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Finding Your Perfect Private Office

As your business grows and develops, your need for space, privacy, and control, away from the hustle and bustle of other community-based office spaces, may begin to take precedence. It is a positive problem to have as you and your team continue to move from strength to strength, which is why finding your perfect private office in London or any other location is vital to continuing this trend.

At the start of your search, it is essential to remember that private office spaces have different contracts, services, and facilities that you need to consider and compared to your budget, requirements, and location.

The four main types of private offices are serviced, leased, managed, and subleased; picking the right one is crucial. Another critical factor to bear in mind is the values and style of your brand or business, as your private office space should create a cohesive vision and reflect these to your clients, partners, and collaborators.

To support you in making an informed decision, below, we’ve created a checklist of the top four aspects to consider when finding your perfect private office.

Research The Location

Location, location, location, every business wants and needs to be accessible, easy to find and surrounded by other like-minded companies and industries. It is top of the list for a reason, and where you choose to set up shop requires several considerations.

Firstly, you’ll want to think about the average commute for employees, including yourself, to be realistic about what is manageable. The time spent getting to and from the office is a waste for your business and can create inefficiencies when public transport is unreliable. In connection with this, you’ll need to think about nearby transport links; having bus stops, tube stations, car parks, and bike storage on-site or within a reasonable distance increases your accessibility for clients and partners, as well as your team.

You’ll want to think about any known disabilities and medical requirements, too, as you’ll want your private offices to be welcoming and convenient for everyone. Making practical decisions about location early in your search prevents avoidable obstacles from being put in the path of your employees, contractors, clients and partners and aids growth and productivity.

Additionally, we’d suggest considering the surrounding neighbourhood and environment by asking yourself if it reflects your brand, values, and client base. For example, creative businesses might consider Soho the heart of the arts in London. In contrast, financial start-ups might prefer to be more central and closer to the global brands and skyscrapers of London’s Square Mile.

Think About The Type Of Space You Need

As previously mentioned, you can choose from four key types of private offices, each with its own set of advantages for your business.

A serviced office offers an inbuilt and readily available infrastructure, minimising start-up costs and time spent installing facilities and setting up essential services such as broadband, meeting rooms, a reception and hiring maintenance staff and administrators. All you need to do is move in and install any industry-specific technology or specialised devices you require. An additional advantage to this type of private office is how flexible the leases are, ranging from one month to a year, you decide the length of the agreement perfect for any fast-growing start-up.

A leased office, unlike a serviced office, makes the tenant responsible for installing furnishings, setting up utilities and arranging the layout, providing increased control of a business's brand, culture and work style. As a result, investment costs are high, requiring a large sum of initial capital. However, due to the long-term tenancy agreements of between five to ten years, they work out as much more cost-effective in the long run and promise exclusive occupation. It is an excellent option for mid to large-sized companies with a stabilised team size and client base.

A subleased office is when a leased office’s tenant allows another business to use its office space via a separate contract similar to the original lease agreement. The advantage of a sublease is that you get access to all the perks of a leased office, but with more flexibility and reduced initial set-up costs as you can inherit the furnishings already installed, making it the perfect budget-friendly option.

A managed office allows the tenant exclusivity and complete freedom to customise the building, facilities, design and layout to reflect their brand whilst still paying rent monthly to a landlord like a serviced or leased office. The primary advantage of this option is that a third party still manages the space, so you can reduce the set-up costs significantly by spreading out the cost of changes across the tenancy rather than needing a large upfront lump sum.

Match The Facilities To Your Needs

Every company’s needs are different, that’s why picking a private office with the facilities to match can be the key to increasing productivity, encouraging collaboration, and taking care of your staff’s well-being.

A good place to start is by asking your employees what is important to them in terms of layout, space and services. This gives you a deeper understanding of their needs, which, when combined with your brand’s ethos and values, can help you significantly focus your search.

We’d recommend thinking about practical facilities first by considering if you and your team require the following:

  •  24-hour and weekend access
  •   A secure entry
  •  An on-site car park or bike storage
  •   In-house maintenance and cleaning staff
  •  Furniture - fully furnished, partially or completely customisable
  •  A mailing and trading address
  • Installed utilities and Wi-fi
  •  On-site childcare
  •  Disabled access
  •  Inventory storage and locker
  • Printing facilities
  • A reception and front-of-house team

Once you have established your initial list of priorities, you can look at secondary facilities focusing on the layout, design, and services you’d like to have available. Consider whether you’d need:

  • Breakout rooms
  •   Meeting rooms
  •  Private phone booths
  •  Event spaces
  • An on-site gym with showers
  • A cafe or bar for clients
  •  A communal roof terrace or garden
  •   The building to be pet-friendly

Getting your blend of facilities right the first time is vital to employee retention, overall satisfaction, and your business’ brand. It is the first impression for clients and partners and should reflect your work style and ethos.

Evaluate The Affordability

Money makes the world go round, and if you are wondering if a private office space is more expensive than other office types, the answer is yes. However, that doesn’t mean they are not affordable, as there are private offices to suit every budget.

To evaluate the affordability of a private office, we’d recommend ensuring you know the maximum amount you can afford to spend and an idea of the length of your tenancy agreement. The longer you plan to rent an office space, the more cost-effective it can be over time. You’ll also want to factor in initial start-up costs, utility bills and any additional service costs not covered by the landlord or host. It can be worth contacting the previous tenant for an honest opinion on any hidden expenses, too. The more you know, the better prepared you’ll be for the future.

Find The Perfect Private Office With Spacepool

At Spacepool, we’ve made finding your perfect private office in London straightforward and stress-free with a wide range of carefully curated offices to choose from. Search, view, hire and sign for free in one place with no need for agents and a direct line to the host using our streamlined and centralised booking process.

Think simple, safe, and secure with a dedicated team you can trust to put high-quality office space right at your fingertips. So, whether you’re looking for a private office in North London or venturing to the South, East or West, you’ll be able to use our specialised filter to narrow your search based on type, team size, price and available facilities. Sounds perfect? Book with our team at Spacepool to start your journey to picking your dream private office today.