If you are the type of entrepreneur I call a Growth Maven, then you want fast growth and long-term success for your operation. You want customers to recognize your name and your products and services. You want to develop your brand and have a constant line of communication open between you and your clients.

It's time to start building your global enterprise-for you this means you must get out of your home office and into "real" office space so that you can start hiring people. But you want to handle it well so that the big move doesn't divert your time, money, and resources.

First, avoid real estate agents and most landlords. Despite what they say, their agenda is often times very different from yours. A traditional lease in a traditional office space does not have the flexibility your fledgling company needs in order to grow.

Here are two solid arguments to avoid even relatively short-term leases, much less 3-5 year contracts.

1. New businesses often don't make enough revenues to cover their expenses in a cash flow crunch

The simple solution is to rent an executive suite, which are typically high-end, fully equipped, and ready to move into. Networking becomes less of a challenge, since there are often many other small businesses housed in the same executive suite facility. Don't expect real estate brokers to promote these options to you because in most cases there's not enough profit from these deals to make it worth their while. Other options include subleasing space or sharing an office with a larger firm.

You can make your big move immediately and painlessly because your executive suite is ready to go. It has high-speed Internet access, phone systems, furniture, fully functional conference rooms, and in most cases a receptionist to answer your phone calls.

Here's how it works. An executive suite company typically rents an entire floor or two in a well-located office building. These buildings tend to be first class, prestigious, and in the heart of the business district. The company then subdivides the space into a large number of offices for rent to individual businesses like yours. These individual offices range in size from about 100 square feet-good for one person-to several hundred square feet-good for up to five people or more.

Executive suites are the ideal place for "image" entrepreneurs. These are the folks who know that having a first class professional appearance will help build their business. They know that their clients want to invest in and work with winners. Looks count. These business owners realize that perception is reality-you are only as big and solid as you look. They want to work with the big fish clients and compete against companies many times their size. And this is how they can.

Picture your prospective clients entering your gorgeous office, where they are greeted by a friendly receptionist and given coffee while they wait in comfy chairs. Then picture these prospective clients being wowed by your state-of-the-art-enabled presentation and the videoconferencing you did with your partner in halfway around the world.

A big improvement from that last presentation in your basement when your clients noticed your wet bra hanging off the TV set, right? If you agree, then it's time to get going.