How to Choose the Right Office Space for Your Business

Businesses often choose office space around headcount, rent or what is currently available, then end up paying for unused desks or running short of space on busier days.

The most important things to decide before choosing an office space are:

• Space requirements: How many people need to use the office now, and how much room will you need if the team grows or attendance changes?
• Budget: What can the business comfortably spend once rent, services and any additional occupancy costs are included?
• Location: Where are employees and clients coming from, and which transport links make the office practical to reach?
• Working style: Does the team need private offices, shared desks, meeting rooms, quiet areas or a combination of different spaces?

Hybrid work has made the space question less predictable, especially in a post-pandemic environment that revealed not all roles need to be in the office every day of the week. CBRE’s 2026 workplace data shows offices averaging 53% utilisation but reaching 80% at peak times. An office can therefore look underused across the week and still struggle for desks, meeting rooms or quiet space on its busiest days.

Cost pulls in the other direction. A latest global occupier research found that controlling real estate costs remains a top priority for businesses. Choosing the right office means finding the point between those two pressures: enough space for the days when people actually come in, without paying for capacity the business rarely uses.

With those priorities clear, the next step is understanding which type of office fits your business and what to compare before committing to an office space so you don’t end up choosing the wrong office type.

This guide explains how to choose office space by comparing the main flexible office options, the six factors to assess, a practical checklist, and a short quiz to help narrow down the right fit for your business.