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Everything You Need To Know About Private Offices In 2023

What Is A Private Office?

Confidentiality. Privacy. Quiet.

If these words spring to mind when you think about your business priorities, then a private office may be right up your street. Private offices come in many different shapes and sizes, but they all aim to provide your business with a fully-serviced professional, yet flexible, working space.

Many startups, SMEs and long-established businesses enjoy the use of our private offices in London, where they can enjoy the luxury of their own, often customisable workspace. Private offices are equipped with the equipment and infrastructure businesses demand and can be a cost-effective alternative to a traditional office lease.

Types Of Private Offices

Every business is unique and so you’ll find various types of private office set-ups, which can suit every company and its budget.

Leased Offices

A leased office is the most formal style of private office. In this model, the tenant is responsible for furnishing and subdividing their space, as well as arranging any utilities they may need. It’s often the most customisable option, as businesses can apply their personal branding to their workspace. For this reason, you’ll often need to pay higher upfront costs. However, leased offices can also be extremely cost-effective as most are taken for an average 5-10 year term. 

Subleased Offices

If a leased office contains terms that permit subletting, then a tenant may be able to rent part or all of its office space to another business. A sublease grants you access to the same facilities as a leased office, but with a greater degree of flexibility. Subleased offices can often be rented for a shorter term, at a more affordable price or already furnished.

Serviced Offices

In a serviced office, everything is ready for you from Day 1. As well as being fully furnished, you’ll usually have access to all the services you need to get up and running, such as broadband, cleaning staff, and a reception desk. Serviced offices typically operate under flexible terms, so you can rent a space that suits your current needs and quickly scale up as your business grows. They’re a hassle-free way of accessing the benefits of a private workspace, without the administrative and maintenance costs that come with a conventional office.

Managed Offices

Managed offices sit somewhere between a leased office and a serviced office. They’re still managed by a third party, so you don’t need to worry about cleaning, security or maintenance. However, you have more control over how your space is fitted out and branded, so you can fully reflect your company’s personality and culture. Managed offices often have flexible terms that allow you to rent your space for a month, a year, or longer.

Benefits Of Private Offices

Private offices are self-contained workspaces that are rented solely to your business. Organisations can benefit from:

  •   Peace and Quiet – Coffee shops and coworking spaces can be noisy places, and sometimes, you just need a distraction-free spot to focus. Private offices can offer you the best of both worlds – a dedicated, quiet work environment that’s balanced with breakout areas and collaboration space.
  •  Privacy – There will be times when coworking space won’t afford you adequate privacy. You may regularly work with sensitive or confidential data, or perhaps you operate under non-disclosure agreements. In these situations, a private office is ideal for you to keep your work under wraps, away from prying eyes.
  • Control – When you rent a private office, you’ll have more control over your workspace and can adapt it to fit your business. Though you’ll need to check the contractual terms, you’ll often be able to make cosmetic changes or install specific equipment that you may need to operate.

In some industries, a private office in a prestigious location can do wonders to boost your business’ reputation, giving your business an air of legitimacy that some clients and employees favour. Not only do our private offices in Manchester have flexible terms that allow you to easily move as your needs change, but they’re centrally located to provide convenient access to the city’s amenities.

Are Private Offices Expensive?

When you rent a private office, you’re paying for the right to have exclusive use of the workspace and sometimes the right to customise your office to fit your business. Unsurprisingly, that can come at a premium.

Leased offices tend to be more expensive than coworking spaces, but serviced offices offer a more affordable alternative that sits between the two. You may not always be able to fully adapt a serviced office, but you do still benefit from someone else taking care of the property maintenance, cleaning and security.

There are a wide variety of options to suit every budget, from a standard, interior office to a “room with a view”. Take some time to consider which facilities are non-negotiable and which are “nice-to-haves”, then do some research to find the perfect private office for your business.

What Facilities Do Private Offices Have?

Private offices have come leaps and bounds from the old-style leased office. The facilities on offer can vary depending on the provider and the type of private office you opt for.

Most serviced or managed offices will provide you with:

  • A cleaning service;
  • Kitchen;
  • Toilets;
  • Mail services;
  • Security staff; and
  •  Internet.

While those take care of the basics, you may find that your business needs additional facilities, which many providers also cater for, such as:

  • Reception staff;
  • A coffee shop;
  • Easy parking;
  • Bike storage;
  • 24-hour access;
  • Printing facilities;
  •  A gym; or
  • Childcare facilities.

It’s worth spending time upfront to identify the amenities that your employees and clients value the most, so you can make an informed decision when choosing your next office location.

How Can I Find A Private Office?

Finding your ideal private office space is a piece of cake with Spacepool. We’ve carefully curated high-quality, flexible private offices across the UK’s business hubs like London, Manchester and Bristol. Just hop onto our search engine and narrow your selection down by location, team size and facilities. It’s the most stress-free way to find the perfect workspace for your business.