How to find office space in Sydney

The five places to look

1. A comparison marketplace. Sidespace lists serviced offices and commercial leases in Sydney in one search, with the monthly price shown where the operator publishes it, a map, and filters for headcount and size. It is the quickest way to see both kinds of office at once, and the free concierge will send a shortlist from the whole market, including buildings we do not list.

2. Serviced office specialist sites. Several sites focus on flexible space only. They are useful if you already know you want a serviced office, and less so if you are weighing it against a lease.

3. The commercial portals. realcommercial.com.au and commercialrealestate.com.au carry most of the leases advertised by agents. Listings are usually quoted per square metre, often without the outgoings, so you will need to ask for the full figure.

4. Operators' own websites. Every serviced operator lists its own centres. Going direct shows one brand at a time, so it works best once you have narrowed the field.

5. Leasing agents. CBRE, JLL, Colliers and smaller local firms market buildings for landlords. They are a good source of larger and off-market space, but they act for the landlord who pays them.

Where the offices are in Sydney

• Sydney CBD: the core of the market, from Circular Quay and Martin Place to the Town Hall end of George Street.
• North Sydney: a second business district over the bridge, with serviced centres and commercial towers.
• Barangaroo: new premium towers on the western edge of the CBD.
• Surry Hills: converted warehouses and creative offices south of the CBD.
• Parramatta: Western Sydney's business centre, usually well below CBD rents.
• Pyrmont: media and technology offices on the harbour side of the CBD.

Each link shows the offices listed in that precinct today, serviced and commercial together.

How to shortlist in a week

Decide the product first. A serviced office suits teams that want to move quickly, avoid a fitout and keep the commitment short. A traditional lease suits settled teams of around twenty or more who can commit for three to five years. Our guide to serviced versus traditional offices sets out the trade.

Fix the headcount and the budget. Work out how many people you will seat in twelve months, not today. For a serviced office, budget per desk per month using the live figures above. For a lease, see the Sydney rent benchmark.

Search once, then inspect three. Filter by precinct and headcount, shortlist three to five offices, and inspect the best three in a single morning. Ask each operator or landlord for the full monthly cost in writing, including what is not in the headline figure.

Compare on the same basis. Convert every option to total cost per person per month over the term. Our guide to comparing office proposals shows how.

What it costs in Sydney

Serviced offices are priced per desk per month, with rent, outgoings, internet, cleaning and furniture in one figure. The live numbers above are drawn from every priced serviced suite listed on Sidespace in Sydney and update as operators change their prices. For team sizes, precincts and the cheapest and dearest options, see the Sydney serviced office pricing guide.

Commercial leases are quoted per square metre per year and are best compared using the Sydney rent benchmark, which states its sample sizes.