Office Space Advice
Serviced Offices Offer Flexibility Down Under
Published April 20th, 2009 by Jennifer LeClaire
Regus isn’t the only one touting the flexible attributes of serviced offices. Executive office suites companies around the world are singing the same song – in unison.
Advantage Serviced Offices in Sydney Australia is the latest serviced office company to join the cost-savings chorus. Advantage is working to raise awareness of alternatives to traditional commercial office leasing with its latest PR campaign.
As in the United States, Australian companies are losing manufacturing work to China. Employees there are concerned about job security, paying their mortgages, and supporting their families. Small businesses Down Under are challenged to provide for their own household while also trying to keep their employees paid on time.
“Now with the incredible volatility that has seen us jump from inflationary to deflationary fears and potentially back again, serviced offices are a valuable resource that give the flexibility to ‘ride out’ whatever the economy throws at us,” said Grant Mason, Managing Director of Advantage Serviced Offices, Sydney Australia.
Renewing Your Lease?
As Grant sees it, one of the most difficult times for a company in the current economic climate is when it’s time to renew a commercial office lease. Given the volatility of the global economy, it’s difficult for even the most seasoned experts to reliably predict how strong demand will be over the next 12 months let alone five years. Yet business owners are often expected to sign office leases for three or five years and to give a personal guarantee up to the full amount of the lease.
That means that if a business owner gets it wrong and business dips, potentially he could lose his family’s home. On the other hand, if the entrepreneur is too cautious and the economy bounces back, then there is the business risk that not having enough office space could restrict growth. Advantage Serviced Office is touting serviced offices as an solution to the officing dilemma. The company points to five key benefits of serviced offices in any economy:
- You can commit for offices for as little as three months.
- Serviced offices are modular so you can start with a conservative amount of office space
- and then upgrade or downgrade office size or number of serviced offices as required.
- You have furnished offices, telecommunications, and big office facilities such as professional boardrooms.
- You get a personal receptionist.
- Virtual office services for home-based businesses or out of state businesses that seek the professional impression of an established office.
Of course, these are just some of the benefits of serviced offices. What will you do when it’s time to renew your lease? Whether you are in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami or some other part of the world, you can be sure that there is an executive office suite somewhere near you with flexible terms and an affordable price. This may not be the best solution for all companies, but many companies are turning to executive office suites for the reasons Advantage offered, and we expect more to follow in the coming months and years.
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Bill Brookshire April 21st, 2009 at 9:40 am
Sounds like the message is ‘things are rough all over.’ I think Advantage Serviced Office is smart to ride this wave. I don’t think they do it quite as effectively as Regus, but there is definitely a unified voice starting to come out of the serviced office industry, as you mentioned. The focus on flexibility and value of executive office suites is really striking a cord with entrepreneurs all over the world.
Maggie Correta April 21st, 2009 at 9:48 am
What I don’t like about Mason’s quote is the fear-factor. I think people get enough of that. Serviced office providers should keep the message positive. We all know what the economic realities are, there’s really no need to drive fear. That may not have been his intent, but that’s how it comes off. I think executive office suites that offer hope, along with all the benefits of the model, will come out ahead in the end.
Elizabeth Sanchez April 21st, 2009 at 10:11 am
I don’t like the fear message in this either. There’s no need for it, really, when trying to communicate the benefits of serviced offices. The benefits speak for themselves. Regus doesn’t focus on the fear factor in its messaging I’ve seen lately. They focus on positive aspects of their executive office suites. That’s just my humble opinion.