Coworking spaces and serviced office spaces are two of the most popular office types. Most businesses will consider either of these types of office spaces when deciding where to run their business.

Coworking spaces have typically attracted businesses in the tech and creative industries. Organisations in finance and more traditional sectors may have typically looked to private office space.

However, thanks to flexible office space being popular for hybrid working, many businesses can now work from anywhere, at any time.

Below, we'll explore both options, examining serviced offices vs coworking spaces. We’ll discuss each option in detail, helping you to determine which flexible office environment might be best for your business, whether you’re a freelancer, SME, or larger enterprise.

What are the differences between serviced offices and coworking spaces?

While they both fit under the ‘flexible working space’ umbrella, coworking office spaces and serviced offices have many differences.

1. Workspace floorplan

Coworking spaces typically use an open-plan layout.  These enable professionals to take advantage of collaborative workspaces.

Serviced offices, on the other hand, are designed to fit between the traditional office and modern workspace. They usually include a variety of private offices, “cubicle style” workstations and some open-plan areas.

This means employees can choose their working environment to suit their needs. Sometimes, people need quiet spaces for more focused work or one-to-one meetings. At other times, employees may need to easily communicate with colleagues. A serviced office offers the best of both worlds.

2. Design of the workspace

Serviced offices are usually designed for whole corporations or teams to work in. Because of this, they tend to be more corporate-focused. You’ll often find neutral colours, private offices and spaces for individual work.

Coworking spaces are designed to strike a good work-life balance. Many coworking offices have a more casual look and feel. This includes opting for brighter colours, as well as making use of modern facilities and spaces for workers to relax.

3. Culture

Coworking spaces enable collaboration and socialisation with other businesses and individuals. This means they often have more collaborative cultures and are regularly frequented by startup businesses or freelancers.

Serviced offices can be home to many different businesses. This means the culture is often geared towards team building within a single business.

Serviced offices

A serviced office is a fully furnished space that is ready for businesses to start working from right away. Serviced offices typically comprise a selection of fully-equipped workspaces, building management services and essential business amenities.

Serviced office amenities

Alongside fully furnished office space, a serviced office space could also include:

• Communal break-out areas
• Meeting rooms
• Managed reception
• Mail services
• Business-grade technology including phones and internet
• Shared kitchen facilities
• Business lounge access
• On-site support teams
• Cleaning and maintenance
• Parking
• 24-hour access
• Access to networking events

The benefits

There are several benefits of working from furnished offices, whether you’re a solo freelancer or a business with an entire team.

• Convenience

  Professionals can start working right away without needing to purchase, hire or set up their equipment. Additionally, serviced office space contracts typically include utilities and services for a single monthly fee, making paying for them easier.

• Simplicity

  Traditional office rentals typically require businesses to spend time filing paperwork and spending money on equipment before they can start working. Serviced office spaces for rent tend to be much more simple, with a flat fee for a set period.

• Privacy

  Compared to a shared workspace or open space office, serviced offices often provide greater privacy for businesses due to their office design. Many serviced offices include private offices alongside communal workspaces, allowing organisations to have the best of both worlds.

  • Cost

    Serviced office spaces can also offer greater cost efficiencies when compared to traditional office space. This is because many serviced office plans allow businesses to scale their space up or down depending on their needs.

    Disadvantages of rented office space

    While there are many advantages to serviced offices, there are some disadvantages too.

    • Lack of personalisation

      Unless your serviced office space is customisable, it’s likely that you won’t be able to personalise the office space to suit your brand. This could mean that visitors might not get a real sense of who your business is or what it stands for.

    • Sharing facilities

      While your office might be on a floor of its own, you’ll still be sharing some facilities with other businesses. This means less control over processes such as tidying up or cleaning in communal areas. It could also mean meeting rooms might not be readily available for impromptu meetings.

      Which businesses would benefit from a serviced office?

      Many different types of businesses can benefit from serviced office space, from small startups to large enterprises.

      Some facilities management companies enable organisations to rent entire buildings or floors to accommodate their team. However, smaller workspaces are also available for individuals or small companies.

      Companies expanding their reach in a new locale also benefit from being able to start working instantly. With an office that’s ready to go immediately, you can get started without worrying about navigating office rental and management in a new location.

       The natural ability to scale easily and quickly is particularly beneficial for fast-growing companies or businesses with seasonal peaks. If a business needs to hire more staff to cover the busy summer months, it’s easy to add extra workstations in a serviced office space.

      Coworking spaces

      A coworking office is a flexible workspace where professionals from different businesses all work in one shared office. Single hot desks, dedicated desks and private offices are all usually available.

      Coworking amenities

      Just like serviced offices, coworking spaces come with several amenities that help businesses be more productive. Most coworking spaces include:

      • Different spaces to work from
      • Communal break-out areas
      • Shared kitchen space
      • Networking and social events
      • Helpful support teams
      • Manned reception
      • Mail handling
      • Business-grade technology
      • Access to meeting rooms
      • Parking facilities
      • Security and CCTV

      The benefits

      There are multiple benefits of coworking spaces, no matter what industry you work in.

      • Speed

        If your business is experiencing fast growth or you’re a new business, coworking spaces are ideal. Most can be booked almost instantly and include all the equipment you need to get up and running.
        Thanks to this, businesses can enjoy an increase in productivity from day one.
        

      • Accessibility

        In line with speed, coworking spaces are naturally accessible. Comprising everything you need to run your business, you can simply book a space, find your desk and get to work.

      • Price

        When compared to serviced offices or traditional office spaces, coworking spaces offer good value for money. When you rent a coworking space, you simply pay for what you use, enabling greater scalability.

      • Flexibility

        Flexibility is key for many different types of businesses. This ranges from freelancers working from new locations to businesses exploring remote or flexible working policies.
        Individuals can choose where they work in the office, allowing them to work where they are most productive.

        For ultimate flexibility, consider the Regus membership package, giving you access to our lounges, offices and coworking spaces when you need them.

        Disadvantages

        Although coworking is gaining popularity in many industries, there are some disadvantages too.

        • Less privacy

        Coworking space tends to be in an open-plan office, with people simply working from any desk in the space. This means there is often less privacy from coworkers when working on confidential or sensitive tasks.

        • Noise

        As you’d expect from a collaborative space, coworking spaces can be noisy at busy times. This can be distracting and mean it’s difficult to concentrate on tasks that require a lot of focus. It’s worth thinking about what types of businesses you might be working alongside. Would an accounting firm, where employees spend a lot of time on focused work, sit well alongside a bustling creative agency?

        • Lack of personalisation and control

        Like most serviced offices, you can’t personalise the space to suit your business or control processes in communal areas. While this isn’t always a huge disadvantage, it can be tricky when clients or prospects visit.

        Which businesses would benefit from a coworking space?

        All types of businesses can benefit from coworking spaces. However, they are particularly beneficial for startups and freelancers.

        Startups might use this type of office to benefit from networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities. Freelancers frequent coworking spaces to meet the need for community and the camaraderie typically found in traditional offices.

        How do serviced offices and coworking spaces compare?

        As we've covered, when deciding between serviced offices vs coworking spaces, there's plenty to consider.

        Several key differences set each office type apart. However, there are also similarities that you should keep in mind, to ensure you have an accurate overview of each type of workspace.

        Consider these similarities, below, to help you explore the right space to suit your business.

        Similarities

        • Amenities

        Each type of flexible office space offers amenities including essential equipment, furnishings, modern technology and access to admin support.

        • Communal spaces

        Coworking spaces and serviced offices also both provide communal spaces. This includes everything from break-out rooms and meeting rooms to communal kitchens and private booths.

        Cost comparisons

        It’s difficult to compare the costs of these office types without knowing the specifics. However, they typically have similar ‘per head’ price points due to their similarities.

        Serviced offices are typically used by larger teams, so the costs could naturally be higher than using a few hot desks.

        Coworking spaces usually offer membership options which can be more cost-effective than paying on the day of use. You can often purchase memberships giving you access to a coworking space on a set number of days per month. This means you’re only paying for what you use.

        Serviced office vs coworking: which is right for you?

        Knowing which office space is right for you can be difficult, so you must consider several different elements before making a decision. When weighing up the office space options, you could ask yourself the following questions:

        How much space do you need?

        Knowing how much space you need will help narrow down your search to spaces that can accommodate your needs. If you’re a solo freelancer, there will be more choices than if you’re looking to move 50 people into a new office.

        How often do you need the office space?

        Determining how often you will use the space is important too. Will you be there every day? Or do you often work from home and just need an office space once a week?

        Office space providers can provide detailed quotes and recommendations for spaces if they know how often you’ll be using them.

        How long do you need the space for?

        Both coworking spaces and serviced offices offer contracts of varying lengths. If you’re working on a six-month project, you may only need an office on a short-term basis. Knowing exactly how long you’ll need the space can help office space providers give recommendations that can best accommodate you.

        What kind of amenities do you need?

        You can easily narrow down your office space search by filtering spaces by the amenities provided. For example, it might be essential that your space has bookable meeting rooms or on-site parking. Making a list of non-negotiable can make it easier to find the perfect office space for your needs.

        What’s in your budget right now?

        Knowing what you can afford helps to speed up your search by filtering out anything that is unaffordable. It’s also a good idea to consider what your future needs might be. Do you have plans to grow your business in the future?

        If so, you should look at office spaces that allow you to scale up the amount of space you have as you grow. This can help to save you money in the long run, as it avoids you from moving offices every time you hire a new member of staff.

        Should you switch now to serviced offices or coworking spaces?

        Switching to a new office space depends on your current situation and needs.

        If you’re a startup or freelancer working from home, it might be easy for you to move to a new space right now.

        If you’re already in an office contract, it might not be the right time to move just now. But you can get a head start on your future by considering what you need from an office space and researching the options.

        If you’re ready to move to a new office space now, it’s never been easier. At Regus, we help you to work your way with shared office spaces that suit your business requirements. Browse serviced offices for rent or contact our team for a bespoke quote.