THE TRADITIONAL OFFICE
When you think about what your office costs, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the rent, because it’s the number on the lease and it’s easy to keep track of. But around it sits a whole collection of other costs, from the fit-out and the furniture to the Wi-Fi, the meeting rooms, the repairs and the person who keeps it all ticking over. None of these show up as clearly as the rent does, yet they make up a large part of your real office costs.
None of it is unreasonable on its own, but it does add up faster than most of us expect. Have you ever sat down and added it all together? It can be quite the eye-opener, and it’s usually the moment people start properly comparing flexible office costs with what they’re currently paying.
THE PART THAT’S EASY TO MISS
Then there’s the space you’re paying for but not really using. If your team is working from home on a Monday, out visiting clients on a Wednesday and mostly remote on a Friday, that’s quite a few empty desks, and a traditional lease charges you for them all the same, regardless of how many people actually turn up.
It’s not that anyone’s doing anything wrong. It’s simply that the way we work has changed, and the way offices are usually set up, and priced, hasn’t always kept up. This is a big part of why flexible office costs tend to look so different from traditional ones.
The office is changing, and Quickly
With flexible workspace, a lot of those extra costs get looked after for you. At 2-Work, things like Wi-Fi, meeting rooms, hospitality and maintenance are all covered from day one, and our community team is on site if you ever need a hand with anything. That’s one of the clearest differences when you look at flexible office costs side by side with a traditional lease.
It’s a big part of why 65% of businesses say flexible workspace reduces their costs, according to IWG. It’s less about the space itself being cheap and more about not paying for lots of separate extras, or for room you’re not really using. And because the contracts are shorter and more flexible, you’re not tied into space you’ve outgrown, or space you don’t need any more, both of which quietly push up traditional office costs over time.
If you’d like to see what that looks like in practice, you can have a look around our spaces.
WHY NOT ADD IT UP?
If you’re curious, try writing down everything your current office costs you, including rent, fit-out, furniture, utilities and maintenance, and then compare it with what a flexible agreement includes. You might be surprised, or you might find the numbers simply back up what you already suspected about your flexible office costs potential.
Either way, we’d be happy to help you work through it, so just get in touch if you’d like a hand with the sums!
FAQs
Is a flexible office cheaper than a traditional one?
65% of businesses say flexible workspace reduces their costs, according to IWG. A lot of the saving comes from not paying separately for fit-out, furniture and facilities, or for space that sits empty when your team is out and about.
What’s included at 2-Work?
A lot! Your monthly price includes rent, utilities, Wi-Fi, unlimited free coffee, maintenance and on-site support from our community team. Not to mention access to our on-site breakout space, meeting rooms, kitchen facilities, monthly events and member discounts!
What hidden costs come with a traditional office?
Fit-out, furniture, facilities and maintenance are the usual ones, along with paying for space that goes unused when your team is remote or working elsewhere.
