What 'services' are included in a serviced office?

Thousands of companies across the globe are in the process of ditching their long-term leases in favour of serviced offices and coworking spaces. If you visit our site regularly, you'll probably already know what a serviced office is, but if you don't, here's the condensed definition:

"With a serviced office, the occupier pays an all-inclusive, flexible rental fee that covers monthly rent, services, business rates, furnishings, coffee, sometimes beer...'

- The Search Office Space Dictionary

Let's hone in on the 'service charges' part. Now, there are dozens of office 'services' out there, and some providers offer more than others. We look at the services that are most important to our clients, and the ones most searched for on our website.

1. A high-speed connection

Not a shocker, this one. Nowadays, the majority of serviced offices come with dedicated fibre optic broadband to keep companies constantly connected. And as the cloud becomes an ever-important part of our working (and social) lives, it's never been more important to stay connected when working from home or on the move.

2. Meeting space

Although we're getting used to working remotely and from multiple locations, businesses still recognise the importance of getting their teams together in one space to bond and brainstorm. A convenient space is needed for pitching to clients as well. Not only do most serviced offices come with dedicated meeting space, they also contain the latest VC and presentation technology.

Check out the wacky meeting rooms at this venue in Waterloo.

3. 24/7 access

Since flexible working took over, many startups have thrown the notion of a 9-5 in the bin - sorry Dolly. People need to access their space 24 hours a day, as and when it suits them, which is why most of our buildings are always open and operate on a key card system for security purposes.

4. Tea & coffee

Fuel for the day, aka our trusty friend caffeine, is free in any reputable serviced office or coworking centre. In fact, this space in Soho is actually an award-winning independent group of speciality coffee shops that has diversified into the coworking industry! Brew anyone?

Read our recent blog on planned coffee intake in the office.

5. Kitchen facilities

Fully-fitted kitchens are a given in any reputable serviced office facility. That means microwaves, tables and chairs, kettles, crockery and cutlery are already part and parcel of the space when you move in, and are usually shared with fellow residents.

6. Receptionist

Nothing beats personal interaction, and until smart buildings are universal, there will always be a need for a building receptionist to meet and greet clients and manage the building. The great things about the serviced option is, more often than not, they have a whole building team on hand to handle everything from phone calls to ICT hiccups to organising networking events.

7. Cleaning

Daily or weekly cleaning services are also included in the rental fee to leave your workspace spick and span. We all know a clean desk is a happy desk, and does wonders for our productivity levels.

8. Furnishings & fittings

Desks, chairs, beanbags...serviced offices are already fitted out with everything you need get your business up and running straight away. This is great news for startups don't want to shell out thousands on new furniture. Branding can be installed in a private office if desired. Don't worry - gone are the days of boring generic office furniture - many of the offices on our website are carefully curated by top architects, like these design-led offices in central London.

9. Showers

More and more people are choosing to ditch public transport or their car and cycle to work and for this reason, workspaces are factoring showers into their design plan. According to a recent study by Glasgow University, commuters who cycled to work had a 41% lower risk of dying from all causes than people who drove or took public transport. They also had a 46% lower risk of developing and a 52% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, and a 45% lower risk of developing and a 40% lower risk of dying from cancer.

10. Printing

Ryman? Ain't nobody got time for that! Colour printing is included in most serviced office locations.