Finding the perfect Berlin workspace for your startup

Finding the perfect space for your startup to grow can be one of the most exciting and disruptive challenges in your business’s early stages. Working together in one place as a team, however, is crucial to pushing the company forward and building a unique culture of your own. Here’s a guide to finding the perfect workspace for your startup in Berlin.

Before the office hunt commences, thoroughly analyse your requirements using the following:

Location?

In which part of town do yourself and your employees live? It’s generally a good idea to get away from your base and out of your home neighbourhood, but the novelty of travelling across the whole city twice a day may wear off quickly.

What is your budget?

It may seem like a no-brainer, but the budget you are willing and able to allocate to your workspace will likely narrow down your options. Give serious thought to the amount you can afford in the upcoming months - this will save you from looking at options that don’t fit into your budget anyway.

How big is your team?

Is it just yourself and your co-founders that make up the team? Will any other employees, or even freelancers, be using your space? What is the plan for growing your team, and in what timeframe? It’s crucial to really think about this when choosing the right workspace.

What level of privacy do you need?

Are you happy sharing an open space with office-users from other businesses? Or would you rather have a private environment to discuss freely? Are you likely to take Skype calls during the day that may disturb your office neighbours?

 

Now that you’ve assessed your list of workspace requirements, let’s discuss the options available for startups in Berlin.

 

Co-Working

If it’s early stages and your team is still small, co-working may well be a strong, albeit temporary, solution for you. Co-working spaces tend to be low-budget as of their various membership options, and often have short (one month) notice periods.

Co-working spaces often provide the strength of a network to connect with likeminded entrepreneurs - this can come in handy when looking for quick feedback on your product, or finding future employees or partners.

If you’re looking for more privacy or a quieter environment, co-working may not be the best fit - some co-working spaces may tend to be distracting. Though a few offer private team rooms, they are usually popular and in short supply.

In today’s Berlin market, co-working spaces are a dime a dozen. Finding the perfect co-working space will depend on your preferred environment (shabby or chic), part of town, and people you’d like to be surrounded with. Here are some suggestions:

Betahaus

Mobilesuite

ESDIP

They call it Co-working

Co-working space ESDIP

 

Shared office

This involves sharing an office with other small to medium-sized companies that have extra desks available for sublease. Shared office spaces are a popular solution for startups - they can cut down costs but still benefit from working in a professional environment. Since you are in a sublease agreement, the terms are usually flexible.

Working in a shared office space may also be great for networking, working alongside companies and entrepreneurs who might be a bit further down the line - great to learn from!

The setup of shared offices varies. Spare desks in an open office environment are the most common option, though private rooms are often available too. The capacity often ranges between 5 and 15 seats - perfect for your growing startup.

For locating the perfect shared office space in Berlin, a great resource (wink) is www.setting.io.

 Shared office with startup Lateral

 

Your own office

You’re at the stage in your business where having an office of your own is a viable, affordable option?

Before you start looking for that perfect office, consider the following:

- Commercial leases are usually longer term. In Berlin, and Germany as a whole, standard terms vary between 2 and 5 years depending on the size of the office.

- As leases tend to be longer, landlords usually require the proof of creditworthiness and your ability to pay rent for the next few years. No wonder, then, that if you’re still a small startup with low revenues, getting a lease signed can be a challenge.

- Consider the amount of office space you need at the moment and the size you will need in a few years’ time. Since you’ll be bound to a long-term contract, make sure your team won’t outgrow your new office space too quickly.