When Is It Time to Move from Coworking into a Private Office?

Coworking is an excellent starting point for freelancers, founders and small teams. It keeps costs flexible, creates opportunities to meet other professionals and removes the burden of running an office. As a business develops, however, the environment that supported its early stage may no longer suit its everyday work.

Your team is growing

As your team grows, you’ll usually start to notice when your current workspace no longer works quite as well as it used to. Finding seats together becomes harder, meeting rooms are needed more often, and having enough space for equipment and personal belongings can start to become an issue.

Moving into a private office gives your team a dedicated space of its own, while still allowing you to enjoy the shared facilities and support that come with a business centre.

It also gives your team a more consistent place to work together. As new people join, having a space that feels like your own can make the day to day easier and give the business room to continue growing.

Confidential conversations are becoming routine

As your business grows, private conversations often become a more regular part of the working day. Whether you’re discussing client information, contracts, finances or recruitment, constantly looking for an available meeting room or phone booth can quickly become inconvenient.

Having your own private, lockable office gives your team more control over where those conversations happen, as well as greater privacy for screens, documents and day to day work.

You can still use meeting rooms when you need a more formal setting, but you’re no longer relying on them every time something sensitive comes up.

Your team needs more focus

Coworking spaces are great for meeting people and being around other businesses, but sometimes your team simply needs a little more peace and quiet to get things done.

If people are regularly searching for quieter corners, moving between different seats or relying on headphones throughout the day, it might be a sign that your team has outgrown the shared environment.

A private office gives everyone a dedicated space where it’s easier to focus and settle into the working day. You can still step out into the shared lounges, meet other members and enjoy the social side of coworking but you also have your own space to return to when it’s time to concentrate.

Clients visit more frequently

As your business grows, you may find yourself welcoming clients into the office more often. At that point, having a consistent and professional place to meet can make a real difference to the experience you’re creating.

A private office gives you your own space for quick conversations and informal catch ups, while meeting rooms are there when you need something more formal. Having reception support also means clients are welcomed professionally from the moment they arrive.

It gives your business a more established feel, without losing the flexibility and convenience that comes with a serviced workspace.

Your culture needs a home

As your team grows, having a space that feels like your own can become more important. It gives people a familiar place to come together, settle into routines and build the everyday connections that shape your company culture.

With a private office, you can make the space feel more personal to your business, whether that’s through the way you arrange the workspace, small touches of branding or simply creating an environment that works for your team.

And you don’t need to commit to a large traditional office to achieve that. A serviced private office gives your team a space to call its own, while the practical side of running the workplace is still taken care of for you.

The numbers make sense

As your team grows, it’s worth looking at what you’re actually spending on coworking each month and comparing it with the cost of having your own private office.

It’s not just about the membership fee. Think about how often you’re paying for extra meeting-room hours, storage or other services, as well as the time your team spends finding available desks or quiet places to work.

There isn’t a specific team size where moving into a private office suddenly becomes the right choice. It comes down to what works for your business. If having your own space gives your team more privacy, makes the working day easier and offers better value overall, it may be time to make the move.

How to make the move smoothly

Moving into a private office doesn’t need to be complicated. Start by finding a workspace that works for your team now, but also gives you room to grow. Take a look at the different layouts, understand exactly what’s included in your package and ask what your options are if you need more space later on.

It’s also worth visiting during a normal working day. You’ll get a much better feel for the atmosphere, how busy the shared areas are and what the commute is actually like for your team.

At Sentinel, we offer coworking and private serviced offices at DWTC and on Sheikh Zayed Road, so you can move into a space of your own while still having access to meeting rooms, shared facilities and support when you need it.

Frequently asked questions

How many people should share a private office?

There’s no one size fits all answer. It depends on the size and layout of the office, as well as how your team likes to work. Ideally, choose a space that feels comfortable for your team today while giving you a little room to grow.

Is a private office still flexible?

Yes. A serviced private office can give you the privacy of having your own space without the commitment and setup that often comes with a traditional office lease. The exact terms will vary between providers, so it’s always worth checking what flexibility is included before you sign.

Can we keep using coworking facilities after moving?

In many cases, yes. Serviced office packages often include access to shared spaces such as lounges, pantries and meeting rooms, so you can still enjoy the benefits of the wider workspace while having your own private office. The facilities included will depend on your chosen package.

Emma Houen

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