Startup Office Spaces - Best Office Types for Your Startup

One of the most important decisions a startup can make is choosing the right workspace for their business. Without an appropriate startup office space, it can be difficult to foster collaboration and creativity among employees while also maintaining a professional atmosphere.

We have sifted through many office spaces in London to find your business the ideal environment. Whether you need private offices, shared office spaces, or virtual office spaces, this article will cover what you need.

The Importance of Your Physical Environment in Teamwork

Your workspace has a direct effect on productivity and morale.

A cluttered office can lead to feelings of anxiety, while an open space can encourage collaboration and creativity. As a startup, finding the right office space is crucial because every dollar holds a high value in the earlier stages of a business.

Luckily, there are plenty of startup office space options available, as opposed to the standard commercial real estate which requires a strong financial foundation to begin with.

Types of Workspace

We all know about the traditional office, but if your startup requires more options, rest assured that there are plenty available. Each provides different benefits and caters to your startup's individual needs.

Coworking

Coworking spaces in London are a great choice for many startups. This shared office space provides an opportunity for cross-pollination between different companies and industries, which can lead to new avenues of learning or networking.

A coworking space is a shared workspace that can be rented on an hourly, daily, weekly or monthly basis. This type of workspace allows startups to access a professionally designed office without having to make a long-term commitment or costly investment in furniture and equipment.

Startup teams often find that working in a communal environment helps foster collaboration and creativity amongst employees by creating an atmosphere of togetherness. Coworking spaces are also convenient for those who prefer a hybrid work environment and require flexibility.

Another significant advantage startups gain by utilizing coworking for their office space is greatly reduced costs whilst still maintaining the functionality and amenities of an office. Because your business only pays for the space when using the desk itself, coworking spaces are a cost-effective startup office solution.

The only downside of a coworking space is the lack of customization. Since it is a shared space, your desk will look the same as everyone else's and you must be mindful of how loud you are, along with having a safe space to answer confidential calls.

Co-working spaces come in the form of hot desks and a dedicated desk, which means there are options to play with.

If you are considering to use coworking for your startup office space, then ensure it has the basic necessities such as furnished space, shared kitchen, technology and a support team.

Serviced Office

A serviced office is an excellent option for startups that want all of the characteristics of a traditional office without needing to commit to a long-term lease. Serviced offices provide the most similar environment to a regular office and are more suited for those desiring convenience with stability.

A serviced office allows businesses to have a permanent space in an office tower, which aids in delivering a professional and positive first impression for your business. These spaces come fully furnished and are the better option if you want to customize or personalize your workspace with photos, artwork or music.

This comes with the added benefit of creating a structured routine for coming into the office if that is what you prefer. This type of startup office space is better suited for individuals who want to come into the office every day.

Virtual Office

Everything but the office.

As the name implies, a virtual office provides business all of the services and amenities of a standard office space – just without the physical space.

This option is a great pathway for businesses to break into the market with a minimal financial commitment. Virtual offices give businesses a professional address, phone number and mail services without having to rent a physical office.

With the costs being greatly lower than a traditional workspace, startups are able to gain a foundation of credibility without breaking the bank. Virtual office providers such as Servcorp also have meeting rooms and boardrooms available, which can be used at the location of your virtual office to ensure an impressionable interaction with clients.

How to Choose the Best Workspace for Your Startup?

When choosing a flexible office space for your startup, consider factors including size, layout, cost, and features. Your startup culture and requirements will dictate the ideal office space, but here are a few essentials to keep an eye on.

Cost

Renting commercial real estate comes at a high cost, especially when it is located in the business district of your city. While it is undoubtedly a desirable workspace, startups will find it difficult to acquire such an office space when starting out.

Another downside of opting for traditional office space, is that it’s simply an empty space. Your business still requires the finances to buy furniture, acquiring and installing technology, along with hiring a team.

Ensure to research workspace guides in London when leasing an office space.

Lease

As a startup, your business is in the most malleable phase it will ever be in and experience many changes. To accommodate for this, you require an office space which seamlessly enables you to expand or downsize.

A typical commercial real estate lease in the city can span anywhere from five to 20 years – a very long commitment period. Determine an appropriate lease length for your startup office space and find out if there are flexible terms in place.

Leases usually come in three forms: net lease, gross lease and semi-gross lease.

Other than paying rent for your office space, there are additional costs known as ‘outgoings’. These include council rates, water rates, land tax, electricity, maintenance and a few other factors.

Although uncommon to find, a net lease includes all of the outgoings in the rent and you don’t need to pay for additional costs.

A gross lease means your business needs to pay for all of the outgoings, whereas a semi-gross lease requires you to only pay for certain outgoings.

When acquiring your startup office space, be sure to inquire about which type of lease you are signing up for.

Reputation

Your startup office space should illustrate your business as an established player in the market and as the expert. Using your home address to advertise your business and inviting clients to your home won’t bring the positive first impression, but neither will an average address in a local suburb.

When selecting a coworking space, virtual office and serviced office provider, look for an address that will impress. For example, Servcorp has spaces available in One World Trade Center New York, One Mayfair Place London, Two International Finance Centre Hong Kong and many other prestigious locations across the globe.

Technology

When selecting your startup office space, always consider the technology available. A standard coworking space or serviced office comes with Wi-Fi, but how else can it contribute towards enhancing your business?

Other than those minimum standards, check if your provider has call routing technology, custom internet security and systems which enable your business to work hybrid.

Team

A traditional office space comes with four walls and a ceiling, but there's much more to setting up a successful startup than just finding the perfect location. Startup owners must also consider how they will finance their team, which can be an expensive endeavour. Fortunately, flexible workspace providers like Servcorp can greatly reduce this cost.

Having a complete support team to delegate tasks to is part of Servcorp's flexible workspace solution. As part of your team, businesses have their own dedicated receptionist, secretarial support and in-house I.T support.

Remember, the perfect office space is incomplete without team support.

The Overview

By taking all these factors into consideration when setting up your startup's office space, you will be able to determine which solution is best suited for your business. Whether it's a coworking space, serviced office or virtual office, there are many options available to entrepreneurs and a commercial foothold can be secure by using any of them.