Coworkea

What are the advantages of coworking over a 3/6/9 lease?

June 26, 2023

Are you planning to move into new offices this autumn, and not sure whether to opt for a Coworking space or a 3/6/9 commercial lease? The advantages of Coworking are enormous, both from a financial and a "human" point of view.

On the financial side, you need to look beyond the asking price per m2 excluding utilities, and consider the price per "all-inclusive" item:

  • Initial costs are reduced in Coworking (no building work, no investment in furniture), and your workstations are ready to use - what we call "plug & work". In many cases, the deposit is just 3 months, with no prior review of your balance sheet, and no pledging or tying up of cash.
  • Coworking is all about saving money: sharing a meeting room, kitchen, washrooms and corridors will cost you less. Why have a dedicated meeting room if you're only going to use it once in a while?
  • The flexibility of the commitment (usually 3 months in Coworking, as opposed to 3 years on a 3/6/9 lease) is a source of savings. When you're "in the middle of the road", 1.5 years from your three-year deadline and you want to move, well, you're stuck, and that can be very expensive. At worst a double rent, at best a cheque as part of a negotiation. Don't expect to find a replacement who, in today's market, will take advantage of direct negotiations with the landlord to obtain a rent-free period in the first place.
  • Services are included in the Coworking package: Internet access, electricity, cleaning, etc. Here again, the pooling of services means that they cost less than dedicated services.
  • Scalability is key in Coworking, as a growing business can take on additional office space without having to move. Indeed, even in a full Coworking facility, there's always a natural flow of entries and exits, enabling growing companies to expand within the Coworking space. And conversely, it's also easier to downsize.

Let's talk HR!

  • Coworking is an attractive factor for young recruits. They feel less isolated and can forge relationships with people of their own generation, without any hierarchical links. In a market where skills are in short supply, this is a very important argument.
  • You'll have "roommates", sometimes in related sectors, who can positively influence your professional ecosystem. We sometimes see the birth of certain partnerships.