When your organisation grows from a handful of people to dozens or even hundreds, your office needs change dramatically. Suddenly you’re juggling headcount projections, seating charts, Meeting Rooms and budget constraints. The traditional solution signing a long lease and fitting out a huge office can be risky and expensive. If the team grows faster than expected, you’ll run out of space. If a project ends or the market shifts, you’re left paying for square footage you don’t need. coworking and managed office spaces, such as coworking centres and managed office suites, offer a smarter alternative for scaling businesses.
Space designed for growth
One of the biggest challenges with a growing team is finding enough seats. Modern coworking hubs aren’t just for freelancers; they’re built to accommodate large groups. For example, some locations offer clusters of desks in configurations of 20, 50, 100 or even 150 seats, which can be expanded as your headcount increases. Managed office providers go a step further by leasing entire floors or suites that you can customise. When you need more space, they simply open the adjoining room and handle the fit‑out for you.
Keeping costs under control
Expanding into more space usually means higher expenses. coworking and managed office spaces spread those costs across many tenants, so you avoid paying for unused areas. Research shows that businesses can save up to 25 % on office expenses when they choose coworking or managed offices over traditional leases. A separate analysis by Cushman & Wakefield suggests that using coworking for overflow or project space can yield occupancy‑cost savings of around 5 %. Those percentages may sound small, but over the course of a year they can add up to substantial amounts.
The reason is simple: you don’t pay separately for internet, electricity, water, cleaning or reception. Everything is included in one predictable fee. There’s no need to hire a facility manager or negotiate with multiple suppliers. Instead of tying up money in real estate, you can invest in hiring, marketing or research and development.
Flexible arrangements for project teams
Large companies often spin up temporary teams to launch a product or enter a new market. Once the project finishes, headcount goes down again. Flexible offices allow you to rent space for as long as you need it whether that’s six months or two years. If you need to move 30 engineers into a new city for a short‑term project, you can do so without committing to a permanent office there. After the project, you simply hand back the keys or downsize to a few desks for ongoing support.
Boosting productivity and morale
It’s not all about saving money. Well‑designed flexible spaces are comfortable and attractive places to work. They offer ergonomic furniture, natural light, good air quality and amenities like cafés, lounges and wellness rooms. Employees appreciate being able to meet colleagues in breakout areas and attend networking events or workshops. Studies have found that people working in flexible offices report higher productivity and satisfaction. For large teams, this translates into better collaboration and happier staff.
Retaining and attracting talent
Millennials and Gen‑Z employees often look for more than just a paycheck. They want a vibrant work environment, opportunities for growth and a sense of community. coworking and managed office spaces regularly host social gatherings, training sessions and wellness activities, which make the office a place people want to be. Offering modern, flexible spaces also helps you attract top candidates who might be put off by outdated or uninspiring offices. With today’s tight labour market, anything that differentiates you as an employer is valuable.
How to make it work for your team
- Plan for future headcount: Estimate how many people you’ll need in 6–12 months. Choose a workspace provider that can accommodate that growth without forcing you to move across town.
- Use a hub‑and‑spoke strategy: Keep a core headquarters for essential staff and supplement it with satellite offices or coworking memberships for remote and field teams. This reduces commuting times and eases the pressure on your main office.
- Negotiate flexibility: Managed office providers sometimes allow you to sublet unused desks or switch to a different location within their network. Ask for terms that support expansion and contraction.
- Leverage technology: Workplace apps help you monitor desk usage, book meeting rooms and predict when you’ll need more space. Data‑driven decisions prevent wasted resources.
- Prioritise well‑being: A comfortable environment leads to higher morale. Look for spaces with natural light, quiet zones, green areas and wellness services.
Real‑life example
Consider a software company preparing to launch a new product. They start with 30 developers in a managed office suite. As the project gains momentum, they need to hire 60 more people within four months. The provider opens a neighbouring suite and arranges desks, chairs and meeting rooms. When the project finishes a year later, only 50 team members remain. Instead of paying for the larger space indefinitely, they move back into the original 30‑seat office and release the extra rooms. Throughout the process, the company enjoys reception services, reliable internet and access to event spaces. They also report a 5 % reduction in occupancy costs compared to leasing a traditional office.
Final thoughts
Scaling up doesn’t have to mean signing a giant lease or managing construction. Coworking and managed offices provide large teams with room to grow, ready‑made amenities and the flexibility to adapt when projects end or markets shift. With cost savings, improved employee experience and minimal operational headaches, coworking and managed office spaces are a sensible choice for companies on the rise.