What is a Serviced Office Space? Complete Guide

A serviced office space is a fully furnished, ready-to-use workspace where everything—furniture, internet, utilities, reception, and cleaning—is included in one monthly fee. You sign a licence agreement (not a lease), move in within days, and get straight to work.

Think of it like renting a hotel room versus buying a flat. Someone else handles the maintenance, the bills, and the cleaning. You just show up.

The UK flexible office market is now worth over £2 billion and growing at roughly 8% annually. Around 40% of UK workers follow some form of hybrid schedule, and serviced offices have become a mainstream choice for businesses of all sizes—not just startups and freelancers.

This guide covers what's included, how pricing works, who serviced offices suit best, and how they compare to other office types. It's part of our complete guide to types of office space.

Serviced Office Space Definition

A serviced office is a private, lockable workspace within a managed building where a provider handles all operational aspects. You pay a single monthly fee covering rent, utilities, business rates, furniture, internet, reception services, and cleaning.

The key characteristics:

• Fully furnished – Desks, chairs, and storage provided
• All-inclusive pricing – One bill covers everything
• Flexible terms – Typically 1-24 months, not 3-10 years
• Professional services – Reception, mail handling, and building management included
• Shared amenities – Meeting rooms, kitchens, and break areas available

The "plug and play" concept means exactly what it sounds like. Walk in with your laptop and start working. No waiting for internet installation, no ordering furniture, no negotiating utility contracts. The space is ready from day one.

You sign a licence agreement rather than a commercial lease. This is an important distinction. A licence gives you permission to use the space but doesn't grant you exclusive possession in the legal sense. It's simpler, shorter (2-5 pages rather than 15-30), and you typically won't need a solicitor to review it.

What's Included in a Serviced Office?

Physical Space

Your serviced office includes a private, lockable room fitted with desks, ergonomic chairs, storage units or filing cabinets, climate control, and quality lighting. Most providers offer different sizes, from single-person offices up to spaces for 50+ people. The furniture is standard issue—functional but not bespoke.

Technology & Infrastructure

Business-grade broadband (typically fibre), secure Wi-Fi throughout your office and communal areas, and often phone systems are included. Printing and copying is usually available but often charged per page. Businesses with heavy data requirements may need to pay for enhanced bandwidth or dedicated lines.

Services & Support

Professional reception staff greet your visitors and handle enquiries. Mail is received, sorted, and delivered to your office. Daily or regular cleaning keeps your space and communal areas presentable. Building security provides access control and CCTV. The on-site team handles everything from signing for deliveries to fixing broken furniture—you don't manage suppliers or contractors.

Amenities

Bookable meeting rooms (some hours usually included, extras charged by the hour), shared kitchens with tea and coffee, break areas and lounges, and sometimes bike storage and showers. Premium buildings may have gyms, roof terraces, or event spaces. Quality varies significantly between providers.

How Serviced Offices Work

Booking Process

Define your requirements (team size, location, budget), search and shortlist spaces, arrange viewings of 3-5 options, receive proposals from providers, negotiate terms (prices are often negotiable), sign the licence agreement, and move in. Unlike traditional leases, there's no lengthy legal review—the whole process can happen in days.

Move-In Timeline

Serviced offices can be ready within 24-48 hours of signing, sometimes the same day. Since everything is already in place—furniture, internet, phones—you just bring your equipment and start working. Compare this to traditional leases (6-12 months to get operational) or managed offices (3-4 months).

Payment Structure

You'll typically pay first month's rent on signing, a security deposit (usually 1-3 months' rent), then monthly licence fees in advance. VAT is added on top (currently 20%). Business rates are usually included—but ask to confirm, as this isn't universal.

Scaling Up or Down

Need more space as you grow? Most providers will move you to a larger office within the same building (subject to availability) without breaking your contract. If you need to downsize, they'll usually work with you. This flexibility is one of the main selling points versus traditional leases.

Serviced Office vs Other Office Types

vs Traditional Lease

Traditional leases suit established businesses wanting full control and planning to stay put for years. The per-square-foot cost is lower, but you handle furniture, utilities, maintenance, and business rates separately. See our guide to traditional office leases.

vs Managed Office

Managed offices sit between serviced and traditional. You get longer terms (2-5 years), more customisation (your own branding, bespoke fit-out), but the provider still handles operations. They suit larger teams (25+) wanting their own identity without managing a building. Expect to pay 30-40% more. Learn more about managed office spaces.

vs Coworking

Coworking is cheaper because you're sharing open space. If you handle sensitive information, take client calls, or prefer quiet, a serviced office is better. Explore coworking space options.

Who Should Use Serviced Offices?

Startups and scale-ups – Growing fast with uncertain headcount? A 5-year lease for 20 desks is a gamble when you might need 50—or 5—in 18 months. Serviced offices let you right-size as you go.

Companies testing new markets – Opening a regional office or expanding internationally? Establish a presence without committing to expensive permanent real estate. Test the market, build the team, then decide on permanence.

Professional services firms – Lawyers, accountants, and consultants need credibility. A prestigious address, professional reception, and quality meeting rooms help smaller firms punch above their weight—without capital outlay.

Project-based businesses – Running a 12-month project needing an on-site team? A serviced office matches your timeline exactly. When the project ends, so does your licence.

Serviced Office Costs (UK)

London Pricing

Regional Cities

Prices Q4 2025. VAT additional.

What Affects Pricing

Location (central London commands premiums), building quality, floor level and views, amenities, contract length (longer often means better rates), and team size (volume discounts for larger groups).

Hidden Costs to Watch

While serviced offices are "all-inclusive," extras often cost additional:

• Meeting rooms beyond your allocation (£25-75/hour)
• Printing (pay-per-page)
• Enhanced IT or additional phone lines
• Customisation or branding
• Making-good charges on exit

Always get a complete breakdown before signing.

Advantages of Serviced Offices

• Flexibility – Month-to-month or short-term contracts let you adapt as circumstances change
• Immediate availability – Move in within 48 hours, no waiting for fit-out
• Predictable costs – One monthly bill covering everything makes budgeting simple
• Professional image – Prestigious address and staffed reception impress clients
• Time savings – No managing facilities, suppliers, or building maintenance

Disadvantages of Serviced Offices

• Higher cost per square foot – You pay for convenience; traditional leases cost less over time
• Limited customisation – The space comes as-is; major changes rarely permitted
• Less control – Shared building means shared decisions
• Building culture – Atmosphere depends on provider and other tenants
• Exit costs – Some contracts include making-good clauses or early termination fees

Top Serviced Office Providers UK

IWG (Regus, Spaces, Signature) – The world's largest flexible workspace provider with 320+ UK centres. Regus offers traditional professional offices (200+ locations); Spaces targets creative businesses (39 locations); Signature provides premium luxury spaces.

WeWork – Around 50 UK locations, primarily London, focusing on community, design, and networking. Modern aesthetic suits tech and creative businesses.

The Office Group (TOG) / Fora – Premium London-focused workspaces known for quality design and hospitality-style service. Higher-end pricing.

Workspace – 60 London properties, often in converted industrial buildings with character. Appeals to creative industries and SMEs.

FAQs

What contract lengths are available for serviced offices? Most providers offer 1-24 months. Twelve months is most common; shorter terms (monthly or 3-month) are available but typically cost more.

What's typically included in serviced office pricing? Rent, business rates, utilities, furniture, internet, reception services, mail handling, cleaning, and shared amenities. Meeting rooms usually have monthly hour limits.

Can I customise or brand my serviced office space? Basic branding (logo on door, signage) is usually possible. Major customisation depends on contract length and provider flexibility.

How much notice do I need to give to leave a serviced office? Typically matches your contract period—monthly contracts need one month's notice. Some require 2-3 months. Check your specific agreement.

Are serviced offices cheaper than traditional leases? For short-term use (under 2-3 years), often yes when factoring in fit-out costs, furniture, and setup time. For long-term occupation (5+ years), traditional leases usually cost less overall but require more capital.

Can international companies use UK serviced offices? Yes. Serviced offices let overseas businesses establish UK presence quickly without complex commercial property transactions. Providers regularly work with international companies.

Conclusion

Serviced offices work best when you need professional space quickly, want predictable costs, and value flexibility over control. They're ideal for startups, project teams, companies testing new markets, and anyone who'd rather run their business than manage a building.

The trade-off is higher per-square-foot costs and less customisation. If you're certain about your needs for 5-10 years, a traditional lease may be more economical.

Explore all options in our complete guide to types of office space, or read our guides to managed offices, coworking spaces, and traditional leases.

Not sure which fits your business? Talk to an office broker who can compare options and negotiate on your behalf—at no cost to you.

Last updated: February 2026