Temporary Office Space in Boston

Finding suitable temporary office space in Boston is often difficult--especially for those who aren't familiar with Boston commercial real estate. If you're in the market for temporary office space for your startup or other business, Boston City Properties is here to help. Whether you need temporary space for an important business function or to establish short-term base operations, you can take your pick from many compelling options throughout the city of Boston. If you know roughly where you'd like to lease space, great. If not, our team can help you to identify areas of the city that will suit your business objectives the best.

About Temporary Office Space in Boston

As a major business hub, Boston is home to hundreds of thousands of square feet of office space. Not surprisingly, most of this space is occupied by long-term tenants who have done quite well in Boston. However, businesses of all sizes and scopes occasionally need temporary space. With so many companies doing business in greater Boston, it makes sense that there are lots of temporary space offerings as well. As in most major cities, the temp space that's available varies widely in terms of quality, price, size and so on. Around the city, you'll find everything from executive suites to popup retail space that's suitable for a variety of purposes.

How Does it Work?

If you've never leased temporary office space before, you probably have a lot of questions. Chief among them is probably: What does "temporary" mean, exactly? Well, that depends on the space in question. However, temporary office space is typically leased out by the day, week or month. Some companies offer temp office space by the hour, which comes in handy in some cases. Others let you rent it out for as little as half a day or for as long as a year or more. In other words, you'll enjoy a lot more flexibility in terms of lease terms.

How Much Does it Cost?

Prices for temporary office space vary far too much to provide any kind of concrete information here. The price that you pay will depend on a variety of factors, including how much space you need, how long you need it for, the kinds of amenities that you require and the location of the office in the city. If it's right downtown or in the heart of the Financial District, of course, you'll pay more than you would if it's in Dorchester or elsewhere in Greater Boston.

Types of Temporary Office Space

Temporary office space comes in many configurations. It may be private space, or it may be shared. Executive suites are very popular for those who need private temporary space, as they are typically loaded with lots of great amenities and perks. However, suites usually can only be rented for a week or longer at a time, so they aren't always practical. On the plus side, pricing tends to be a flat fee; however, prices for renting temporary space tend to be pretty high, so be mindful of your budget. There's typically no setup required, so you can usually take occupancy immediately.

Unlike with executive suites, shared temporary space tends to be offered on a slightly more flexible and affordable basis. The trade-off, of course, is that you have to share space and therefore don't have a private area to work. Under many circumstances, however, there's nothing wrong with this arrangement. It tends to be flat-fee pricing, which is convenient, and rates tend to be lower than for private space. Basically, if you just need office space for a few people and want to do it as cheaply as possible, shared temporary office space is the way to go.

Increasingly, brands are using pop-ups to promote themselves and their offerings. This is yet another form of temporary office space, in a way, because the space is only used for a very short period of time. Unlike with the temp space described above, though, pop-up space is usually front and center in order to draw attention. Popups make sense when a company wants to test the market before launching a new product, for instance, or for online brands that occasionally need brick-and-mortar presences. While it's not office space, per se, it's something that all businesses should be aware of as an option for temporary space.

Tips for Finding Suitable Temporary Office Space

If you're actively looking for temporary office space in Boston, these tips are sure to help:

• Start by checking out some of the local chains. Several small companies offer temporary and shared office space around the city. Because these are larger operations, they tend to be easier to work with.
• Know how much space you're going to need. Only get the bare minimum, as you will pay more for more space.
• Choose a location that works for your employees as well as for your clients. Of course, if you don't have employees, this isn't as much of an issue. If nothing else, choose temp space that is close to public transportation options.
• Know which amenities you absolutely must have. In fact, make a list--and stick to it. It's easy to get talked into space that has far more than you need, and you can be sure that you'll pay way more for it.
• Ask around. Odds are that you have business contacts who have used temporary office space in Boston in the past. Oftentimes, getting a recommendation is the best way to zero in on great options.
• Sign up to search Boston City Properties' listings. They include up-to-the-second listings for commercial real estate around Massachusetts but primarily focused on Boston.

What Do You Get?

If you decide to lease office space on a temporary basis, what can you expect to get? That all depends on the space and your needs. If you just need a quiet place to conduct business for a few hours, you can probably get away with something very simple and affordable. If you need extras like high-speed internet, a receptionist and a conference room, for example, you'll need something that's a lot more elaborate. The more elaborate the services are, of course, the more you'll pay.

How Boston City Properties Can Help

Although Boston City Properties primarily specializes in helping clients purchase commercial real estate in Boston, we are vastly knowledgeable about the temporary office space market here and can point you in the right direction depending on your needs. Our searchable online database lets you get a feel for what is out there, and we provide access at no charge. All that you have to do is complete and submit a quick and easy form, and you will get instant, unlimited access. Through our search tool, you can limit your search to specific Boston neighborhoods, making it that much easier to find just what you need.

Boston City Properties also has connections with experienced commercial real estate experts throughout the city and surrounding areas. If you need additional assistance during your search for temporary office space, we're happy to put you in touch with someone who can help. These experts can get answers to any questions that you may have about the space that you're considering, and they can arrange tours so that you can check everything out in person.

Get Started Now

If you need temporary office space in Boston, chances are that you need it right away. Don't wait another second to find it. Sign up this instant to get free, immediate access to a wealth of resources from Boston City Properties. You can then easily discover current availability for prime office space in all neighborhoods around the city. If you require additional help, our team is happy to connect you with local commercial real estate agents who can lend a hand. Contact us for more information.