What Are Managed Office Solutions?

A managed office is an ideal solution for today’s business owners.

What exactly is a managed office? Think of them as adaptable workspaces with access to essential amenities. They are a flexible workspace option at a monthly rate, with reduced commitments compared to a traditional office lease. Crucially, they also eliminate the long-term commitment and other drawbacks of a conventional office lease.

The services typically include a staffed reception, telephony systems, high-speed internet access, IT support, utilities, security, and shared areas.

Our offices at Bowman House are fully furnished and air-conditioned, ready for immediate occupation. Our team can assist you in configuring the layout to match your requirements. Following this, they are on hand to address any concerns during the tenancy quickly.

How Managed Offices Operate

Whether you are an entrepreneur or an established business owner, managed office space is perfect for your business requirements.

A conventional office space solution requires a substantial upfront financial investment, accompanied by a multi-year commitment to the location. Beyond the time-consuming and inconvenient office search, these requirements price many emerging businesses out of the market.

In contrast, a managed office is an adaptable workspace solution. The office space is equipped and ready for immediate use, with the adaptability to modify the layout to match your working preferences.

Our team will collaborate with you to organise the desk and furniture arrangement that best fits your team’s requirements, ensuring your workspace operates seamlessly for your business.

The procedure is significantly faster than configuring and furnishing a leased office.

There are numerous services provided as an inclusive feature of managed offices. This differs depending on the office provider.

The Bowman House Advantage

At Bowman House, we offer a staffed reception during business hours (9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday), as well as comprehensive access to meeting rooms and boardroom spaces. The facilities include plug-and-play telephony systems, ultra-fast fibre broadband, IT support, kitchen facilities with complimentary refreshments, utilities, air conditioning, and secure round-the-clock access.

Additionally, with our strategic location just 2 miles from M4 Junction 16, along with ample free parking and EV charging facilities, we have ideal positioning for Swindon, Bristol, and the wider Thames Valley.

Benefits of Choosing a Managed Office

Here are the primary benefits when selecting a managed office rental:

Financial Transparency – managed offices operate with clear monthly pricing structures. This provides reliable budgeting for your business planning.

Adaptability – initial contract terms typically offer various duration options. Office providers are often willing to negotiate different timeframes. Space requirements can be scaled up or down as your business grows. Bowman House, for instance, offers office solutions ranging from 183 to 503 sq ft, supporting teams of 3 to 8 people, delivering exceptional adaptability.

Administrative Freedom – managed environments remove the need for dedicated facilities management. This allows your team to concentrate fully on core business activities.

Privacy and Branding – while custom fit-outs are not typically available, workspace layout modifications and some branding elements may be negotiated. Complete security coverage protects confidential business information while ensuring operational privacy.

Perfect Candidates for Managed Offices

The primary audience for managed offices includes SMEs, startups, and companies needing moderately sized regional offices. For instance, the Bowman House business centre accommodates up to 8 workers in an office (with options spanning from 3-person offices to larger team spaces).

Established companies may need temporary office space separate from their main facility. This might be for project work, as an office overflow workspace, or as a transitional space before a complete relocation nearby.

Managed offices do not need an extensive search, contract negotiation, or fit-out period. The workspace is equipped and ready to occupy.

Comparing Managed Offices with Alternative Office Types

When initially considering a managed office and other alternatives, it becomes clear that there are significant differences between managed offices, traditional leases, and coworking spaces.

Which suits your business best? Let us examine them.

Serviced (Managed) Offices

Also known as ‘managed offices,’ these are prepared for immediate occupation. Usually, there is adaptability to configure the interior space. The lease terms are typically adaptable to suit different business needs.

The workspace provider covers the utilities and building maintenance. Meeting rooms are accessible. Also, there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Traditional Leases

These are long-term commitments, with a minimum of 3 years, and some landlords prefer a 5-year commitment. The upfront costs are considerable.

Locating a suitable office in a preferred location can be discouraging, especially with an extended fit-out period. A minimum of 12 months is not unusual to find, secure, and fit out a new office.

The tenant is responsible for sourcing utilities, lighting facilities, telephony installation, IT network and configuration, security, and other related services.

Coworking Spaces

As potentially the most adaptable workspace solution, coworking spaces offer several benefits but also significant downsides.

They are all temporary, whether renting a hot desk, a day office, or a coworking space for a month.

These are shared working areas, which are noisier environments with additional distractions. They lack the exclusivity of a managed office and are not brandable or configurable either.

What to Consider When Choosing a Managed Office

Several key factors should guide your selection process for a managed office. These considerations help align your business needs with available options.

Strategic Location: premium positioning creates a strong business impression. Client engagement improves when operating from professional facilities. Excellent transport links remain equally important. Bowman House, for example, offers superior access to the M4 motorway, being just 2 miles from Junction 16, which provides ideal connectivity for the region.

Space Requirements and Layout: what office capacity suits your current team size? Is your business expanding rapidly and requiring growth potential within the same business complex?

Budget Planning and Total Costs: a comprehensive understanding of complete office expenses for your required space. This includes initial deposits, monthly rental fees, and any potential early termination costs associated with the contract.

Value-Added Amenities: available services vary between different providers. These might include shower facilities, business networking events, EV charging stations, or other location-specific benefits.

Steps to Securing a Managed Office

The initial step is to establish your business requirements for the office space:

• An adaptable office rental for a fixed number of employees.
• Sales team members who visit the office only once a week.
• Or remote employees who will only visit the office occasionally.

Once the location is determined and you have chosen a business office provider, it is time to make the final decision.

A managed office requires a walkthrough before you commit to the space. While a virtual walkthrough is feasible when not present in the area, nothing replaces experiencing it in person.

Ensure the duration suits your business before signing the lease. A managed office lease typically has a duration of 3 months or longer, unless exceptions are made. If telephony, internet, IT support, or other services are to be supplied, these must be outlined in the contractual terms. Additionally, ensure that all other requirements, such as access to meeting rooms, breakout rooms, kitchens, and any other required amenities, are met.

Request to see recent testimonials from tenants. Are they satisfied there? Were there any issues they failed to identify before signing their lease agreement?

FAQs

Is a managed office superior to a day office or a hot desk?

For businesses that require consistency, privacy, and excellent teamwork, a dedicated managed office space offers a significant improvement over shared workspace.

Is a managed office an excellent choice for a startup?

Absolutely. Startups require a flexible approach to office selection, lease duration, and location. Managed offices deliver these benefits without the upfront expense of a traditional leased office.

Do I still need an office manager when renting a managed office?

An office manager role remains useful to help streamline productivity, manage office supplies, and handle other essentials. However, it could be a part-time or shared role, rather than a dedicated one.

Conclusion

The office experience is elevated through a managed office. As a professional solution, these offices feature a range of included services, nearby amenities, and other advantages. Office space is pre-equipped, with the adaptability to arrange layouts using our available furniture options.

Bowman House offers a range of office sizes, from 183 to 503 sq ft, accommodating teams of 3 to 8 people. Our reception services and comfortable meeting areas welcome new visitors. Conducting business professionally is effortlessly achieved at our business centre.

Please contact our team at info@bowmanhouse.co.uk or 01793 843100 to explore your requirements or to book a tour of the facility.