Planning an office
Office space viewing checklist for Colombo
The short answer
Check seven things before you commit to an office in Colombo: the commute at the hour your team travels, the full monthly cost as one figure, the internet on a real video call, access at night and on weekends, the room on an ordinary workday, what happens if your team changes size, and the terms you’re agreeing to. The advertised rent is rarely the whole cost.
A polished room can still be the wrong office. The useful questions are about what happens after the viewing: what the monthly price leaves out, when the team can get in, whether calls work properly, and who fixes things when they break.
What should you check at an office viewing?
| Check | The question to ask |
|---|---|
| 1. Location | The question to askCan the team get here at the hour they normally travel? |
| 2. Cost | The question to askWhat is the one monthly figure with every recurring charge in it? |
| 3. Internet | The question to askCan I make a video call from this room right now? |
| 4. Access | The question to askCan every team member get in at night, on weekends and on public holidays? |
| 5. The room | The question to askIs there enough desk space, power and light for a full working day? |
| 6. Change | The question to askWhat does the agreement require if we grow, shrink or need to move? |
| 7. Record | The question to askHave I written down the full costs, the terms and the answers? |
1. Test the location the way your team would use it
- Try the commute at the time your team normally travels.
- Check how easy the address is for a client or delivery driver to find.
- Ask where staff and visitors can park or be dropped off.
- Look for practical lunch, banking, pharmacy and transport options nearby.
If you’re still choosing a district, the Colombo office neighbourhood guide compares them.
2. Ask for the real monthly cost
The advertised rent is rarely the whole office cost. Ask for one number that includes every recurring charge, then confirm which up-front costs apply. These are the lines to ask about:
- Electricity and air conditioning
- Business-grade internet and installation
- Cleaning, maintenance and security arrangements
- Furniture, partitions, signage and other fit-out work
- Printing, meeting rooms, tea, coffee and visitor use
- Deposits, advances, taxes and any restoration cost at the end
Coworking vs renting an office sets the two side by side.
3. Test the internet and the calls
A speed-test screenshot tells you very little. Make a video call from the room, ask what kind of connection serves the office, and listen for noise from the hallway and neighbouring rooms. If calls are part of daily work, check both the connection and the privacy.
4. Confirm access and visitor rules
- Can every team member enter outside staffed hours?
- Does access include nights, weekends and public holidays?
- How are visitors received and directed to the office?
- Can couriers and deliveries reach the team when reception isn’t staffed?
HUB9 private-office members have 24/7 access at both Catalyst in Colombo 7 and Nest in Colombo 8.
5. Inspect the room for an ordinary workday
- Enough desk space for monitors, laptops and documents
- Comfortable chairs and air conditioning for a full day
- Power outlets where the team will sit
- Natural or comfortable artificial light
- Secure storage if the team leaves equipment overnight
- A meeting-room process that works when several teams need it
6. Understand what happens when the team changes
Ask what the agreement requires if headcount grows, falls, or the company needs to move. Don’t assume a provider can always offer a different room. Ask how availability is handled and what notice applies before you sign anything. How much office space does your team need? helps you size the office first.
7. Leave with a record
Photograph the room, write down the complete monthly and up-front costs, note the agreement terms, and record the answers that matter to the team. Then compare every option using the same list. A good viewing leaves an impression, and a list is what lets you compare three offices a week later.
If you want to include HUB9 in that comparison, the price and what it includes are on our office space for rent in Colombo page. Arrange a viewing at both locations.
Questions people ask
What should I check when viewing an office in Colombo?
The commute at the hour your team travels, the full monthly cost, the internet on a real video call, access outside office hours, the room itself, what happens if your team changes size, and the agreement terms.
What costs are usually left out of office rent?
Electricity and air conditioning, internet and its installation, cleaning, maintenance, security, furniture and fit-out, printing, and deposits, advances, taxes and any restoration cost at the end.
How do I test the internet at an office viewing?
Make a video call from the room you would work in, and ask what kind of connection serves the office. A speed-test screenshot on its own tells you very little.
Do HUB9 private offices have 24/7 access?
Yes. HUB9 private-office members have 24/7 access at both Catalyst in Colombo 7 and Nest in Colombo 8.
What does the HUB9 private office price include?
Furniture, electricity, air conditioning, enterprise fiber, meeting rooms, printing, cleaning, tea and coffee. The price is per seat: Rs. 23,500 a month for your first two months, then Rs. 28,500.
