Over the past five years, flexibility and the ability to work from anywhere have become more important than ever. Companies are continuing to shift from traditional office models to more adaptable solutions. These options not only help businesses save on costs but also improve productivity, attract top talent across multiple locations, and allow teams to work closer to their clients.
Coworking spaces, in particular, have become a hub for innovation and collaboration, offering an environment where socialising, connecting, and productivity across various sectors thrive. Businesses of all sizes and all ages can benefit from this dynamic, open-floored setting. One way they do so is through a satellite office.
What is a satellite office?
A satellite office is a smaller branch of a company that’s located away from the main headquarters. These offices can be in different cities or even different neighbourhoods within the same city.
Let’s put this in perspective. Say your business headquarters are in Canberra, but you want to open satellite offices in Melbourne and Brisbane. You would have your Canberra-based employees report to the Canberra office, but then you could hire month-to-month contracts at coworking spaces for additional office space in Melbourne and Brisbane for employees in each city to report to. Through video conferencing, employees can take meetings, do interviews, and conduct projects together or work with their co-workers physically in the space with them.
Unlike traditional offices, satellite offices are designed to be more flexible. They can accommodate the needs of remote teams, sales staff, or employees who need to be closer to specific markets or clients. They can vary in size, from a single desk in a coworking space to a dedicated private office. It just depends on the business’s needs.
What are the benefits of having a satellite office?
Satellite offices allow businesses to expand their presence without the hefty costs of setting up a new headquarters—making it simpler, easier, and cheaper. They also help companies tap into new talent pools. So, if your business is based in Canberra but you can’t find a good graphic designer, you could instead search where your satellite offices are established and hire one there.
Additionally, these office spaces have the chance to improve client relationships, requiring less commuting time if employees are already based where clients are located. Lastly, satellite offices offer support to employees who prefer working closer to home rather than paying for them to uproot their lives. If they live near a satellite office, they can keep their lifestyle the same but commute to the closer office space.
How to expand your reach
Are you a business owner looking to scale your company locations? It’s much easier than you may think. When looking to expand your reach, satellite offices are the go-to solution. But before committing to one, there are 5 key questions to ask yourself to make sure you’re in the right mindset to do so:
- What location do you want to expand to? It’s best to plan where your business is headed and what locations offer the most to your industry, situation, and budget. Start by pinpointing areas where having a local presence would benefit your business. This could be regions with a high concentration of clients, untapped markets, or locations that make commuting more manageable for your employees.
- Are you looking for a long-term or short-term lease? Long-term leases can offer multiple years of stability and branded personalisation, but you’re committed to being in that space for an extended period. When tapping into a new environment, you may not want to commit to 10 years of it, so consider coworking spaces for your satellite offices. They offer flexible rental options, fully equipped workspaces, and a community that fosters networking and collaboration.
- What’s the best way to bring your team together? Satellite offices offer space for teams to meet, brainstorm, and work together in person when needed, all under one roof. This helps maintain strong communication and company culture, even with a distributed workforce.
- How can the rise of technology and remote working be used to your advantage? You must consider how you will have seamless communication between your headquarters and satellite offices. Will it be through video conferencing? Project management software? Cloud-based systems? There must be a way to keep everyone connected, no matter where they are.
- How can you continue to scale in the upcoming years? Your business needs may change over time, so choose spaces that allow you to scale up or down as needed. Coworking spaces make this easy with options to expand your team without the hassle of moving to a new office.
When you do a deep dive and answer these 5 questions, it will be clear which path, city, and office option is the best solution for your business.
Discover a flexible lifestyle today
Expanding your reach with satellite offices doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. Your business can grow strategically while staying agile by choosing flexible, community-driven environments like coworking spaces.
If you’re ready to take the next step, join Haven Workspaces in Canberra. As a home to many forward-thinkers and innovators, we pride ourselves on providing a premium space with high-quality fit-out, secure technology and customer service.
We are here to help you. Discover how our shared working space suits you and your team today.
