Office life has changed drastically in recent years. Remote and hybrid work setups have changed how businesses approach physical spaces. Additionally, traditional leases with long-term upfront costs are becoming less appealing.
As a result, serviced offices are gaining traction as a viable alternative. Their flexibility and affordability make them perfect for startups or project teams needing temporary space.
Also Read: Choosing the Perfect Office Workspace: A Business Guide
What is a Serviced Office?
Serviced offices are fully furnished workspaces rented from third-party providers. They are equipped with desks and chairs, and offer various amenities like internet access and cleaning services.
With a serviced office, everything is designed to provide clients with a seamless work experience. Clients can focus on their tasks while the workspace provider handles everything else.
Because their leases are short-term and highly flexible, you can rent a serviced space for a month, a week, or even a day. You can scale up or down more easily based on your needs, a considerable advantage over traditional offices.
The Key Features of Serviced Offices
Here are the things you can expect from most serviced office arrangements:
- Fully furnished office space: These offices are ready for use with desks, chairs, storage, and shared meeting rooms.
- All bills included: All utilities, internet, and even maintenance fees are combined into a monthly bill.
- Front-of-house and admin services: Front-desk staff to greet your clients, answer calls and manage any incoming and outgoing mail.
- Facilities sharing: Shared use of kitchens, breakout rooms, lounges, printers, and meeting rooms.
- Flexible lease arrangements: Serviced offices don’t require long-term leases. Clients can rent daily, weekly, or monthly.
- Location: Most serviced offices are in central business districts, allowing you the prestige of an address without the headache of overhead costs.
Why Choose a Serviced Office
Now that you know the key features of serviced offices, here are some benefits of choosing one:
1. Reduced Upfront Costs
You’ll spend less than if your business leases an office. Leased offices require upfront payments for furniture, renovation, utilities (installing electricity and internet), and even require police checks and agents.
Serviced offices come fully furnished and have guaranteed services with fixed expenses. They are an excellent way for businesses to manage short-term costs.
2. Speed to Market
Serviced offices let you sign a contract and move in on the same day. This arrangement is crucial for businesses with tight project timelines or those that are rapidly expanding.
3. Instant Scalability
Does your growing team need more desks? You can easily scale up your office plan without any penalties.
4. Professional Image
Establish a presence for your small business! An office with a front desk reception and a reputable address can land a great first impression on potential clients.
5. Great for Remote and Hybrid Teams
Hybrid teams don’t need fixed desk spaces on a daily basis. Serviced office providers allow your team to work on-site when needed, letting you collaborate without being locked into a lease.
6. Hassle-Free Maintenance
A broken printer? A leaky pipe? That’s the provider’s problem. You can focus on being more productive while they handle everything else!
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Who Are Serviced Offices For?
Serviced offices provide space for different types of individuals and organizations, such as:
- Startups and small enterprises: Set up a professional office at a fraction of the cost.
- Project-based teams: Sometimes you need a pop-up HQ short-term for 3 weeks or 3 months.
- New market: If you’re testing a new market, setting up a local presence is quick and almost risk-free.
- Hybrid teams: For hybrid teams, you want to provide them with desk space when they need it without paying for full-time desk occupancy.
- Transitioning companies: You may be scaling up your operations, renovating, or relocating, and need a temporary office.
Serviced Office vs. Other Workspace Options
The serviced office space sits in a sweet spot between various office space options. They are more private and professional than coworking spaces, while being more flexible and affordable than leasing office spaces for long periods.
However, it’s helpful to compare them against other types of workspaces:
- Coworking spaces: Coworking spaces are more community-oriented and open for freelancers and solo professionals, but are less private and structured.
- Managed offices: Managed offices are fully custom-built and delivered to your specifications, although they have longer lease terms and a higher initial investment.
- Traditional office leasing: Traditional leases offer the most control, but come with high overhead, long-term contracts, and DIY responsibility.
Conclusion
In today’s current work environment, serviced offices make more sense than ever. They offer speed, simplicity, and professionalism without locking you into a long-term contract or making you handle the operations of a space.
If you run a startup or are in a growing team, serviced offices can give you the ability to operate and grow within the space you choose.
Are you interested in serviced office space in your area?
Explore flexible and ready-to-go space through Othership, and discover which workspace facility works for your business.
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