What is temporary office space and is it right for my business?

Whatever your industry, it’s likely that at some stage you might have to consider temporary office space for your company.

Typically, a temporary office solution is for small companies getting started, midsize firms that are starting to grow, or large organisations completing a restructure. Whatever the reason, renting temporary office spaces should be simple.

Here’s everything you need to know if you’re thinking about renting a temporary workspace for your team.

What is a temporary office space?

In the simplest terms, a temporary office space has all the essential amenities of any other office space. These include desks, meeting rooms, and breakout spaces. The big difference is that the rental agreement is set to a shorter time than a traditional office rental.

You might want to rent by the hour if you have a small number of employees. Or, you might want to secure space by the month for a more established but expanding team.

A temporary office rental offers flexibility for your company if you aren’t ready to commit to a long-term rental agreement.

Types of temporary office spaces

Temporary office spaces come in a variety of different options. These range from coworking spaces where you can rent an individual desk to full buildings where your whole team can feel at home.

These spaces can be a mixed business environment or private offices with communal kitchens and bookable meeting rooms.

Your clients, or even members of your team, might not realise that you’re even renting a temporary space at all. Let’s take a detailed look at some of the different types of space available:

Shared office space

Shared office spaces accommodate multiple businesses in the same commercial properties.

Ideal for smaller enterprises, these spaces are usually a cost-effective option if you prefer a lively, sociable environment. This kind of space encourages casual interactions, communications and cross-pollination that can benefit your business.

Many companies find it beneficial to join a coworking or shared space that is focused on their particular industry or specialism. For example, if you work in fashion PR, you might want to find a hub with other fashion specialists.

Dedicated desks

If there’s one thing you want in an office, it’s a desk where you can work. Sometimes that’s all you need. That raises the question of whether you are happy to hot desk or if you want a space you can call your own.

Some temporary offices or shared spaces offer dedicated desks. These allow you to lock your notes away in a drawer at 5 pm and come back to the same desk the next day.

Consider what’s best for you and your workforce and ask what options the temporary offices can offer. A dedicated desk might better suit senior staff or employees who come into the office every day. On the other hand, juniors and hybrid workers could feel comfortable with hot desking.

Full-floor office space

To foster a sense of community within your company, or protect sensitive work that requires privacy, sharing a workspace might not be the best solution.

Full-floor office space is very popular with companies that need their own space but can’t necessarily fill a whole building. This option might include a communal lunch area for you and the other building occupants, or the building might be able to offer you a dedicated dining space just for your team on your floor.

Check for flexible offices that meet your specific needs in terms of layout, furniture, and meeting spaces.

Serviced office space

A serviced office space comes ready-furnished and equipped with everything you need to operate your business. This ranges from printing to reception services.

Extremely popular, this type of space means you never have to worry about lift maintenance, Wi-Fi upgrades, or window cleaning. The space you work in is managed by someone else so that you can focus on the day-to-day job.

Generally, if you’re simply renting a desk in a coworking space, you can assume the wider office is serviced. Full-floor and shared office spaces are also often serviced too.

Is a temporary office right for your business?

Complex agreements, refurbishments, growing teams, and economic uncertainty are all factors that might lead you to consider a temporary office. While a fixed agreement might work for some businesses, other companies need the flexibility and agility associated with a temporary office set-up.

A new company looking for a start-up office space might not yet know how big their team is likely to be or how much investment they will secure. While these question marks hang in the air, securing temporary buildings or even a handful of short-term desks allows them to keep working without having to make a long-term financial commitment.

Perhaps a large firm is refurbishing its existing longer-term office space and needs a temporary workspace. Short-term office space can be a cost-effective solution that allows employees to continue to work closely and comfortably together while the building work takes place.

Office workspace has to be flexible to suit the needs of your business and there will be a temporary solution for you whatever stage you’re at.

Benefits of renting a temporary office

Here’s your checklist of potential benefits when you rent office space on a short-term basis. Think carefully about what exactly you need and want from your short-term office lease.

1. Low overhead costs

Are you looking to better manage your outgoing costs? Spaces to rent for small businesses often offer flexibility and rates that help you take control of your cash flow.

2. Flexibility

Looking at your 12-month forecast, do you worry about being locked into a five-year agreement? Find a business office for rent that fits with your projections.

3. Fast and easy setup

How quickly do you need an office space? Many temporary furnished offices are available right now. Some can even be booked on the same day on an hour-by-hour basis.

4. Professional image

Meeting clients in coffee shops is not a good look. Business offices create a far more professional impression. You can book a temporary space for a single meeting or find a flexible space that you can use every day.

5. Amenities

When you’re looking for office space for your team, the amenities are a big consideration. Will you retain and attract better talent if you have an onsite gym? A full-service kitchen? A social space? Temporary offices offer these just as well as traditional offices.

6. Collaboration and community

If collaboration is key to your company culture, maybe you want to be part of a thriving hub of like-minded businesses. Could you benefit from networking evenings or skill-sharing events? Maybe your new tech company needs to be with other start-up businesses.

Choosing the right temporary office space

If you decide to opt for a temp office space, you need to find the right space.

This could be a single desk in a community of similar start-ups. Or, maybe your temporary office hire needs to be a whole serviced building on the outskirts of town. Whatever you are looking for, there are a few last things to consider.

Remember, amenities go beyond gyms, showers, and communal kitchens. Ask yourself if you and your team can manage the commute.

For drivers, is there dedicated or local parking? Is there a train station within walking distance? Somewhere to store bicycles? Local amenities such as shops and cafés are essential too.

When you have decided on the type of temporary workspace you need, take a step back and consider every other factor. These range from the length and flexibility of the agreement to the local transport connections.

A great office in the wrong part of town could see your talented team considering better alternatives. And taking a daily rental instead of a monthly option could be a costly mistake.

Find your perfect temporary office space

A temporary office space can be the ideal solution for your business, whether you’re a start-up or a more established company.

At Regus, we’re here to help you find the ideal workspace for as long or as short a time as you need it. Get in touch with us to find out how we can help you find the perfect temporary space for your business.

FAQs

Can a temporary office become a long-term office space?

So you’ve been in the same temporary office building for five years and you don’t want to change a thing. Your staff love it and it’s perfectly placed in the heart of all the action.

Now you’re thinking that you’d like a longer-term arrangement. But will the building owners or office managers entertain such an idea?

This all depends on you and your office provider. If you have been in the place for a while and would like to stay put, open a dialogue.

Whether it’s a whole office, an individual floor or even a shared space, both parties might well be open to more long-term commitments.

Is temporary office space the same as coworking space?

Yes and no. A coworking space is a specific environment where a variety of different companies might share floorspace, kitchen and maybe even desks.

A temporary office arrangement could be a coworking space if that’s what suits your specific needs. Or, it could be a private floor, an individual office or even a whole building.