Renting an office in Switzerland: A guideline

In today's business world, it is no longer essential for entrepreneurs to have a physical office. Many work from home. But if your home is increasingly being taken over by business documents, renting an office space could be a viable option. But how do you find the right office to suit your needs? Here are some helpful tips.

Which type of office space is right for your company?

First of all, you should consider whether your company actually needs a separate office. One option could be a coworking space that offers flexible workstations, Wi-Fi, printing services and meeting rooms.
If you plan to hire employees or meet clients regularly, a professional office space location could be more beneficial. Not only does this enhance your company's professional image, but it can also contribute to work-life balance. Often, an office is also a melting pot for ideas and collaboration. Communication channels are shorter and services, products or processes can be improved or offered more quickly and with higher quality.

What should you look out for when renting office space?

The location is crucial. Check the availability of parking spaces and proximity to public transportation.
Also consider how much space you need. A rule of thumb is around 10 to 20 square meters per person. Are you planning to expand your team?

Use our filter to determine the office space size based on the number of people or workstations. This will give you a good indication of the minimum space required. We assume a size of 10 square meters per employee / workstation in our filter, this helps to determine the minimum size of an office.

Other considerations should be: Do you need a separate conference room, storage facilities and a kitchen? Many advertisements on maison.work show how many lockable rooms the property offers. This information can help, but rooms can often be extended or there may be meeting rooms for collective use (especially in coworking spaces and shared offices).

Rental period

The typical minimum term for commercial space in Switzerland is six months. However, leases of 5 to 10 years are often offered. Even with such terms, an earlier termination of the lease can be built into the contract, for example after 1-2 years or annually. If you are looking for shorter rental periods, a coworking space or shared office is a good alternative.

How much should you budget for an office in Switzerland?

Set a budget for the rental. In addition to the rent, you should also include costs for the deposit, office furniture, legal review of the rental agreement, insurance and ancillary costs. Renting furniture is also an option worth considering.
Net rent on account Service charges (net + service charges = gross rent) Internet / network Electricity / water

How to find and rent an office on maison.work:

1- Use our filters to refine your search. Sometimes it also helps to just look around and see what other office spaces might be suitable.
2- Once you've found a few options, send a request to start the conversation. Often there are other configurations of the space that are not yet online.
3- Visit the office space in question to get a feel for the space. If you don't get a response, be persistent. After the initial contact, an e-mail address and telephone number are also stored in your profile.
4- Compare the offers critically. We recommend talking openly about your wishes and needs. Commercial leases are often long-term, which means that you will be using the space for months or years.

Negotiating and signing a contract: Once you have shortlisted a few options, it is important to compare the offers carefully. Pay attention to all the details in the rental agreement. As commercial leases in Switzerland are often long-term commitments, you should make sure that the contract meets your requirements. If necessary, negotiate the rental price, term and conditions.

How do you negotiate a lease for office space in Switzerland?

In Switzerland, the conditions for commercial leases are varied.

Rental costs: Costs range from flat-rate rents to detailed contracts that cover maintenance and ancillary costs in addition to the rent. Clarify what is included in the rent and who pays for what.

Rental period: Consider what length of contract makes sense for your business. There are flexible monthly notice periods, but also fixed-term contracts with a fixed term.

Other negotiating points: Enquire about rental incentives, such as free months or assistance with renovations. Depending on your type of business, a non-compete clause may also be important.
 

Conclusion and moving in: Once you have decided on an office and all negotiations have been concluded, the contract is signed. Once the lease has been signed, you can start furnishing your new office space. Take the opportunity to design and furnish the office according to your ideas in order to create a productive and pleasant working environment.

Further tips for finding and renting office space:

Use your network: It can be helpful to use your network to get recommendations or tips. Colleagues or business partners often know of suitable premises or have valuable experience.

Maintain flexibility: Make sure your lease offers some flexibility to respond to changes in your business. This can be particularly important if your company grows or needs change.
 

Legal advice: In more complex cases, it is advisable to seek legal advice, especially when it comes to the details of the tenancy agreement. A lawyer can help to identify traps in the contract and protect your interests.

By following these steps and paying attention to important details, you can find and rent the right office that meets the needs of your business and contributes to its growth and success.