Choosing the right office space impacts business success significantly.
Shared office spaces offer flexibility and bundled amenities that reduce overall costs.
Coworking spaces enhance productivity, networking, and team morale for businesses.
Choosing the right office space is one of the most important decisions a business owner or operations lead can make.
Whether you’re a solo founder, part of a growing startup, or managing a remote-first team who needs a hybrid hub, shared office spaces offer flexibility, connection, and professionalism.
But how much do they actually cost — and are they worth it?
Let’s explore the real numbers, weigh up the value, and consider why some shared office spaces thrive while others don’t.
How much should I budget for office space?
There’s no one-size-fits-all figure, but knowing what to expect can help you make smart, confident choices.
In the UK, the average cost of shared office space ranges between £150 to £800+ per desk per month, depending on:
Location: Central London or Manchester will always command higher prices than regional towns.
Type of space: Hot desks are typically cheaper than dedicated desks or private offices.
Amenities: High-speed internet, meeting rooms, phone booths, printing, 24/7 access, and community perks all influence the price.
Contract terms: Longer commitments may offer better rates, while pay-as-you-go or short-term leases usually come at a premium.
Many coworking operators bundle in extras like tea, coffee, community events, and even wellbeing perks.
These added benefits often replace separate costs for utilities, internet, furniture, and cleaning — things you’d otherwise need to arrange yourself in a leased office.
When comparing options, make sure you're looking at the full value of the package, not just the monthly fee.
Are co-working spaces expensive?
They can seem expensive compared to a traditional lease if you're only looking at monthly rent.
But that's not a fair comparison.
Coworking and shared office memberships wrap in dozens of hidden costs, like:
Utilities
WiFi
Furniture
Reception staff
Building maintenance
Cleaning
Insurance
Business rates
In a traditional office, you’d be handling all those separately, plus committing to longer leases, setup costs, and capital outlay.
Shared spaces are about ease, agility, and access.
You can scale up or down fast — you're not locked into long-term contracts.
And you don't need to pour time into sorting bins, broadband, or broken chairs.
If you're a solo business owner or leading a small team, the cost per desk might be higher than leasing a basic space — but your total cost of ownership will almost always be lower.
Laura Beales is the Co-Founder of Tally Workspace, bringing a unique blend of financial expertise and real estate knowledge to the office space industry. A qualified Chartered Accountant, Laura began her career in finance but transitioned into commercial property after experiencing first-hand the inefficiencies and lack of transparency in the market from a customer perspective.
From first office to scale-up headquarters, we have been there.
Secured a 14,000 sq ft CAT A leased HQ at White City Place
Introduced to 3 specialist fit-out partners, including Thirdway
Full market review spanning White City, Hammersmith & Soho
"Much like Butternut Box's brand, the project intent has been to pair a deeply human playfulness with elevated, premium design. Together we've crafted a joyful space which can bring out the best in all users, whether they be two or four legged."
"Tally helped us find our new office at lightning speed. Jules, Laura, and the team are the best at what they do. We wanted a rooftop, natural light, a central location, and a good deal. They got us 10+ solid options within 48hrs and scheduled all the viewings. We found our new space within 2 weeks."
Full market review across serviced, managed and leased office options
Custom layout designed by a workspace specialist - at no extra cost
Secured a self-contained 1,850 sq ft space in Leicester Square
"Tally Workspace exhausted the market and found us just what we were looking for within weeks. They were a breath of fresh air, extremely knowledgeable and helpful, and even assisted with design and fit-out. Very proactive at every stage, like an extension of our own team."
Secured a 2,000 sq ft self-contained HQ in Shoreditch
Workspace designer sourced and managed as part of the service
Used Tally Workspace on-demand between offices
"Tally Workspace has been an incredible help for Sifted. From understanding the office/remote first landscape to finding the right office for all of our requirements."
Shortlisted options across Marylebone, Victoria, Waterloo & Holborn
Secured a 60-desk office with internal meeting rooms in TCR
"You made this whole project smooth and actually enjoyable. You're well connected, which opened up options we wouldn't have found ourselves. I'm confident we would have missed this fantastic opportunity without your help, and you secured us a much better price than we could have achieved directly."
"I'd say it is a no brainer! A win win to use Tally Workspace to find your next space. No additional cost but endless extra value."
Founder & Lightning
"Not only are they very knowledgeable about the market, but they're lovely people to deal with. We're so happy with our final choice and can't wait to move!"
Finance Unlocked
"The space they found was perfect for our team, with loads of amazing breakout space, beautiful meeting rooms and a real emphasis on wellbeing."
Florence
"They got us 10+ solid options within 48hrs and scheduled all the viewings. Highly recommend. We found our new space within 2 weeks."
Cryptio
How Tally Workspace works
Tell us what you need
Team size, budget, location, and deal breakers. We'll ask about the things most people forget too.
searching...
We handle the search
We search our proprietary database then call landlords directly about unlisted spaces. Often back to you within a day.
We handle the detail
Contracts are where most searches fall apart. We review everything and negotiate before you sign.
You move in confident
Best space, best terms, timeline that fits your growth. You know exactly what you're signing.
Tell us what you're looking for
Find an office today
Using our extensive mapping of startup and scaleup office space, find an office that fits your needs and your culture in just a few minutes.
