"These days, there are so many different options available," says Shane Duffy, Founder of Click Offices [1], a global serviced office broker.

"If you're a sole trader, you might be looking for a hot desk in a coworking space. On the other hand, if the work your business does is highly confidential, you might be in need of a private office. It all just depends on your individual needs. That's where we come in."

Click Offices offer a search and support service for serviced offices. They help you to find the right space in the right location, completely free of charge. They are unaffiliated to any particular office provider, and will help you find the right office for your business.

In a market that's growing rapidly, it's a valuable service for their clients. "We'll give you a full overview of the market, bring you to view your shortlisted properties, and negotiate the final deal for you," says Duffy, who has a decade of experience in the serviced office market.

But which types of office space are on the market, and who are they best suited to? With the help of Click Offices, we've given you a full rundown below.

Serviced offices

Also known as 'managed offices' or 'flexible offices', serviced offices are run by a business centre operator.

They rent out fully equipped, high-spec office space to other companies. Your monthly payments include heat, electricity, cleaning, business rates and maintenance. Some centres also include the price of broadband, phone line rental, reception staff and the use of meeting rooms.

Although the overall monthly cost will be higher, increasingly businesses are choosing serviced offices. Why? "Because it offers them the flexibility of a short-term agreement, so they can scale up or down quickly," Duffy says.

"In addition, they can usually move in straight away, with everything already set up. It takes a lot of the hassle out of moving premises or setting up a business. You're not taking time out to organise utilities, refurbishments and furniture when really what you need to be doing is focusing on your business."

Non-serviced offices

Non-serviced offices involve signing a long-term lease, usually for an average of five to ten years. "While the stability of a non-serviced office agreement is great, it's just not a realistic option for many modern companies," says Duffy. "It means significant upfront costs which you just don't have with serviced offices. Plus you're tied into the lease which means limited flexibility in terms of physical growth."

Coworking spaces

Coworking - a trend that's on the rise - is when businesses share open-plan space and facilities.   

"Many serviced and non-serviced office providers now offer coworking options," says Duffy. "They're great if you're looking for networking opportunities or just prefer not to work alone if you're a freelancer. But private offices continue to be popular too, particularly among SMEs and larger enterprises."

Private offices

Both serviced and non-serviced office providers also continue to provide private offices. "Private offices are the more traditional option, and are crucial if your company deals with highly sensitive or confidential information," Duffy explains. "Plus some people prefer a quieter and less hectic environment, where they're only dealing with their own staff."

Hot desks / Dedicated desks

Finally, simply having your own desk in a coworking space - rather than a whole office - is the perfect option for many contractors. Hot desking is when you come in and grab a desk wherever one's available. Whereas with a dedicated desk, you are guaranteed that same space every day. "Naturally enough, they're more expensive than hot desks, so it all just depends on what your needs and priorities are," says Duffy, "but we're there to help you figure that out."

To find the right office for your business today, visit the Click Offices website [2].