by city size, industry sector, city, state, and more. Plus, read the features from Inc. magazine that highlight pertinent facts, as well as profiles of businesses from thriving areas

Office Optional

Consulting firm Point B has 223 employees--and no phones, desks, computers, or cubicles.

Move-In Ready

All-in-one office suites make a comeback.

Locating Your Business

Points to consider when trying to find the right home for your business.

The Year Everything Went Wrong

A smart-growth entrepreneur has to find office space, buy furniture and new equipment, organize the move, deal with a lawsuit and arrange a transition to a different corporate structure during her company's busiest season.

Doing the Deal

The Space Race

In today's market, doing the deal might be easier than you think. With office rents plunging, there's never been a better time to be a tenant.

Five Ways to Save Money on Office Space

Keeping rent low is a great way to keep your overall costs down. Here are five tips for doing just that, along with a checklist for negotiating the best deal.

Understanding Commercial Leases

Commercial leases are vastly different from residential leases. Here are the terms to know.

Commercial Lease Checklist

Looking at a commercial lease? Keep this checklist handy to make sure all the bases are covered.

Dealing with Zoning Problems

What happens when you find the perfect new office location -- but zoning issues seem to be getting in the way?

Should we buy, build, or lease our new office?

An overview of these three options when it comes to selecting your new office space.

Equipment and Technology

Perennial Growth

When CEO Neal Waldman's staff grows from 40 to 400 each June, he converts dorm rooms to offices in a matter of days.

How can I get the best options when leasing office equipment?

Think carefully about which type of equipment lease is best for you before signing on the dotted line.

Best of the Net: Beyond eBay

If you're looking to equip your office with used or surplus gear, plenty of online auction sites -- besides the industry's 800-pound gorilla -- can help.

Design

The Light Idea

Bare fluorescent bulbs and windowless offices tax the body and soul. One enlightened company decided its workspaces should see the light.

Digs on a Dime

Here's a way to create an office design that works for everyone and is both stylish and inexpensive.

Art for Business's Sake

One way to get a unique benefit out of a charitable contribution is to donate money to an art museum--some have programs that allow companies to borrow art for their offices in return for donations.

Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise

Office buildings can harbor pollutants that make employees sick and decrease their productivity. The cofounder of Verifone Inc. describes how his company built "healthy" buildings.

The New Urban Chic

My building, my self: Inner-city CEOs describe how they turned unlikely office spaces into architectural gems that helped enhance their businesses' identities and corporate cultures.