Which type of office is right for my business?

Finding the right type of office is a real challenge. Location, setup, cost, the way your team works: there is a lot riding on the decision, and more options than ever to weigh up.

Each one suits a different kind of business. Here is a clear breakdown of the main four, traditional, serviced, co-working and managed, to help you find your fit.

Traditional lease

A private, self-contained space with full control: your name on the door, your number of meeting rooms, your design. It comes with a longer commitment and significant upfront cost, which often works for larger, established businesses.

• Term: typically three years or more.
• Suited to: larger businesses with a stable outlook and the capital to invest in a space they fully control.
• Less suited to: scaling teams without the time or expertise to coordinate, then run, a full office move.

Serviced office

Already fitted out, so there is no build delay, and often available on monthly rolling contracts for maximum agility. You will not own the space or be able to bring your brand into it, and you will share communal areas, which can be a plus for early-stage teams who want a community around them.

• Term: typically 12 months, with shorter terms available at a premium.
• Suited to: early-stage and scaling businesses that need to stay agile, and value being around other companies.
• Less suited to: anyone after a private, self-contained space they can design themselves.

How is a serviced office different from co-working?

In co-working, you share the working areas as well as the communal ones. Serviced offices suit larger teams who want their own room; co-working suits freelancers and small teams who want to collaborate and network throughout the day.

Managed office

A managed office blends the simplicity of a serviced office with the privacy of a conventional lease. It is a bespoke space, tailored to you, with day-to-day management and a full range of services included. A private office without the running of it.

• Term: typically 18 months to five years, with scope to flex.
• Suited to: businesses wanting a space of their own with more flexibility than a traditional lease, and without the time or expertise to design and manage it themselves.
• Less suited to: very early-stage teams who still want the buzz and networking of a shared space.

Considering a managed office?

Many companies find a managed office is the sweet spot: a space they can call their own, without the work of running it. At Kitt, we help businesses find, design and settle into offices worth leaving home for, looking after the whole journey from first search to life in the space.