Types of Office Space | CoWorking and Executive Suite
Need flexibility without a long-term lease? Coworking and executive suites solve that in different ways. What sets them apart, and how to tell which fits your business.
With the growing success of startups, office space needs to be adaptable, able to rapidly change in size and function as a business grows. Coworking and executive suites both solve for flexibility without a long-term lease, but they do it in genuinely different ways. Here's what sets them apart.
Coworking space is shared, membership-based space built around community and flexibility, often with day passes and hot desks. An executive suite is a private, furnished office on a short-term lease with shared building amenities. Coworking suits freelancers and very early-stage teams; executive suites suit small businesses that want privacy without a long-term commitment.
What Are Executive Suites?
Executive suites are typically small, private offices on short lease terms, offering a more traditional space without the binding conditions of a conventional office lease. Amenities may be included or available to rent for the duration of the lease, and essential services like upkeep and security are often negotiated into the cost of the suite.
These spaces have limited room for customization and immediate growth, which is worth keeping in mind. But for a small startup with an unpredictable near-term future, an executive suite can be a great first home while the business continues to develop. Executive suites are found tucked into traditional buildings, grouped together in one complex, or standing alone as their own building, and prices vary by location, quality, and landlord.
What Is Coworking Space?
Coworking space takes flexibility a step further than an executive suite. Rather than a private office, coworking is shared, membership-based space: think hot desks, day passes, and communal work areas alongside dedicated desks for members who want more consistency. Coworking is built around community as much as workspace, with shared conference rooms, common areas, and often regular networking events. It's a strong fit for freelancers, remote employees, and very early-stage startups that want a professional environment and built-in networking without the commitment of a private office.
Which One Fits Your Business?
Once a business settles into either option, it's worth making the space feel like home. Executive suites and coworking desks can both be fairly minimal out of the box, so a few personalized touches go a long way toward making a space feel like an actual headquarters rather than a placeholder. The right choice comes down to how much privacy a business needs versus how much it values community and flexibility, and how confident the team is in its near-term growth trajectory.
Not sure which space type fits your business? Check out our other guides on Medical Space, Retail Space, Traditional & Creative Space, and Industrial & Warehouse Space.
See also: Get Matched With a Tenant Rep Broker, By Market and Space Type →Browse coworking and executive suite options in your local market:
Find Your Flexible Space
A local tenant rep can help you weigh coworking and executive suite options against your team and budget, at no cost to you.
Find My Space, FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Looking for office, industrial, or retail space? TenantBase can connect you with a local tenant-rep broker.