Planning an office
Private office, dedicated desk or hot desk: which do you need?
The short answer
Take a private office if a team works together and needs a door that locks. Take a dedicated desk if you work alone and want the same desk every day, with 24/7 access. Take a hot desk if you need somewhere to work for a day now and then. At HUB9 a private office is Rs. 23,500 a seat a month for two months and Rs. 28,500 after, a dedicated desk is Rs. 25,000 a month, and a hot desk is Rs. 2,000 a day.
Coworking spaces sell the same square metres in three different ways. Which one you need depends on how many of you there are, how often you come in, and how much of your work is confidential.
What is the difference between them?
| Workspace | What you get | Price at HUB9 | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private office | What you getA fully furnished, lockable office for your team | Price at HUB9Rs. 23,500 per seat per month for the first 2 months, then Rs. 28,500 | WhereCatalyst, Colombo 7, and Nest, Colombo 8 |
| Dedicated desk | What you getYour own permanent desk in a shared space | Price at HUB9Flat Rs. 25,000 per month | WhereNest, Colombo 8 |
| Hot desk | What you getAny available seat in the open area, for the day | Price at HUB9Rs. 2,000 per day | WhereNest, Colombo 8 |
Who is a private office for?
Teams. A private office is a lockable room that’s yours, so the setup stays in place and sensitive calls stay inside it. It suits startups and growing teams, remote teams of international companies, and any business that wants a plug-and-play office.
The per-seat price covers furniture, electricity, air conditioning, fiber internet, meeting rooms, printing, cleaning, and tea and coffee. Members have 24/7 access. If you’re not sure how many seats to ask for, this guide works through it.
Who is a dedicated desk for?
One person who comes in most days. A dedicated desk is reserved for you alone, so your setup stays where you left it. It suits freelancers, independent consultants, solo founders, and remote workers who want a routine and are tired of working from home.
It’s a flat Rs. 25,000 a month with no lock-in, and you get what private office members get: 24/7 access, free meeting rooms, fiber internet, printing, and unlimited tea and coffee.
Who is a hot desk for?
Anyone who needs a good place to work today. With a hot desk you sit at any available seat in the open area at Nest. It suits freelancers, digital nomads, remote workers visiting Colombo, and teams that need an extra seat now and then.
The day pass is Rs. 2,000, with fiber internet, air conditioning, printing, and tea and coffee included. You can simply drop by. If you want to be sure a seat is waiting, message Sharon before you arrive.
When should you move up?
Count the days. Thirteen day passes cost Rs. 26,000, which is more than a dedicated desk for the whole month. If you’d come in thirteen days a month or more, the dedicated desk is cheaper, and the desk is yours at night and on weekends too.
| Days a month | Day passes | Dedicated desk |
|---|---|---|
| 4 days | Day passesRs. 8,000 | Dedicated deskRs. 25,000 |
| 8 days | Day passesRs. 16,000 | Dedicated deskRs. 25,000 |
| 13 days | Day passesRs. 26,000 | Dedicated deskRs. 25,000 |
| 20 days | Day passesRs. 40,000 | Dedicated deskRs. 25,000 |
The step from a desk to a private office is about people and privacy more than price. Once two or three of you work together every day, or the calls turn confidential, a room with a door is the better fit.
What about meeting rooms and virtual offices?
Meeting rooms are Rs. 2,000 an hour, and free for members with a private office or a dedicated desk. They’re at both locations.
A virtual office is for a business that needs an address and not a desk. For Rs. 10,000 a month you get a business address in Colombo 7 or Colombo 8, mail handling, and 10 hours of meeting room use each month. There’s an easy upgrade path to a desk or a private office later.
How do you try one?
Start with a day pass at Nest. It’s the cheapest way to see how you work there. For a private office, message Sharon on WhatsApp at +94 777 292 950 with your team size and she’ll arrange a tour. Catalyst or Nest explains which location has what.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a dedicated desk and a hot desk?
A dedicated desk is permanently yours: same desk every day, reserved exclusively for you, with 24/7 access. A hot desk is a flexible day pass where you sit at any available seat in the open area.
Is a dedicated desk cheaper than day passes?
It is if you come in thirteen days a month or more. Thirteen day passes at Rs. 2,000 cost Rs. 26,000, and a dedicated desk is a flat Rs. 25,000 per month.
How much is a private office per person?
At HUB9, Rs. 23,500 per seat per month for your first 2 months, then Rs. 28,500 per seat per month.
Can I get a dedicated desk or a hot desk in Colombo 7?
Not at HUB9. Dedicated desks and hot desks are available only at Nest, 7 Turnour Rd, Colombo 8. Catalyst in Colombo 7 has private offices, meeting rooms and virtual offices.
Do desk members get meeting rooms?
Yes. Free access to fully equipped meeting rooms is included with a dedicated desk and with a private office.
