Making the Leap from WFH to an Office Space

#Guest post

If you’ve been working from home for a while, you’ll understand all the benefits. Saving time and money on the commute feels like a no-brainer when balancing budgets and trying to carve out time for work and family. The flexibility to work while meeting obligations, be it dog walks, school sports days or simply trying to keep family life ticking over, is hugely useful. 

You’ll also understand the downsides: the loss of space at home, constant distractions, isolation from colleagues, the blending of life and work and the inability to turn off, replying to ‘just one more email’ while cooking the dinner. It can become overwhelming.

Serviced offices and coworking spaces are an ideal solution. Flexible contracts, part-time options and 24/7 access mean home workers can introduce the calm and professionalism of an office environment into their lives without losing the flexibility they need, or committing to expensive yearly contracts.

Upgrading to Pro Level

Working from home – or the coffee shop, or the car – has its advantages when juggling life and work. But if you’ve ever blurred your background to hide a pile of laundry or pretended your camera isn’t working because you’re actually in the supermarket, a coworking space with private call booths and a lack of curious pets or children might sound appealing.

Not only does it offer a professional upgrade for your business, but is a far less stressful experience for you and your family with no more need for the ‘I’m going on a call’ five-minute warning. Make calls at your coworking desk or move into a dedicated area if you need to keep your conversation private.

If you’re tired of arranging in-person business meetings in coffee shops only to arrive and find the only free spots are between the coffee machines and a group of frappe-hunting teens, serviced offices and coworking spaces are a big upgrade. With friendly, staffed reception desks and private meeting rooms with smart addresses, they’re perfect for meeting and impressing clients.

Coworking can also give you your home back. Whether your WFH set-up is the kitchen table, a corner of the bedroom or a dedicated room or garden office, moving your business out of your home means you gain back space for growing kids, hobbies, workout gear or just the clutter that’s been pushed into the corners on Zoom calls. 

How Does It Work?

Serviced offices and coworking spaces offer freelancers, start-ups, small business owners and remote workers a professional environment to work in without the obligations of leasing their own office.

They usually include:

  • Rent and utilities
  • Cleaning and maintenance
  • 24/7 access
  • Regular community and networking events
  • Professional touches like a staffed reception desk and business address
  • Facilities such as kitchens, meeting rooms, break out spaces and call booths
  • Amenities that make life more pleasant – hot showers, bike storage, ergonomic furniture and hot drinks

What Kind of Office Space Is Right for You?

Coworking

If you’re not ready to commit to the office full-time, flexible options are available. Coworking is a great way to add balance.

There are different ways to go about it. Hot desking is the most budget-friendly and flexible way to start. Turn up, find a spot and get cracking. Whether you need a quiet spot to focus on work, want to spend less time isolated at home and take advantage of networking opportunities (or a bit of both!), hot desking offers what you need.

If you’d like something more formalised, look into a dedicated or set desk. This will be reserved for you for a monthly rate, meaning you can pick out the perfect spot and hang on to it. 

Either way, a monthly rolling coworking agreement is ideal for part-time use, with the option of flexing to full time if and when you need to.

Serviced Offices

If you’re a small business owner or start-up that began life in the spare room and is now taking over the house, a serviced office is a sensible next step.

  • A no-strings approach – rolling monthly contracts mean you’re not going to be ploughing money into office space should money become tighter or needed elsewhere.
  • Serviced offices are there for whatever you need – take on what’s right for your business right now, and change the layout, add more floorspace or take on a bigger office space as you grow, all without the hassle of a big move.
  • Private serviced offices are clean, thoughtfully designed and ready to go with logistics built in.
  • If you want to personalise the space, in-house design teams can help you elevate your space and create a home for your brand. 
  • Your next big contract could be just down the hall – networking opportunities are everywhere, from organised events to a chat by the kettle.

Room to Grow, Without the Pressure

Whether you’re working alone, building a team or an established company of remote workers, hot desking or a small serviced office can be the next step on your journey. While traditional office costs can stifle a business if there’s a temporary dip in fortunes – think lockdown, supply issues, international financial downturns – built-in flexibility helps your business roll with the punches and seize the moment.