For many Hertfordshire-based small businesses or solopreneurs working from home, an office is a luxury overhead that cannot be justified. But hot-desking might be the smartest move for your business as it opens up a raft of opportunities.

If you’re anything like the small business owners that we know, a typical working week can mean Monday sitting at the kitchen table next to a washing machine that chooses the start of your call to begin the spin cycle. Tuesday may find you sitting in a coffee shop and by Thursday, you’re prepping dinner whilst booking client catch ups, wondering how you manage to run a business with one hand and the household with the other.

This is why hot-desking may be the answer.

Hot desking benefits

Hot-desking means using a desk in a shared, professional workspace on a flexible basis. You don’t pay for a long-term lease (although many workspaces offer this opportunity in return for reduced costs). You only pay for the days or sessions you actually use. When it’s your session, you simply turn up, plug in, get on with your work. The office is likely to offer free tea and coffee too (well ours does!).

These are the benefits of hot-desking in Hertfordshire:

A professional space without a fixed overhead.

Should you choose to lease an office, you have to factor in rent, service charges, business rates, insurance, utilities and so on. If you decide to hot-desk, you simply pay the rent for that space for contracted dates/times or on an ad hoc basis. You will have flexibility with very short notice periods even if you contract for a set number of days per week.

A dedicated workplace that allows you to focus on your business

Home working can be great but it has fridges, laundry, deliveries, family members and a comfy sofa that can be distracting! A dedicated desk in a professional workspace creates a clear line between you in work mode and you in home mode. Many people find they get more done in a focused four hours at a hot desk than a distracted full day at home.

It also helps your wellbeing as work stays ‘in the office’ so it’s easier to relax when you’re home.

A more suitable place to meet clients

Taking on flexible office space means SMEs have a professional space to meet clients or prospective customers, without needing to head to a coffee shop. A professional space boosts your credibility and it’s likely that there’s a meeting room on site to hire when needed.

Opportunities to collaborate and be with other people

This benefit is often overlooked but when a solopreneur or small business owner meets with other people, there are no end of opportunities to share challenges, find ways to collaborate or simply enjoy some downtime. Working alone can be isolating so a quick chat about a book, a game or what was on TV last night can make a real difference to morale and wellbeing. You may even meet your next client at the hot-desk next to yours.

Hot desk hire in Harpenden

If you’re searching for hot desking in Hertfordshire bear in mind that location is important. Choosing a workspace close to home means less time commuting and more time working on your business, and a local base keeps you connected to your business community.

For those looking for hot desk hire in Harpenden, Hour Hands offers flexible hot-desking in a welcoming, professional setting, with no long-term lease and no complicated contracts. It’s a convenient option if you want a proper place to work without the commute into London or the cost of a dedicated office. We’re also a really friendly bunch and who knows what synergies we’ll discover!

Why hot-desking may suit you

Hot-desking is probably worth considering if you:

● Work from home but find it hard to concentrate or want a dedicated workspace
● Need a professional address or fully equipped meeting room
● Want to keep overheads low whilst your business grows
● Miss having colleagues around (but don’t miss the meetings!)

Hot-desking won’t suit everyone, but for many small businesses it offers a rare combination of feeling more professional for a relatively low cost whilst enjoying being around people and potential collaborators.

Fancy trying hot-desking for yourself? Get in touch with Hour Hands to book a visit and see whether a flexible desk is the right fit for you.

Hot-desking in Harpenden – without the London price tag. Click here for more details:

Hot desks and boardroom hire available in the heart of Harpenden, Hertfordshire with direct Thameslink connections to London St Pancras in under 30 minutes and easy access to the M1 and M25.