Serviced office deposits and upfront costs
Day one costs more than month two. Budget for the deposit, the first month in advance and a small setup fee — and know which of the three is negotiable.
Day one
What is payable before you move in
| Area | Indicative typical amount | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Security deposit | £1–£3 | Months of licence fee, refundable after inspection and final billing. Two months is the market standard. |
| First month in advance | £1–£1 | Charged with the deposit; some operators pro-rata a mid-month start. |
| Setup / onboarding fee | £0–£500 | Access cards, signage, IT configuration. Frequently waived if you ask before signing. |
| IT and cabling | £0–£900 | Only if you need a dedicated line or bespoke cabling; standard Wi-Fi setup is free. |
Prices shown are indicative market estimates for guidance only, based on typical flexible workspace rates for this area. They are not quotes. Live availability and actual pricing are confirmed on enquiry — call us and we will benchmark real options for your team size and move-in date.
New companies
If you have no filed accounts
Operators credit-check. A company with no filed accounts will usually be asked for three months' deposit, a personal guarantee, or both. Neither is fixed. A parent company guarantee, a director's guarantee limited in time to the first twelve months, or a larger first payment in exchange for dropping the guarantee are all deals we place regularly.
If you are a UK subsidiary of an overseas parent, put the parent's accounts in front of the operator early. It routinely turns three months into one.
Protect it
Getting your deposit back
- Photograph the room on the day you move in and send the photos to the operator
- Get the inventory and condition report in writing
- Keep the deposit terms and return timeline in the signed agreement
- Do not allow the deposit to be applied to arrears without written agreement
- Book the exit inspection before your last day
- Return all cards and keys and remove fixings and cabling
Frequently asked questions
Get live workspace options in the UK
Tell us your team size, budget and move-in date. We will send a shortlist with real, current pricing — free, independent and with no obligation.
Important: where this page uses the words “rent”, “rental”, “lease” or “let” to describe workspace, those terms are used for descriptive and search purposes only. The agreement offered by flexible workspace operators is a licence to occupy, not a lease or tenancy, and it does not confer security of tenure under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. Prices shown are indicative estimates, not quotes or offers.