Types of Office Space | Compare Workspace Options

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Different Types Of Workspaces

Looking for a flexible workspace? Get to know the different types of flexible office available so you can make an informed choice.

Serviced Offices

The ‘plug & play’ office solution. A great option for businesses who want to get up and running quickly, without the stress of starting from scratch. With all-inclusive amenities and communal spaces, you’ll get the convenience of a fixed office space whilst enjoying a buzzy, collaborative atmosphere.

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Managed Offices

A flexible workspace with all-inclusive costs and amenities that is typically leased as a whole office to a single business. You’ll reap the benefits of an all-inclusive, adaptable workspace whilst having a blank canvas to make the office space your own. The ultimate flexible set-up for growing businesses.

Learn more about Managed Offices

Enterprise Offices

Offer flexible rental terms and are ideal for larger teams wanting their own dedicated space. Fully furnished with amenities included, enterprise offices are perfect for big organisations who want a professional, inviting workspace without being locked into a long-term lease.

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Private Offices

A dedicated, turn-key office designed for individuals or small teams. Fully furnished and readily equipped with amenities including high-speed Wi-Fi, private offices are ideal for teams who want a space where they can collaborate without interruption.

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Sublet Offices

Sometimes, a business will need to move out of its office before the lease comes to an end. In this case, the business may sub-lease the space to another company, allowing the new occupier to benefit from shorter lease periods. This can be a cost-effective way to rent a traditional office space.

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Coworking Offices

A single desk or small number of desks based in a coworking space or serviced office. This can either come in the form of a dedicated desk, which allows you to personalise the space and leave your things in place, or a hotdesking setup requiring you to clear your belongings at the end of the day.

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Office Types At A Glance

Managed office vs Serviced office vs Traditional lease

Category	Managed office	Serviced office	Traditional lease
Term length	Mid-term (12-36 months)	Short-term (1-12 months)	Long-term (5-10+ years)
Pricing	Moderate (fixed monthly fee, no upfront lease)	Low (deposit and monthly fee)	High (fit-out, furniture, legal fees, deposits)
Set-up time	Instant move-in (fully fitted, ready to use)	Instant move-in	Lengthy fit-out process (months)
Scalability	Flexible for scaling teams, with the ability to expand or downsize	Highly flexible, ideal for uncertain growth plans	Limited flexibility, requires long-term stability
Employee benefits	Customised spaces with access to modern amenities (cafes, gyms, wellness areas)	Customised spaces with access to modern amenities (cafes, gyms, wellness areas)	Limited, though newer office buildings may offer upgraded facilities
Customisation	Full branding options within a private space	Full branding options within a private space	Full branding, with total design control over the space
Operations	Partially managed (outsourced facilities management available)	Partially managed (outsourced facilities management available)	Self-managed, full responsibility for repairs, maintenance, and service contracts

Serviced Offices Vs Managed Offices

What’s the difference?

Both managed and serviced offices offer flexibility and avoid the pitfalls of traditional leases. With a managed office, the office is managed and serviced by an external provider, but you are able to customise the space to make it your own, with the freedom to choose your own IT infrastructure, equipment and internet.

With a serviced office, the office comes fully-furnished and is managed by a third party, with the third party also providing and managing all services and amenities like equipment and furniture. Serviced offices generally share amenities like kitchens and meeting rooms with other businesses in the building.

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Flexible Office Solutions Vs Traditional Office Lease

Cost

Traditional office leases tend to require significant upfront investments, including deposits, legal fees, and fit-out expenses. In contrast, flexible office spaces consolidate these expenses into a single, transparent monthly fee, covering utilities, internet, furniture, and access to amenities.

Fit-out

Traditional offices typically come as empty shells, leaving tenants responsible for furnishing and customising the space. This adds to both the cost and time taken to move in. Flexible office spaces come pre-fitted with modern furniture, decor, and essential office infrastructure, so your business can hit the ground running.

Flexibility

Traditional leases often lock businesses into long-term commitments of five to ten years. While this arrangement offers stability, it lacks the adaptability you need if you want to scale up or downsize quickly. Flexible office spaces offer short-term contracts, sometimes as short as a month, allowing you to adjust your workspace as your needs evolve.

Speed of Moving In

Moving into a traditional office can be a lengthy process, with fit-out work, utility setup, and design and decoration to take care of. In flexible office spaces, this process is already equipped and operational, allowing you to move in almost immediately.

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How Long Does It Take To Move In?

From signing the contract to signing in to your computer at your new desk, the timelines for moving into your new office space can vary significantly.

Leased Office Timeline

Month 1-2

Initial search Defining your needs Meeting with Agents Viewing Spaces

Month 3-4

Select your space Meeting with Lawyers Landlord Negotiations Signing of Lease

Month 5-6

Office setup Procurement of Furniture
Design of Space
Ordering of Materials
Fitout Commencement

Month 7-8

Move in IT Implementation
H&S Compliance
Final Preparations

Serviced Office Timeline

Week 1

Initial search Defining your needs Viewing Spaces

Week 2

Select your space Short-list space
Negotiations
Signing of Agreement

Week 2

Office setup Move In Meeting
Design and Layout

Week 4

Move in Final Preparations
Moving In

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Office Type FAQs

We’re here to answer all your questions so you can make the best workspace decisions for your business.

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What is a managed office?

A managed office is a fully fitted, private workspace customised to your brand. You sign a flexible licence bundling rent, business rates, utilities, cleaning, furniture, IT support and facilities management into one predictable monthly fee. The operator handles daily upkeep while you retain control of layout, signage and security, giving scale-ups corporate quality without the capital outlay or rigidity of a traditional lease.

What is a serviced office?

A serviced office offers plug-and-play desks within a multi-occupancy centre. One rolling monthly payment covers furnished workspace, ultrafast internet, staffed reception, meeting rooms, mail handling, cleaning and refreshments. You can move in within days and add or remove workstations at short notice, keeping overheads predictable. Ideal for start-ups, project teams and remote branches seeking instant professional presence without long contractual commitments.

What is an enterprise office?

An enterprise office provides a large, customised headquarters for organisations needing roughly fifty to five hundred desks. The provider sources and fits out space to your specification, installs dedicated networks and security, and manages compliance, cleaning and maintenance under a single invoice. Two- to five-year agreements deliver brand control, cultural cohesion and cost certainty while enabling faster occupancy and expansion than a conventional lease.

What is a private office?

A private office is an enclosed, lockable room or suite reserved exclusively for one company inside a flexible workspace. It grants confidentiality, controlled access and the freedom to brand interiors while still using shared lounges, kitchens and meeting rooms. Short, all-inclusive licences let businesses upgrade or relocate easily, providing focus and security without the long-term obligations of a full leased floor.

What is a sublet office?

A sublet office is workspace originally leased by one company and then re-rented to another firm for the remainder of the term. The incoming occupier signs a sublease with the head tenant, not the landlord, typically gaining a fitted office at a reduced rate and for a shorter duration than a direct lease. Subletting lets the main tenant cut surplus costs while giving subtenants flexible, lower-risk occupancy.

What is a coworking space?

A coworking space is a shared workplace where individuals and teams rent hot desks or dedicated desks on flexible memberships. Fees include high-speed Wi-Fi, ergonomic furniture, meeting rooms, phone booths, printing, coffee and community events. The open-plan setting encourages networking, idea exchange and collaboration across sectors. Day passes and month-to-month contracts let users scale quickly, avoiding fit-out costs and lease commitments.

Understanding Office Types: A Complete Guide to Choosing Yours