Do I need an office or shop space?
Short answer
Not until the business won't fit in your house or your truck. Pay for space when storage, customers, or team genuinely need it, not for ego.
When you do need it
Customers visiting you. Inventory that doesn't fit your garage. Three or more employees who need a base. Equipment you can't safely store at home.
When you don't
Just because you can afford it doesn't mean you should. Rent is a permanent cost that follows you through every slow month. Delay it as long as you can without hurting operations.
Ask your version of this question
This is one business owner-tested take. Your shop size, trade, and team change the answer. Ask the exact version inside Ask a Shop Owner and get a response grounded in how owners like you actually handled it.