What are Serviced Offices?

If you are looking for a serviced office and would like immediate assistance, please fill out a Serviced Office Request Form so that we can deal with your enquiry. We work with both large and small serviced office providers and work hard to ensure you get the best deal.

If you require further information about serviced offices please read on...

Serviced offices, also known as business centres are a simple, instant, flexible and easy to use office space solution. Serviced offices offer ready-made office space for rent often fully equipped with furniture, telephone lines, internet access, reception and kitchen facilities. Meeting rooms, video conferencing, conference rooms, and all possible support solutions exist to make your working time as easy as possible. On site serviced office managers and other serviced office personnel are usually on hand to provide building and infrastructure support. Serviced offices can be used as temporary office space for rent as well as permanent office space.


What are the benefits of serviced offices?

1.Image
They provide an attractive environment in primary office space with an excellent business address, which adds to the credibility of an occupying company when visited by customers, suppliers or advisers.

2. No Capital Outlay
Most serviced offices in London & UK provide fully furnished office space that includes all furniture and phones as standard and inclusive within the monthly serviced office licence fee. However, with many serviced offices you are able to bring in your own furniture should you wish to do so.

3.Maximising Business Opportunities
They take away the hassle of having to source, start-up and operate primary technology. This is particularly important to clients that are only looking for temporary office space to rent but is equally as important for clients looking for permanent office space.

4. Flexibility
Serviced offices provide you with the ability to upsize or downsize, permanently or temporarily with minimum notice, or move on elsewhere when your company needs to. You can be up and running in a serviced office usually within 24 hours. Serviced office accommodation also provides both temporary office space and permanent office space. Agreements are much more flexible than office leases that tie you down to a long term committment.

5. More Economic than Leased Space
Serviced offices are often more cost effective than traditional leased office space for rent. You only rent offices that have the actual office space you need.

6. Shared Technology
CAT 5 cabling infrastructure, voicemail systems, broadband internet access, video-conferencing equipment, copiers and franking machines all need researching, buying, maintaining etc. With serviced offices you are able to share the best on an as-needs basis.

7. Defined Costs
All property and primary technology costs can be averaged per person per month on a workstation basis. Comparing pricing and budgeting for additional employees is easy. The all-inclusive serviced office licence fee covers: (most serviced offices offer)

• Rent
• Business Rates
• Furniture, phone
• Electricity, Gas, Water and associated costs
• Office Cleaning
• Building Insurance
• Maintenance, Repairs and Renewals
• Security Systems and maintenance
• Receptionists / Operations / Maintenance Staff
• On site manager
• 24 hour access and security
• Kitchenettes
• Lift and equipment maintenance
• Refuse Clearance
• Washrooms and Hygiene

8. Access to Resources
Within London & UK serviced offices, secretarial services can be used on an as-needed basis. Phone answering and call forwarding, meeting rooms, video conferencing, training rooms, boardrooms, catering are all available on a pay-as-you-use basis.

9. Networking
Sharing communal office space with non-competitive motivated individuals can be significant. Inter-trading is common.

10. Technical Support
Most London & UK serviced offices offer on site technical support. Many serviced offices also offer remote support should you be on holiday, at a trade show, sick, or on-the-road.

Disadvantages of renting a serviced office include:
- A limited pool of supply, as serviced offices represent a relatively small proportion of the total office market
- Higher cost of flexibility in some instances
- Some buildings use branding although the majority of serviced office providers recognise the need for individuality for companies

Conventional leased office space to rent:

Conventional leased office space to rent is likely to be more suitable when your company reaches a certain size, generally 25 persons upwards, and you are fairly certain of your likely growth over the next few years.

Advantages of conventional leased office space for rent include:
- Security of tenure
- commercial leases give the tenant the right to remain in a building indefinitely in most circumstances
- Transparent pricing of property and other associated costs
- Office space can be personalised to suit a specific companies culture

Disadvantages of a conventional leased office space include:
- Pinpointing, agreeing terms, refurbishing and fitting out can take several months and requires a substantial capital outlay
- Long office rental deposits are required for new or non-profitable companies
- Capital outlay will be required at the end of the lease to pay for dilapidation's liability

Renting conventional leased office space

Finding the right building and arranging conventional leased office space can be a lengthy task. To help find the right building, it's often prudent to appoint an agent to assist in your search and negotiate the main terms of your lease. The Heads of Terms are then passed to your lawyer who draws up the documentation.
The basic rent on conventional leased office space to rent will range from £10.00 to £65.00 per square foot (psf), depending on location and facilities, and subject to upwards-only rent reviews at the end of each fifth year. Unlike a serviced office, where all the set-up and ongoing costs are rolled into one monthly charge, other running costs must be considered such as business rates, service charges, and buildings insurance.

N.B Information provided is for guide purposes only.

Please contact us at theteam@theoffice4u.co.uk