If you own a business with a brick-and-mortar location, then you know that your office or retail space is most definitely an investment. Your physical location is more than just a place to conduct business; it’s a place where first impressions are made, it’s a billboard that brings new customers in, and it’s a place that makes a statement about how professional your business is.

This means that an investment made into your physical buildings is always an investment worth making. Perhaps this is most true for hospitality or restaurant businesses, where creating a unique experience is everything.

One of the best investments that you can make into your space is to install folding doors. They contribute to an open and inviting space that encourages people to come inside. They provide plenty of natural lighting and can be opened up to ventilate your space. What’s not to love?

In today’s article, we’re going to discuss several ways that folding doors can benefit your business and show you the top 6 businesses that can benefit from installing folding doors.

How Businesses Can Benefit From Bi-Folding Doors

When it comes to bi-folding doors, they’re generally broken down into two major types:

• Residential bi-fold doors.
• Commercial bi-fold doors.

For the most part, large businesses should only be concerned with commercial folding doors. These doors typically feature more durable door hardware that’s designed to withstand more repetitions of opening and closing the door. They also feature a better locking system, thicker glass, and heavy-duty tracks that won’t jam up as easily as residential door tracks.

However, if you’re working with a smaller office or restaurant space, then you may find that a standard set of residential bi-fold doors fit your needs just fine. Ultimately, this is something that you should discuss with the manufacturer, as most reputable manufacturers offer both types of door systems.

They’ll typically ask you a few questions about what your goals are, how many people come in and out of the space every day, and whether or not there are any risks for break-ins or burglaries. Based on the information you give them, they’ll give you a recommendation as to which door system is right for you and your business.

So, with the basics out of the way, here are some of the main reasons why more businesses are choosing to install folding doors.

Increased Visibility

If you own a retail business, then you’re probably well aware of the fact that your storefront is your biggest billboard. Whether you’re located in a mall, shopping center, or a busy city street, the appearance of your storefront is one of the biggest contributors to new customers coming in to shop.

The nicer your storefront, the greater the likelihood that a passerby will stop and give you the time of day. In addition to making a great first impression on new customers, folding doors are also a great way to showcase your wares! They allow you to effectively knock out a solid wall and replace it with a large folding glass door. This allows anybody passing by to see inside and look at the type of products that you offer.

Modernized Appearance

Folding doors have seen a lot more use in both commercial and residential applications due to the fact that they really modernize the space. With so many competitors on the market today, it’s incredibly important for your business to make a great first impression. The more modern that your space appears, the more professional and high-value of a business you appear to be.

Don’t believe it? Just take a look at the Apple Store or H&M. They both sell high-quality products, but they are just one of many competitors in their perspective spaces. By creating ultra-modern shopping spaces for their customers, though, they appear to be the best and stand out from their competition.

Tax Credits For Green Technology

Another great reason to consider installing folding doors in your business is that you could get a tax credit for them! Most of the high-quality folding doors on the market today feature high-tech low-emissivity glass that’s designed to create a more energy-efficient building.

Currently, many states are offering tax credits to businesses that invest in green technology such as low-E glass, solar power, and other energy-saving building materials. With taxes increases each year, who can argue with a free tax credit?

Don’t Forget – They’re Also Tax-Deductible

If you’re looking for another excuse to consider folding doors for your business, then remember- it’s a tax deduction! That’s right, any investment you make into your office or business space is money that you can write off at the end of the year when it’s time to do your taxes.

Better Ventilation

With COVID’s new delta variant on the rise, many businesses are taking the CDC’s latest recommendations seriously. Nobody wants a repeat of 2020’s complete shutdown that put thousands of small business owners out of business for good.

In addition to asking your customers to wear masks and sanitize their hands, you can also create a better-ventilated space to keep fresh air circulating into your system. After installing folding doors in your business, you’ll be able to open them all of the way up once or twice a day to let tons of fresh air inside.

6 Businesses That Can Benefit From Commercial Folding Doors

Now that you’ve had a chance to see how your business can benefit from installing folding doors, let’s take a few minutes to look at 6 businesses that can benefit the most from a folding door system.

1) Restaurants

Open-air restaurants have been popular for hundreds of years. Who doesn’t a fresh evening draft as they enjoy their meal and a glass of wine? Installing a set of folding doors in your restaurant will allow you to create a well-ventilated eating space during the prime seasons. Plus, everybody walking down the street will be able to smell the scents of delicious food wafting down the street!

2) Resorts And Hotels

If you’re in the hospitality industry, then you can really benefit from installing folding doors. Perhaps you’ll install a large set of commercial folding doors as the main entrance to your hotel or maybe you’ll install smaller sets of residential folding doors within individual suites. Either way, they’ll make for a unique, memorable experience.

3) Retail Businesses

As we discussed above, your retail storefront is the biggest billboard you’ll ever invest in for your business. The more visible your storefront is the more people will going to stop and give you the time of day.

4) Business Offices

Folding doors are a great choice for enclosing a conference room or a manager’s office in a professional office setting. They still create a sense of privacy by creating a barrier but allow for more visibility, which helps to keep everybody accountable.

5) Doctor’s Offices

If you want your doctor’s office or clinic to look like a clean, sanitary, and well-ventilated space, then you can’t go wrong with a set of folding doors. You could use them as the main lobby entrance or even install them in waiting rooms.

6) Professional Services

If you provide a professional service such as building services, legal services, consultation, event planning, etc., then you know just how important it is to make a great first impression. Your modern folding door system may just help to tip the scales in your favor and win you a new client!

What To Look For In A Commercial Folding Door System

If you’re purchasing a set of commercial folding doors, these are some of the key features that you should look for to make sure that they’re able to stand up to a professional or public environment:

• Shatter-Proof Glass
• Reinforced Door Hardware
• Flush Door Sill
• Low-E Glass
• Multi-Point Locking System

Conclusion

Installing a commercial bi-folding door system in your business is a great way to make an impression, get more visibility, and provide a better-ventilated space for your customers. Plus, you’ll enjoy working in the office a lot more with the added centerpiece.
Remember, they’re tax-deductible and you may even get a green tax credit for low-E folding doors, so you have nothing to lose!