Series A Office Search Guide: How to Scale Your Startup’s Workspace

Raising a Series A funding round is a monumental milestone for any startup. It is the moment you transition from proving product-market fit to scaling your operations, your marketing, and, most importantly, your team. But with rapid headcount growth comes a major operational challenge: finding the right office space.

According to data from Beauhurst, the average headcount of a UK startup at the Series A stage is around 35 to 40 people, with most companies planning to double their team size within 12 to 18 months of funding. Managing this level of growth requires a workspace strategy that is both flexible and scalable.

In this guide, we will walk you through how to navigate the office search process as a scaling Series A company, calculate your space requirements, and choose the right workspace model for your hybrid team.

The Hybrid Challenge: Redefining the Startup Office

Before you start browsing listings, you need to define how your team will actually use the space. The days of requiring every employee to sit at a dedicated desk from nine to five are gone. A study by McKinsey found that approximately 90% of organisations are planning to combine remote and on-site work in the future.

For a Series A startup, this shift is a massive advantage. Instead of renting a massive office to accommodate 80 people on day one, you can implement a hybrid model with a desk-to-employee ratio of 1:2 or 2:3. This means you only need enough desks for 40 to 50 people at any given time, significantly reducing your overheads while still providing a hub for collaboration.

To support your remote or distributed team members who need ad-hoc workspace, you can also leverage on-demand options. With Flowspace Coworking, your team can book desks, meeting rooms, and offices by the hour or day across a flexible network of spaces.

Calculating Your Space Requirements

When planning your layout, you need to balance density with comfort and collaboration space. The British Council for Offices (BCO) traditionally recommended a standard of 100 to 120 square feet per person. However, modern hybrid offices often allocate more space to communal areas, meeting rooms, and breakout zones rather than rows of desks.

Here is a simple framework to estimate your space requirements:

• Desk Areas: Allocate approximately 60 to 80 square feet per desk.
• Meeting Rooms: You will need at least one 6 to 8 person meeting room for every 20 employees.
• Breakout Space: Dedicate 20% to 30% of your total square footage to collaborative zones, phone booths, and kitchen areas.

If you anticipate growing from 30 to 60 employees over the next 18 months, a flexible workspace that allows you to scale your desk count without moving buildings is highly recommended.

Serviced, Managed, or Leased: Which is Best?

As a scaling startup, you have three primary options when it comes to office space:

1. Serviced Offices

Serviced offices are fully fitted, plug-and-play spaces managed by an operator. They offer flexible rolling contracts (typically 12 to 24 months) and include all amenities, utilities, and internet in a single monthly fee.

Best for: Startups that need to move quickly and want to avoid upfront capital expenditure.

2. Managed Offices

Managed offices offer the customisation of a traditional lease with the convenience of a serviced office. The operator sources the space, customises the fit-out to match your brand, and manages the day-to-day operations, all bundled into a single monthly cost.

Best for: Startups with 50 or more employees who want their own branded front door and bespoke layout without the hassle of property management.

3. Traditional Leased Offices

A traditional lease involves renting a shell space directly from a landlord, usually for a minimum of 3 to 5 years. You are responsible for the fit-out, utilities, maintenance, and dilapidations.

Best for: Large, established enterprises. For Series A startups, the high upfront capital expenditure and long-term commitment can severely restrict your agility.

How to Streamline Your Office Search

Finding the perfect office can easily become a full-time job, distracting founders and operations leaders from running the business. The traditional route involves dealing with multiple brokers, sorting through outdated listings, and negotiating complex lease terms.

Flowspace simplifies this entire process. We provide access to a searchable database of over 10,000 available offices across Europe. Our expert team does the heavy lifting: we build custom shortlists based on your requirements, arrange viewings, and negotiate the best rates on your behalf.

Whether you are looking for a dedicated headquarters in London or flexible regional hubs, we help you secure the best deal with zero hassle. Explore our Flowspace Office Search to start your journey today.

FAQ

How much office space does a Series A startup need?

Typically, you should plan for 100 to 120 square feet per desk. However, with hybrid working, you do not need a desk for every single employee. A 2:3 desk-to-employee ratio is common for scaling teams.

Should a Series A startup sign a traditional lease?

Generally, no. Traditional leases require 3 to 5 year commitments and significant upfront capital. Serviced or managed offices offer the flexibility that rapidly growing teams need.

What is the average headcount of a Series A startup?

Most startups have between 30 and 50 employees at the time of their Series A round, with plans to double their team size within the next 12 to 18 months.

How can Flowspace help with our office search?

Flowspace provides access to over 10,000 offices across Europe. Our concierge team builds custom shortlists and negotiates the rates on your behalf, saving you time and money.