When searching for new office space, many businesses focus solely on the monthly rent figure. However, understanding the full financial picture is essential before you sign on the dotted line. At Simple Storage in Rochdale, we've helped countless clients transition to flexible serviced office space, and the cost savings consistently surprise them.
Traditional office property costs extend far beyond base rent. You'll encounter service charges, business rates, VAT, maintenance responsibilities, and utilities. Need to equip your space? Factor in thousands for desk, furniture, and broadband installation.
Then there are ongoing costs: cleaning contracts, security systems, reception team salaries, and facilities management. Traditional leases typically lock you in for extended periods, often years. If your business needs to scale, you're stuck paying for space that doesn't suit your current requirements.
The setup timeline alone carries hidden costs. Solicitors, surveyors, and fit-out work can take months before your team can access the building and start productive work. During this period, you're paying rent on your old space while investing in your new office.
Serviced offices operate on a fundamentally different model. At Simple Storage, we provide modern workspace where the quoted price genuinely covers everything. Our flexible office solutions include high-speed fiber optic broadband, furniture, cleaning services twice weekly, secure parking with CCTV, 24-hour security, and access to our reception team and postal services.
Perhaps most importantly, there's no service charge and no VAT to pay. This transparent approach means you know your exact monthly costs from day one, enabling better financial planning and allowing you to focus on growing your business.
For start ups and established companies alike, this all inclusive pricing removes financial uncertainty. You can request a personalised quote that clearly outlines everything included, with no hidden extras appearing on future invoices.
Business needs change. A startup might double in size within a year, while an established company might need to temporarily reduce its footprint. Traditional leases punish this natural evolution with rigid terms and costly break clauses.
Our flexible workspace agreements at Arrow Mill protect your financial interests. Whether you need a single desk space for one person or private offices for an entire team, you can adjust without facing penalties. This flexibility is particularly valuable for businesses managing seasonal demand fluctuations.
Consider a company that signs a long traditional lease. If they outgrow the space after two years, they're either paying for inadequate workspace or facing expensive legal costs to exit early. With serviced offices, they simply move to a larger space within the same building or give appropriate notice to relocate.
Let's talk about the facilities and services that come standard with our office solutions. A professional reception team providing postal services would cost at least £25,000 annually to employ directly. High-speed dedicated fiber broadband installation runs into thousands, with ongoing monthly costs adding up throughout the year.
Cleaning services for a small office typically cost £50-100 weekly—that's up to £5,200 annually. Security systems with CCTV monitoring represent another significant investment. Secure parking in business locations can cost £100+ per space monthly.
At Simple Storage, all these services are included in your monthly rate. You also gain access to breakout areas and canteen facilities with vending machines, creating an environment where your team can do their best work without additional investment from your company. Walk through the door with your colleagues, and everything is equipped and ready.
Traditional leases demand substantial upfront capital. Expect to pay several months' rent as deposit, legal fees, fit-out costs, and initial purchases of furniture and equipment. For a modest office, you might spend £20,000-50,000 before your team even occupies the space.
This capital drain affects your ability to invest in other aspects of your business—marketing, inventory, hiring, or product development. For many companies, particularly start ups, this upfront cost creates a significant barrier to securing quality workspace.
Serviced offices require minimal initial outlay. You simply pay your first month, and you're operational. This approach preserves working capital for business growth rather than tying it up in property-related costs. Better cash flow means more resources to support your business objectives and help your business thrive.
Arrow Mill provides excellent transport links without premium pricing. We're located on the A664 just minutes from Junction 20 of the M62. Castleton train station is a short walk down the road, providing connections to Manchester and beyond, including Manchester Piccadilly.
For businesses considering Manchester city center or London locations, the cost difference is dramatic. You can access quality workspace with fantastic facilities at a fraction of city center prices while maintaining a professional business address that enhances your company image. Our ideal location offers accessibility to major transport links and Rochdale town center amenities at affordable rates.
Let's examine real costs for a 200 square foot office, roughly suitable for 3-4 people:
Traditional Lease Annual Costs:
Serviced Office Annual Cost:
That's a potential saving of £21,000 in the first year alone. Over three years, you could save over £60,000—capital that could transform your business growth trajectory.
Start ups with limited capital find that serviced offices remove barriers to securing professional workspace. Growing companies appreciate the ability to scale their workspace as their team expands. Remote teams benefit from flexible solutions like day offices and coworking spaces that provide professional space for distributed colleagues to connect and collaborate. Businesses testing new markets can establish a presence with a professional business address without the risk of a long-term traditional lease, while companies with fluctuating needs find that flexible workspace adapts to their business cycles.
At Simple Storage, we've built our portfolio of office solutions around what businesses actually need. Our range of options—from small private offices of 108 square feet to open plan areas exceeding 5,000 square feet—ensures we can suit virtually any requirement.
We provide the support and services that enable success: high-quality finishes create a professional environment, our friendly helpful staff are onsite throughout the day, and our flexible occupancy agreements give you confidence. Whether you need meeting rooms, shared facilities, or dedicated private offices, we have solutions that scale with your business.
We've heard from potential clients that we're either cheaper than other offices available to rent in the area or the same price. We believe in delivering great customer service and excellent value for money. Most importantly, we will not be beaten on a like-for-like price. That's a promise we stand behind.
The choice between traditional leases and serviced offices comes down to financial sense and operational flexibility. Traditional property ties up capital, creates unpredictable costs, and locks you into long-term commitments. Serviced offices provide cost certainty, preserve working capital, and offer the flexibility modern businesses require.
If you're currently paying for traditional office space, compare your total costs with what we offer. Calculate everything you're actually spending—not just rent, but all those additional costs that quietly drain your budget month after month.
Ready to explore how much you could save? Visit our website or give us a call at 01706 716 000 to arrange a viewing of our facilities. Fill out our contact form for a personalised quote, or simply drop by for advice. We're confident that once you see the quality of our workspace and understand the full cost picture, you'll wonder why you didn't make the switch sooner.
Let us help your business thrive with workspace solutions that make financial sense. We look forward to hearing from you.
