FAQs
1. What are serviced offices?
2. Who uses serviced offices?
3. How long do I have to commit to a Serviced Office for?
4. What is included in the Price?
5. What other extra costs might there be?
6. What is the Small Business Bonus Scheme?
7. Can I move to a larger office if I need to?
8. Can I move to a smaller office if I need to?
9. Do I need to organise my own furniture?
10. Can I arrange to use a meeting room?
11. How quickly can I move in?
12. Do I need to provide my own computers?
13. Do all serviced offices have broadband internet?
14. Do serviced offices have IT technical support?
15. Can I have a static IP address?
16. Can I put my own server in?
17. How can I find out more about your IT and telecoms?
18. How much do telephone calls cost?
19. We sometimes have to work late at night and weekends to meet deadlines, can we still get in?
20. Will you answer my calls in my company name when I am out?
21. Will the receptionist greet my guests?
22. Are your offices easy to find by visiting clients?
23. Will my information be passed on to third parties?
1. What are serviced offices?
A serviced office, also known as a “managed office”, is an office or office building that is fully equipped and managed by a facility management company, which then rents individual offices or floors to other companies, individuals or businesses. Utility bills and other costs are usually included in the monthly rent as are services such as reception, maintenance and security etc…
2. Who uses serviced offices?
A whole range of companies, from one person start ups to multi nationals, use Serviced Offices. There are a variety of reasons for requiring the flexibility offered by serviced offices such as bridging the gap between lease expiry and the signing of a new lease, locating a team close to a particular project or when company growth is an unknown factor.
3. How long do I have to commit to a Serviced Office for?
Our flexible licences are initially for either 6 or 12 months, and thereafter on a rolling 6 month licence.
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4. What is included in the Price?
Prices quoted are per work station per month. To work out the cost of a particular office multiply the number of workstations in the room by the workstation price per month. The total cost includes:-
- Office Rent
- Set Up Charges
- Furniture
- Service Charges
- Utilities
- Internet Access
- Cleaning
- Telephone
- Telephone system
- Shared Receptionist and Reception Area
- Onsite facilities Management Team
- Shared Kitchen, toilets and showers
- 24 Hour Access
- 24 Hour Security
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5. What other extra costs might there be?
- Photocopying and printing charges
- Postage
- Telephone calls
- Rates, if you do not qualify for Small Business Rates Relief
- Contents and Employers Liability insurance
- Meeting room hire (at a reduced rate for tenants)
- Car parking space
- We also require a two month deposit
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6. What is the Small Business Bonus Scheme?
The Scottish government is committed to creating an environment in which small businesses in Scotland can flourish. Evidence points to rates accounting for a higher proportion of overheads in small businesses than they do for larger businesses. The Small Business Bonus aims to target additional help at genuinely small businesses. If the combined rateable value of all your business properties in Scotland is under £8,000, then subject to eligibility you are entitled to 100% rate relief, if it is between £8,001 and £10,000 the relief is 50% and between £10,001 and £15,000 the relief is 25%.
Our offices are individually well below the £8000 threshold.
This relief is not automatic. Tenants have to complete forms, but we offer assistance with this.
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7. Can I move to a larger office if I need to?
Subject to availability you can increase the number of workstations or office size at any time.
8. Can I move to a smaller office if I need to?
Downsizing within our centre is easily accommodated, subject to availability
9. Do I need to organise my own furniture?
All our office have bespoke furnishings. Desks, printer drawers, lockable cupboards, bookcases etc are abundant in all rooms.
10. Can I arrange to use a meeting room?
A variety of meeting rooms are available for hire, from small interview rooms to larger theatre style rooms for larger groups up to 40. Our rooms are priced per hour rather than per delegate offering a cost benefit to our clients. Tenants and members of the Federation of Small Businesses benefit from a discounted rate.
11. How quickly can I move in?
As there are no complicated leases etc, completion of the application process and entry can be as quick as we can clear your funds.
12. Do I need to provide my own computers?
We provide an Ethernet port for internet and access to our state of the art printers. Clients provide their own computer equipment which allows them more flexibility to ensure you have the best technology to suit your requirements.
13. Do all serviced offices have broadband internet?
All our offices have high speed internet connection points for each work station. The cost of this service is included in the monthly rent.
14. Do serviced offices have IT technical support?
Our systems are cabled and set up in a very simple and straightforward way, so that little know-how is required to set your equipment up. However, we do have capable staff members who will help you with day to day problems.
15. Can I have a static IP address?
We can provide a static IP address for those clients who require one.
16. Can I put my own server in?
We do have some rack space in our communication room for client’s equipment, although access is restricted and other rules may apply.
17. How can I find out more about your IT and telecoms?
If you require further information about our telecoms and IT systems please call 0131 523 1400
or email enquiries@sbc-uk.com
18. How much do telephone calls cost?
Telephone costs fluctuate on a regular basis. We have secured a deal with our providers which at the moment charges a rate of 1.7 pence per minute for UK landline calls.
19. We sometimes have to work late at night and weekends to meet deadlines, can we still get in?
Although the reception and switchboard are only staffed from 8.30am to 5.30 pm Monday to Friday, tenants have 24 hour access to their office 7 days a week.
20. Will you answer my calls in my company name when I am out?
A fully trained team are available to answer your calls 5 days a week Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.30 pm.
21. Will the receptionist greet my guests?
We operate a shared Reception Area for all clients. Our fully trained team will welcome your guests and inform you of their arrival, during reception hours which are 8.30am to 5.30 pm Monday to Friday.
22. Are your offices easy to find by visiting clients?
Our offices are on the tram route (when it finally is operational), also a very good bus route being situated between Queen Street and Leith Walk. We are also only 5 minutes from the main railway station.
23. Will my information be passed on to third parties?
No, your information is strictly confidential and will not be passed onto anybody else and will only be processed for the purposes of opening an account.
