Office Space for 10, 20 and 50 Person Teams: What Changes

The office that suits a ten person team rarely suits fifty of them, and the biggest mistakes we see are businesses buying the wrong product for their size: too much space too early, or a per desk deal that stops making sense the moment they scale.

What changes at 10 people

At ten desks you are firmly in serviced office territory. A single suite in a managed building gives you meeting room access, reception, internet and cleaning without any operational burden, and a monthly licence means you can change direction quickly.

Expect roughly £200 to £450 per desk per month in major regional cities, more in central London. Ask how easy it is to take the suite next door when you grow, because a building that cannot expand with you will force a second move within a year or two.

What changes at 20 people

Twenty desks is the crossover point. Below it, per desk serviced pricing is usually the simplest and best value route. Above it, whole floors start to price sharper than individual desks, so a managed floor fitted to your brand can cost less per head while giving you your own kitchen, meeting rooms and entrance.

Price both routes side by side and compare the all in monthly cost rather than the headline rate. A managed quote that looks higher may include the fit out, which a serviced deal would leave you to fund separately.

What changes at 50 people

At fifty people you are taking meaningful floors, and the negotiation matters as much as the space. Term length, break rights, rent free periods, indexation caps and fit out contributions all move the real cost by thousands of pounds a year.

You also need to think about how the team works, not just where it sits. Two floors connected by a stair feel very different from two floors connected by a lift, and a fifteen minute walk between kitchens quietly kills collaboration.

The number to check first

Whatever the size, the same benchmark applies: roughly 70 to 100 sq ft per person for a conventional layout, or 50 to 70 sq ft for dense open plan. Multiply your expected headcount in twelve to eighteen months, not today's, and you have the space you should be looking for.

Tell us your team size and city and we will price serviced, managed and leased options side by side, then come back with a shortlist within 48 hours. The operator pays our fee, so it costs you nothing.