Office costs
Coworking vs renting an office in Colombo: what each one really costs
The short answer
For a team of one to about ten, a coworking seat usually costs the same as a traditional office or less, once you add what the rent leaves out: the advance, the fit-out, internet, electricity and cleaning. At HUB9 a private office seat is Rs. 23,500 a month for the first two months, then Rs. 28,500, with all of that included. A lease of your own starts to make sense for a company of around 30 with a stable headcount.
If you’re starting or growing a business in Colombo, sooner or later somebody asks whether to rent an office or take seats in a coworking space. The rent on a listing makes the office look cheap. Then you add up what it takes to work in it.
What does a traditional office cost beyond the rent?
Renting a commercial space in Colombo usually involves a good deal more than the monthly rent. These are the costs a listing leaves out:
| Cost | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Advance and deposit | What it means for youCommercial landlords in Colombo commonly ask for several months up front. That cash sits locked away while you work. |
| Fit-out and furniture | What it means for youDesks, ergonomic chairs, partitions, lighting and air conditioning units, all paid for before the first day of work. |
| Internet | What it means for youInstallation, then a monthly bill. A reliable business fiber connection doesn’t come cheap. |
| Electricity | What it means for youAir conditioning is the big one in Colombo’s climate, and it runs through every working hour. |
| Cleaning and maintenance | What it means for youEither a staff member or a service contract. |
| Security | What it means for youAfter-hours access means locks, alarms or a security arrangement. |
| The lease | What it means for youCommercial leases usually run a year or more, whether or not your headcount plans change. |
Every one of them costs you money or somebody’s time. For a small team, they frequently add up to as much as the rent.
What does a coworking seat include?
A coworking membership rolls all of that into one number you can plan around. At HUB9, a seat in a private office is Rs. 23,500 a month for your first two months, then Rs. 28,500. A dedicated desk at Nest is a fixed Rs. 25,000 a month. Both include:
- Furniture and ergonomic chairs, so you can walk in and start working
- Air conditioning and electricity
- Enterprise-grade fiber internet
- Free use of fully equipped meeting rooms
- 24/7 access
- Cleaning, maintenance, printing, and unlimited tea and coffee
The full list for each workspace is on the pricing page.
What would your team pay at HUB9?
Private offices are priced per seat, so the sum is short. A four-person team pays Rs. 94,000 a month for the first two months and Rs. 114,000 after that, with nothing to fit out or furnish.
| Team | First two months | From month three |
|---|---|---|
| 2 people | First two monthsRs. 47,000 a month | From month threeRs. 57,000 a month |
| 4 people | First two monthsRs. 94,000 a month | From month threeRs. 114,000 a month |
| 6 people | First two monthsRs. 141,000 a month | From month threeRs. 171,000 a month |
| 8 people | First two monthsRs. 188,000 a month | From month threeRs. 228,000 a month |
| 10 people | First two monthsRs. 235,000 a month | From month threeRs. 285,000 a month |
Which rooms are free changes as teams move and grow, so tell Sharon your team size and she’ll match you with an office at Catalyst or Nest.
Now the traditional office. Take the rent on even a modest space in a decent part of Colombo. Add the advance, a basic fit-out spread over the lease, internet, electricity and cleaning. Most small teams end up spending the same or more, with a large chunk of capital locked up on day one and a year-long commitment. They still don’t have a meeting room, people around them, or a way to scale down if plans change.
Is a private office in a coworking space a serviced office?
In practical terms, yes. A serviced office is a private, ready-to-use office where the operator takes care of the furniture, internet, utilities and shared facilities. At HUB9 your team works behind a lockable door, and the meeting rooms and the wider coworking community are just outside it.
It suits teams that want the identity and privacy of their own office and would rather skip the setup and the daily administration of a conventional lease.
When does a traditional office make more sense?
Coworking isn’t right for everyone. If you’re a 30-person company with a stable headcount, special equipment, or strict regulatory requirements about premises, an office of your own can be the better long-term deal. For teams of one to about ten, or any team whose size might change in the next year, the flexibility usually wins.
How do you compare the two for your own team?
- 1
Get the full monthly cost from the landlord
Ask for one figure that includes every recurring charge, then ask which up-front costs apply. Our office viewing checklist lists what to ask.
- 2
Count the seats you need
Work from the people who are in on a busy day. How much office space does your team need? walks through it.
- 3
Get a quote for the same team
Message Sharon on WhatsApp at +94 777 292 950 with your team size and when you’d like to move in.
- 4
Visit both
Drop by Catalyst in Colombo 7 or Nest in Colombo 8, have a coffee with Sharon, and see the office. No commitment needed.
Questions people ask
Is coworking cheaper than renting an office in Colombo?
For teams of one to about ten it usually costs the same or less, once the advance, fit-out, internet, electricity and cleaning of a traditional office are counted. It also avoids a year-long lease and a large payment up front.
How much is a private office at HUB9?
Rs. 23,500 per seat per month for your first two months, then Rs. 28,500 per seat per month. A four-person team pays Rs. 94,000 a month at the introductory rate and Rs. 114,000 a month after that.
What does the HUB9 price include?
Furniture, electricity, air conditioning, enterprise-grade fiber internet, free meeting rooms, 24/7 access, cleaning, maintenance, printing, and unlimited tea and coffee.
What is a serviced office?
A private, ready-to-use office where the operator takes care of the furniture, internet, utilities and shared facilities. A HUB9 private office works this way: a lockable room for your team, with meeting rooms outside it.
When should a company rent its own office?
When it has around 30 people and a stable headcount, needs special equipment, or has strict regulatory requirements about its premises. In those cases an office of its own can be the better long-term deal.
