Flexible office brokers and agents in the UK: services and models compared

Commercial disclosure and methodology

Office Freedom is included in this comparison and provides flexible-workspace agency services. We've aimed to distinguish verifiable, publicly stated information about each firm from our own assessment and experience of the flexible-workspace market.

Service models, ownership and coverage in this sector change frequently. We review this guide periodically, but businesses should confirm current arrangements directly with any firm before appointing an adviser.

What is a flexible office broker or agent?

The flexible-office market includes specialist brokers, commercial property agents, online marketplaces and workspace operators. Although their services increasingly overlap, there are important differences. Our guide to serviced, managed and traditional office space explains how the principal workspace models compare.

Flexible-office broker

A flexible-office broker searches across multiple serviced, managed and coworking providers on behalf of an occupier. Depending on the broker's service model, this can include taking a brief, identifying suitable offices, producing a shortlist, arranging and accompanying viewings, comparing proposals and negotiating commercial terms.

The workspace provider normally pays the broker a fee following a successful transaction, rather than the occupier paying the broker directly.

Commercial property agent

A commercial property agent may advise landlords, occupiers or both, traditionally across conventional office leases. Many of the major property agencies now also have dedicated flexible-workspace teams.

Flexible-workspace marketplace

A marketplace typically allows businesses to search and compare workspace online. Some operate predominantly as self-service platforms, while others combine technology with human advisers who can assist with private-office searches.

Flexible-workspace operator

An operator runs specific workspace locations or brands and offers space within its own portfolio. Going directly to an operator therefore means considering that operator's buildings rather than comparing options across the wider market.

With the commercial property market becoming increasingly blurred - brokers, marketplaces, agencies and operators now overlap in places - this guide compares some of the main firms active in and around the UK flexible-office market and explains the differences between their service models.

Quick comparison

Specialist flexible-office brokers and platforms

Office Freedom

Office Freedom was founded in London in 1993 as Search Office Space and specialises in helping businesses find flexible workspace.

Office Freedom represents the occupier during the office search and is not tied to a single workspace operator. It can compare options across a network of more than 15,000 workspace locations in major business cities worldwide.

A dedicated adviser takes the client's brief, identifies and shortlists suitable options from multiple workspace providers, arranges and accompanies viewings and helps negotiate pricing and commercial terms.

Office Freedom's search and advisory service is free to the occupier. When a transaction completes, the workspace provider normally pays Office Freedom a fee.

Free Office Finder

Free Office Finder specialises in serviced and flexible-office searches across London and the wider UK. Its stated service includes understanding the client's requirements, producing tailored office shortlists, arranging viewings and assisting with negotiation.

Its proposition is primarily adviser-led rather than simply providing an online property search.

Officio

Officio is a flexible-workspace brokerage within the Newable group, which also owns workspace operator NewFlex.

Based in Birmingham, Officio provides office-search services across the UK, helping occupiers identify and compare flexible-workspace options.

Hubble

Hubble combines technology with adviser-supported office search.

Its offering includes private-office search alongside a marketplace for on-demand desks, meeting rooms and shorter-term workspace. This model can particularly suit businesses wanting to combine a permanent office requirement with bookable flexible workspace.

Found, Adapt and Tally

Found, Adapt and Tally are among a newer generation of flexible workspace businesses operating predominantly in London.

Their models differ, but they generally combine office search expertise with a more modern, technology led or boutique approach to the flexible workspace market.

Flexi Offices

Flexi Offices is a specialist flexible workspace brokerage covering the UK. It provides an adviser led service helping businesses search for and compare flexible offices from different providers.

Office Hub

Office Hub is a global flexible-workspace search business with a particularly strong international presence, including Australia and Asian markets.

Its platform allows businesses to search flexible workspace across multiple locations, supported by workspace advisers.

Global marketplaces and advisory groups

Instant Offices

Instant Offices is a global flexible-workspace marketplace and advisory business within The Instant Group.

Following The Instant Group's 2022 combination with IWG's digital assets, the wider group provides a range of flexible-workspace, managed-workspace and portfolio services.

Instant Offices continues to offer businesses workspace search and advisory services across an extensive international inventory.

Global property consultancies with flexible-workspace capability

Most of the major commercial property consultancies now offer flexible workspace advice alongside their traditional leasing and property services.

CBRE, Knight Frank, Savills, Colliers and JLL all provide flexible workspace capability as part of substantially broader commercial property businesses.

Savills also operates Workthere, its specialist flexible workspace advisory service.

These firms can be particularly relevant where a requirement forms part of a wider corporate property strategy involving conventional leases, portfolio management or other real estate services.

London property agencies with flexible-workspace capability

Firms including Belcor, Compton and RX London operate predominantly in the London commercial property market and provide flexible workspace capability alongside conventional office leasing.

For businesses considering both flexible space and a conventional lease, an agency operating across both markets may be useful.

Hybrid leasing and flexible-workspace advisers

Other firms combine conventional office leasing and flexible-workspace advice within the same business.

• Making Moves

• Kontor

• DeVono

• Bureau

Their individual areas of focus and service models vary, so businesses should establish how extensively each adviser searches the flexible-workspace market and what level of support is included.

How to choose the right office-search partner

There isn't one service model that's right for every business.

Before appointing a broker, agent or marketplace, it's worth asking:

1. Do you need London, UK or international coverage?

2. Do you want an adviser led search, a self-service platform or a combination of both?

3. Will the adviser accompany you on viewings?

4. Can they compare serviced, managed and leased options, or only one category?

5. Do they provide negotiation and renewal support or only make an introduction?

6. How broad is the network of workspace providers they search?

7. Who pays the adviser or platform when a transaction completes?

8. Will one adviser manage the requirement from initial brief through to completion?

9. How are potential conflicts of interest or ownership relationships disclosed?

The answers can make a significant difference to both the amount of work a business needs to undertake itself and the range of options it ultimately considers.

Can an office broker compare several workspace operators for me?

Yes. This is one of the principal reasons businesses use a flexible office broker.

Rather than contacting individual operators separately, a broker can identify suitable workspace from multiple providers based on the same requirement.

For example, a London search might include relevant options from major brands such as Regus, WeWork and Fora alongside other national, regional and independent workspace operators.

The broker can then help compare factors including:

• total price and what's included;

• location;

• office size and configuration;

• meeting room provision;

• amenities;

• contract length and flexibility;

• availability; and

• other commercial terms.

This allows the occupier to compare different providers on a more consistent basis.

Can an office broker negotiate a better serviced-office deal?

A broker can negotiate with workspace providers on behalf of the occupier.

The headline monthly price is only one part of that negotiation. Depending on the office and provider, discussions can also cover areas such as deposits, meeting room credits, internet and IT requirements, rent free periods, fit out or furniture requirements, contract flexibility and other commercial terms. Our guide to the hidden costs of serviced offices explains which potential extras should be checked before signing.

A broker with knowledge of current market conditions can also help an occupier assess whether a proposal is competitive against other suitable options.

The outcome will depend on the requirement, availability, provider and prevailing market conditions, so a broker cannot guarantee a particular discount.

Can an office broker help a 20-person company find an office?

Yes. Team size is normally one of the starting points of a flexible office search.

For a 20 person requirement, an adviser would typically need to understand not only the number of desks required but also factors such as:

• preferred London areas;

• budget;

• target move-in date;

• expected growth or contraction;

• meeting-room requirements;

• private offices or open-plan preferences;

• IT and connectivity requirements; and

• desired contract length.

The adviser can then compare serviced and managed-office options that fit the requirement rather than the business having to search individual workspace providers separately.

The same process can be applied to smaller or substantially larger requirements.

What does "independent office broker" mean?

The term can mean different things, so businesses should look beyond the label and understand how the service actually operates.

Office Freedom represents the occupier during the workspace search and is not tied to a single workspace operator. It searches across a broad network of workspace providers to identify suitable options.

The service is free to the occupier. If the client takes space, the successful workspace provider normally pays Office Freedom a fee.

Businesses using any office search service should be comfortable with how that service is paid and whether any ownership relationships or commercial arrangements could affect the options presented.

When is a specialist flexible office broker particularly useful?

A specialist broker can be particularly useful when a business wants someone to manage the complete flexible office search rather than coordinating multiple providers itself.

Comparing several operators. Instead of approaching individual workspace brands separately, one requirement can be used to search multiple providers.

Arranging several viewings. The adviser can coordinate a viewing schedule across different buildings and operators.

Comparing proposals. Headline desk rates don't always include the same services, making apparently similar quotes difficult to compare directly.

Negotiating commercial terms. The adviser can negotiate pricing and other elements of the agreement before the client commits. Read our tips for negotiating office pricing and terms for a closer look at the process.

Considering different workspace models. Depending on the requirement, serviced, managed and conventional leased space may all be worth considering.

Managing searches in unfamiliar markets. A business expanding into another UK city or overseas may benefit from an adviser with knowledge of local workspace providers.

How Office Freedom works

Office Freedom has specialised in flexible workspace since 1993.

The process is straightforward:

1. Tell us what you need

An adviser establishes your team size, preferred locations, budget, timing and workspace requirements.

2. We compare suitable workspace

Office Freedom searches across its network of workspace providers rather than limiting the search to a single operator.

3. Receive a shortlist

Your adviser identifies suitable options and helps you compare factors such as location, pricing, facilities, availability and commercial terms.

4. We arrange the viewings

Office Freedom coordinates viewings with the relevant workspace providers and can accompany you.

5. We help negotiate the deal

Your adviser helps negotiate pricing, inclusions and commercial terms on the preferred option.

6. You choose the workspace

The final decision remains yours. Office Freedom's search and advisory service is free to the occupier.

Frequently asked questions

Is an office broker worth it?

A broker can be particularly useful when a business wants to compare multiple workspace providers, arrange several viewings or negotiate commercial terms without managing each conversation separately.

The value depends on the breadth of the broker's market coverage, the level of adviser involvement and the complexity of the requirement.

Do office brokers charge fees?

Many flexible-office brokers, including Office Freedom, don't charge the occupier directly.

Instead, the workspace provider normally pays the broker a fee if a transaction completes.

Businesses should understand how any broker or marketplace they use is paid and ask about any additional services or charges where relevant.

What's the difference between an office broker and a commercial property agent?

A commercial property agent may represent landlords, occupiers or both and traditionally works extensively with conventional longer term office leases. Many property agencies now also have flexible workspace teams.

A specialist flexible office broker focuses primarily on serviced, managed and coworking space and searches across multiple workspace providers on behalf of the occupier.

Should I use a broker or go directly to a provider such as Regus, WeWork or Fora?

Going directly to a workspace operator allows you to explore that operator's own portfolio.

Using a broker allows you to compare that proposal with potentially suitable offices from other workspace providers through a single point of contact.

The right approach depends on whether you already know exactly which building or operator you want or would benefit from comparing the wider market.

Can Office Freedom compare Regus, WeWork, Fora and other workspace providers?

Yes. Where their locations are suitable for the requirement, Office Freedom can compare options from major workspace operators alongside other providers in its network.

The objective isn't to favour a particular brand but to identify suitable options based on the client's location, team size, budget, timing and other requirements.

Is Office Freedom free to use?

Office Freedom's workspace search and advisory service is free to occupiers.

If a transaction completes, the workspace provider normally pays Office Freedom a fee.

About this guide

This guide was reviewed by Office Freedom's flexible workspace advisory team.

Office Freedom was founded in London in 1993 and helps businesses compare and secure serviced offices, managed offices, coworking spaces and other workspace solutions. Its network includes more than 15,000 workspace locations in major business cities worldwide.

Company information in this comparison was checked against publicly available information and should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant business where its service model or ownership is important to your decision.