An office is one of those things that every company needs in order to have credibility with clients and attract professional employees.

Serviced office spaces are an excellent solution for small to medium-sized companies, offering designer workspaces, printing and telecommunications facilities, and networking opportunities with fellow tenants. There is also the convenience of paying one monthly fee which includes rent, electricity fees, wireless Internet and most other amenities.

If you’re keen to take advantage of these benefits and rent a serviced office space, here are three essential tips that will help you find the perfect office premises.

1. The best value is found outside the hubs

Almost every tech entrepreneur in London seems to be based in Shoreditch, with start-ups clamouring to secure office space in the city’s answer to Silicon Valley.

Instead of clamouring along with them, it may be best to ditch Shoreditch in favour of a less trendy area (King’s Cross comes to mind) and save yourself a fair amount of money each month. You’ll find larger premises at lower monthly rates away from the city’s business hubs, and with telecommuting becoming more popular, you won’t be missing out on much – except crowds, traffic and overpriced coffee.

2. Find a serviced office space that will grow with your business

As any entrepreneur will tell you, most startups can’t really predict what their sales figures and turnover will look like a year from now – and yet, many small businesses are forced to sign long term rental agreements.

Finding yourself locked into an agreement with little or no flexibility is one of the worst situations any business owner could face. Instead, when you compare different serviced London offices make sure you sign with a provider who will allow you to change the size of your premises and release you from your lease without huge penalties if you need to downsize.

3. Experience the office space before you sign

A shared office can look fantastic online or in a brochure, but even if the facilities and services are exactly what you expect, you’ll need to experience the building’s atmosphere before you sign a lease.

Visit the facilities – more than once if necessary – and speak to the staff and current tenants to get a feel for the type of businesses and personalities that you’ll be sharing the space with. Important factors to bear in mind include the commute from home to work, the rental price, and the networking opportunities with fellow tenants.

Surprisingly, small details like the air quality, the view from your office window, and even the type of coffee in the common areas may influence your decision too.

Conclusion

A shared office space is the ideal solution for businesses with smaller space requirements that are seeking a flexible, no-hassle rental solution in London. By knowing what type of premises and lease agreement you’re looking for, and choosing a serviced office that suits your needs and budget, you’ll be able to select the perfect premises to put your business on the path to growth and future success.

Photo credit: Daria Nepriakhina