Table of Content [Hide]
1. What Is a Serviced Office?
2. What Is a Private Office?
3. Key Differences at a Glance
4. When Should You Choose a Serviced Office?
5. When Should You Choose a Private Office?
6. Cost Comparison: Serviced Office vs Private Office in Singapore
7. Customization and Branding
8. Flexibility and Growth
9. Hidden Costs to Watch Out For
10. The Hybrid Option: Private Office in a Coworking Setting
Conclusion: Which One Is Right for You?
If you're looking for an office leasing in Singapore, you've probably come across terms like serviced office and private office. They sound similar, but they offer very different experiences — and come with their own pros and cons.
So, what's the difference? Which one suits your business better?
Let's break it all down in simple terms.
- What Is a Serviced Office?
A serviced office is a fully furnished, ready-to-use office space for lease Singapore that you can rent on a flexible, short-term basis — often by the month.
It's part of a larger office facility managed by an operator who provides shared amenities like:
Reception services
Internet and IT support
Cleaning and maintenance
Meeting rooms and breakout areas
Pantry and coffee machines
In short: You pay one fee, move in with your laptop, and you're ready to go.
- What Is a Private Office?
A private serviced office typically refers to dedicated space leased directly from a landlord — often bare and unfurnished — where your business is the sole occupant.
You'll have to handle:
Renovation and fit-out
Furniture and equipment
Utilities and internet setup
Office management and cleaning
Lease contracts (often 2–3 years or more)
It's your space, your style, your rules — but it also means more responsibility.
- Key Differences at a Glance
- When Should You Choose a Serviced Office?
Serviced offices are ideal if you:
Need a quick setup with minimal fuss
Run a small business or startup
Want to test a new market (e.g., entering Singapore)
Have a remote or hybrid team
Want to avoid capital expenditure like renovations and furniture
They're especially popular among:
Startups and freelancers
Regional offices of international companies
Businesses that value flexibility and low commitment
Example:
You're a tech startup expanding into Singapore. Instead of signing a 3-year lease and buying desks, you rent a 6-person serviced office in the CBD for 3 months to test the waters.
- When Should You Choose a Private Shared Office?
A private office makes more sense if you:
Want a long-term business base
Need custom layouts or branding
Plan to invest in your own IT infrastructure
Have 20+ team members and want cost efficiency at scale
Require full control over security and operations
They're often the choice of:
Established SMEs and corporations
Law firms, consultancies, and finance firms
Businesses with specific facility or design requirements
Example:
You're a legal firm with 25 staff members. You lease a 3,000 sq ft office in Tanjong Pagar, design it to suit your workflow, and stay for 5+ years.
- Cost Comparison: Serviced Office vs Private Office in Singapore
Let's look at rough 2025 rates for a 10-person team in a city-fringe location:
Note: While serviced offices seem more expensive upfront, the all-in-one pricing often works out better for short-term use or smaller teams.
- Customization and Branding
Serviced Office: You get a fixed layout and shared design. Custom branding may be limited to a sign or digital display.
Private Office: You can design every detail — from open desks to boardrooms to your logo on the wall.
- Flexibility and Growth
Need to hire 5 new people next month?
Serviced Office: Just move into a larger suite or add desks (easy).
Private Office: You'll need to check if your current space can fit more, or negotiate new leases (not so easy).
- Hidden Costs to Watch Out For
Serviced Offices
Some offer packages with tiered pricing (e.g., extra for meeting rooms or printing).
Internet speed upgrades may cost more.
Private Offices
Renovation costs
Property tax and insurance
Office furniture and IT setup
Deposit (typically 3–6 months' rent)
- The Hybrid Option: Private Office in a Coworking Setting
Some providers offer private offices within coworking spaces, which gives you:
A private, lockable room for your team
Access to shared amenities like lounge, meeting rooms, pantry
Shorter lease terms than traditional offices
Think of it as the best of both worlds.
Conclusion: Which One Is Right for You?
Serviced offices are great if you want speed, simplicity, and flexibility.
Private offices are better if you're in for the long haul and want full control.
Your choice depends on your team size, budget, growth plans, and how much responsibility you're willing to take on.
