A guide to renting serviced offices

Whether, you’re an established name or a start-up, serviced office spaces to let provide you with the physical space that your company needs without the financial commitment of a permanent agreement. The following article outlines three key factors that you should take into consideration when selecting a serviced office.

Established name or independent provider?

One of the first choices to make is whether you want to rent a serviced office through an established business broker or an independent provider. Brand names guarantee comparatively higher quality and greater accountability. Offices to let are no exception to this rule. Established names within the world of serviced (and virtual) office space include Regus, MWB and Avanta. These companies will tend to monopolise the ‘prestige’ serviced office locations available to you. Consequently, they may also charge more. However, if you’re looking for a cheaper option or a unique location, an independent provider may be more suitable for your company.

Prestige, practicality or both?

Using offices in London is a practical example. Serviced office space can be obtained at a number of prestigious locations including: The Gherkin (pictured), Tower 42 in the Square Mile and Canary Wharf. Your company’s reputation will certainly not suffer for being linked to such a select address, but your bank balance might. Glamour comes at a price. There are middle-ground, smaller, cheaper-serviced offices based in Westminster or the Square Mile which still provide an impressive postcode, but without such a prohibitive bill. This enables your business to promote an aura of success without the added overheads connected to a landmark address. Finally, you can choose an office that has no glamorous connotations whatsoever (obviously, until your company becomes world famous), but which provides a suitable deal in terms of price and service. There is a comprehensive array of serviced offices within London, from Watford to Wembley.

Consider your customers

So, you’ve found the perfect rental office for your business? It's cheap and your staff are happy, but what about your clients? Before you enter into any agreement with an office broker, consider the facilities that are available to your customers within the building. Are there appropriate transport links to your new location? Does your office rent or office lease cover the use of meeting rooms or a meeting facility? Do you have an executive suite? Some business centres provide these standards within their managed offices. Does your serviced office provider give you reception facilities (and are they welcoming)? What are your neighbours like? If you’re working in a shared office, this could prove to be problematic. Small factors can make all the difference for the success of your business. So, ensure that you’ve conducted an appropriate level of research before signing a contract.