Many companies are now ditching the traditional office space and opting for the more flexible and economically serviced office space. For the uninitiated, a serviced office space refers to a space equipped and run by an operator.

If you rent serviced offices in Hammersmith or other places, then you're likely to have access to an already furnished private working space. The place will usually come with a team of professional receptionists and other shared facilities such as a lounge, kitchen, breakout area, meeting rooms, and others.

In addition to not having to worry about maintenance issues, it's also a much more flexible model payment-wise. Payments are usually per desk (you don't pay for a space you don't use), and you also usually get to pay as you go, meaning you typically don't need to pay for times you aren’t using the office as well.

Things To Consider When Looking For A Service

Are you thinking of renting serviced office space? Before you do, here are some things you should consider to help you decide:

1. Location

Location does have a bearing on your company's brand, so you should consider where the office space you’re renting out is. An office address in a good location can add prestige to your business in the eyes of your potential client, and that's the effect you want your office to have. Besides, it's the primary function of housing your business.

In addition, a good location will have you close to other important services you might need as a business such as hospitality, transport, and other corporate services that’ll likely be within walking distance from your office.

2. Setup Costs

Make sure you're fully aware of all the costs that’ll come with renting your chosen office space both in the short and long run. Even though you'll find that most offices won't charge any setup fees, it's still important to verify this, so you don't walk into any hidden charges.

Another thing to consider is your future business plans versus the office space you're thinking of renting. Could it support your future growth? Do they have the amenities to support you should you take this route? This is an important consideration for long-term setup costs because if they can't, you'd essentially have to set up now then set up again later in a different space, which could be expensive.

Similarly, suppose you expect to downsize in the future because you see yourselves emphasizing remote work more. In that case, this is information you might want to include in your initial discussions with your office's operator so you can structure an agreement.

3. Check What They Offer In Their Service Package

What's your service going to be inclusive of? Some spaces offer better packages than others, so you'll need to be sure you're getting the best deal in town. Best, of course, depends on your personal needs and priorities.

Check if the following services are included in the fees, or there will be additional costs if you need them:

• Internet
• Electricity
• Refreshments
• Phone and make handling
• Storage
• IT support
• Air conditioning
• Office equipment (projectors, printers, etc.)
• Security staff
• Cleaning services

If the facility also has a meeting room that's used together with other tenants, you might want to find out how much they charge per usage. Some services make it a separate fee, yet some just include it in the service package, so verify before you commit.

4. Furniture And Amenities

Now that you know how these will be charged, it's time to see if they’re what you’d need for your office space. As you take a tour of your future office, make sure you're taking note of the kind of furniture and office amenities they have in their serviced offices and whether or not you can see yourself working in that kind of space. It's the space you'll spend the bulk of your day anyway, so it needs to be comfortable and relaxing.

What's the Wi-Fi speed in the offices? This one can be a big make or break as it can affect productivity and professional lifestyle. If you already have your own furniture, run this through your operator as well. Typically, there won't be any extra charge for that, but confirm this with them.

5. Accessibility And Security

You want to be sure that the building isn't too old that it’ll be a threat to your security should you use it, so check on the security measures installed inside and around it. If you ever need access to the building after normal working hours, what's the procedure for that, if there’s that allowance at all?

Conclusion

Renting a serviced office space for your business is one of the most important things you can do to cut your operational expenses by a big fraction and add more flexibility to your work lifestyle. But to achieve this, you'll need to do the necessary research to ensure you pick a good office in the first place.