There are three main ways to rent office space in Australia: a serviced office, a coworking membership or a traditional lease. The right one depends on how long you need the space, how much you want to spend upfront and how quickly you need to move in.
Most businesses searching for office space to let start by comparing listings. It’s worth comparing the type of agreement first, because that decides your costs, your commitment and how much work sits with you.
The three ways to rent office space
Serviced office. A private, lockable office inside a managed building, rented on a flexible agreement. Furniture, WiFi, cleaning, reception and kitchen facilities are all covered by one monthly fee. You can move in as early as the next day once the agreement is signed.
Coworking. A desk in a shared, open plan space, either any free desk (a hot desk) or your own dedicated desk. It’s the most cost-effective way into a professional workspace and suits sole traders, freelancers and very small teams. Part-time memberships of a day or two a week are common.
Traditional lease. You lease an empty or partly fitted space directly from a landlord, usually for several years. You arrange and pay for the fit out, furniture, IT, cleaning and utilities yourself. It gives you the most control over the space, with the biggest upfront commitment.
Side by side
| Serviced office | Coworking | Traditional lease | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your space | Private office for your team | A desk in a shared area | The whole tenancy |
| Typical term | Flexible, often 12 months | Month to month | Several years |
| Upfront cost | Usually a security deposit | Little or none | Fit out, furniture, IT and bond |
| Move in | As early as the next day | Often straight away | Often several months |
| Monthly cost | One all inclusive fee | One membership fee | Rent plus outgoings, utilities, cleaning and internet |
| Best for | Teams of 2 to 50+ who want privacy without a long commitment | Solo workers and small, mobile teams | Larger businesses with a long term plan and a budget for fit out |
Shared lounge with bookshelves and seating in a coworking space at 152 St Georges Terrace, Perth
152 St Georges Terrace, Perth
How much does office space cost to rent?
Each option is priced differently, which makes like for like comparisons tricky.
• Serviced offices are priced per desk per month. Across Australia’s major cities, most private offices currently sit between about $650 and $1,100 per desk per month, all inclusive and excluding GST.
• Coworking is priced per membership. A hot desk typically costs about $250 to $500 a month and a dedicated desk about $450 to $700, excluding GST.
• Traditional leases are quoted per square metre per year. That figure usually excludes outgoings, fit out, furniture, IT and running costs, so the headline rent is only part of what you’ll pay.
For a city by city breakdown, see our guide to serviced office costs.
How to choose the right option
A few questions narrow it down quickly.
How long do you need the space? If you can’t confidently plan more than a year or two ahead, a flexible agreement avoids locking you into a long lease.
How often is your team in? If people come in a day or two a week, coworking or a hybrid setup can save paying for desks that sit empty. If the team works together most days, a private office makes sense.
Do you need privacy? Confidential calls, client meetings and sensitive information point towards a serviced office or a lease rather than an open plan desk.
How much do you want to spend upfront? A lease ties up capital in fit out and furniture. A serviced office or coworking membership keeps that money in the business, and is treated as an operating expense rather than capital expenditure.
How quickly do you need to move? A serviced office can be ready the next day. A leased office can take months once you add up the search, negotiation and fit out.
Many businesses end up with a mix, for example a serviced office for the core team plus coworking memberships for people who only come in occasionally. Our guide to coworking vs serviced offices explains the difference in more detail.
City views over the Melbourne CBD from a serviced office at 360 Collins Street, Melbourne
360 Collins Street, Melbourne
What to check before you sign
Whichever option you choose, check these before you commit.
- What the fee covers. Meeting room hours, printing, parking and after hours access can be extra. Ask for a full list of inclusions.
- The term and notice period. Most serviced offices need three months’ notice, so diarise it from day one.
- The renewal price. It’s worth agreeing how the price will move at renewal before you sign, not after.
- Timing. Serviced offices can generally only be secured around three months ahead, so that’s the best time to start looking.
- For a lease: outgoings, make good obligations at the end of the term, and who pays for the fit out.
A real example
A renewable energy company came to us wanting an office that suited how their team liked to work: somewhere pet friendly, with a balcony and water views, without being in the CBD. We found them an office about 13 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD that ticked every box.
It’s a good reminder that the right office isn’t always the one with the most prestigious address. It’s the one that fits your team.
How Nxt Space helps
Comparing office space for rent across hundreds of buildings takes time. We work with over 600 locations across Australia and act only for tenants. We learn how your team works, send you a small number of options that genuinely fit, arrange inspections and negotiate the terms for you. Our fees are paid by the operator or landlord, not by you.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the cheapest way to rent office space? Usually a coworking hot desk, from about $250 a month excluding GST. For a private office, a serviced office avoids the upfront costs of a lease.
Can I rent office space for less than 12 months? Often, yes. Coworking memberships can run month to month, and some serviced offices offer shorter terms, though 12 months is typical.
Are outgoings included when I rent office space? In a serviced office or coworking space, building running costs are generally included in the fee. In a traditional lease, outgoings are usually charged on top of the rent.
How far ahead should I start looking? Around three months before you need to move, since most serviced offices can’t be secured much further ahead than that.
Looking for office space for rent?
Browse offices available now or book a free consultation and we’ll show you what suits how your team works.