Furnished office space is a smart alternative to traditional office space leases. Furnished office spaces offer great advantages like all-inclusive monthly lease prices and turnkey workspaces. Furnished office spaces are particularly appealing to start-up companies, entrepreneurs and small business professionals who lack capital for equipment and furniture.

Furnished office spaces come fully equipped and furnished for quick and easy setup for busy business professionals. Furnished office space facilities typically provide mail, telephone and internet services and some even offer shared support staff services.

To find the best deal on furnished office spaces, take the time to compare facilities. Pay close attention to the following:

1. Is the furnished office space in a location convenient for you, your staff and your clients? Is the office easy to find and accessible by major roads and highways?

2. What kind of facilities and amenities are offered with the furnished office space? Is the space fully furnished? Does it project a professional image?

3. What support services are included in the furnished office space? Does the office space include telephones, voice mail and internet connection? Do you have access to clerical support?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose a conveniently located furnished office space

Location is important, especially if you plan to meet current and prospective clients at your office. If you are an expanding business, be sure to consider the office location from an employee's commuting perspective. Look for a furnished office space located in a safe and attractive neighborhood with well-kept grounds and adequate parking.

I recommend: Search for furnished office spaces by city, state and zipcode at OfficeList.com. Find furnished office space by the nearest metropolitan area at OfficeFinder. Look for furnished offices spaces by U.S. city or Canadian province at Star Office Space.

Select a furnished office space with attractive facilities

Your furnished office space should project an image of success. Evaluate the quality of the furniture, appearance of the office and lobby areas and overall cleanliness of the building. Seek furnished office spaces with attractive meeting and conference rooms that will impress current and future clients.

I recommend: Regus provides fully furnished offices, meeting rooms and videoconferencing studios. Office Suites Plus features professionally designed and furnished offices that can be configured for use by one person or a team of professionals. Corporate Suites offers a tasteful selection of executive desks, executive-style chairs, task chairs, meeting tables and filing space for its furnished office spaces.

Lease a furnished office space with professional equipment and support services

Make sure your furnished office space is equipped with the infrastructure you need for business success. Furnished office spaces should include standard business equipment like telephones, fax machines, copiers and high-speed internet access. Look for value-added services like receptionists, clerical support, mail services, personalized telephone answering services and videoconferencing capabilities.

I recommend: Office Services features a range of individual services, support packages and ancillary services to meet your specific business needs. In addition to ready to move-in office space, Plug and Play Tech Center offers strategic advice and investment resources to Silicon Valley start-up companies.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When evaluating a furnished office space, be sure to talk with your potential office space partners and current building tenants. Find out about their business, working hours, clients and business culture. Consider leasing shared office space near complementary businesses to increase your business contacts and exposure.
• •  Furnished office space leases are typically six to 12 months, with some facilities offering three-month lease options. Be sure a lawyer who specializes in office and sub-leases reviews your lease contract before you sign any paperwork.