Office space for consulting company? Smaller class A, Larger class B, Executive Suite?

We had the same problem, an empty building but they refused to blink on price. Their problem is that as soon as they lower their price it is impossible to get it back up again. If you are on a budget you could try looking craigslist. Plenty of people are trying to sublet part of their office. When a client visits just change the sign on the door. We have sublet some offices to other startup companies, every bit of cash helps.

First of all, you dont find professional office on Craiglist. Try searching Loopnet. 2nd, you should be working with a Broker. As a tennant, its free for you. A broker will have access to bigger databases (mls commercial) called COstar. you can try to search costar by going to showcase.com but a broker will have full access.

Office classifications are not jusfitied. Class is is just class a because someone labeled it that.

There used to be an understanding that class a was anything 15 years or newer. Some brokers use that rule, but then 30 rock would not be considered class a, (which it is).

So, find a space that works for you. It is a renters market.

Sometimes the reason you get a NO is because the listing broker knows he will not get a commission, your broker will have relationships and know what landlords are Hungry, flexible and offering breaks.

Last point. Dont go for the REGUS E SUITE! They are a complete rip off when you do the math.
If you want market rates, you can go to NAIGlobal.com (click on the research tab) They will tell you what each market yields locally and internationally.

If you are searching for international office space, then the rules are quite different. I strongly recommend giving the folks at AsiaPac international a call. Their website is asiapacintl.com. Their CEO is very hands on, has a great team worldwide, and will give you insight to politics, and markets you cannot get from a broker alone.

Best of luck.

Please don't judge an entire industry just by Regus!

There are a lot of options under the umbrella of "shared office space" or "executive suites". We manage a collection of business centers that all have very different personalities. All offer office space with phone and internet, use of conference room space (8 hrs/month is included) kitchen and copier, and some locations come already furnished.

I'm the manager at our Tree Studios location and we are in a restored historic building that is a national landmark. We're not the cheapest option around, but our tenants are looking for a space with the "Wow Factor" to impress their clients. Because of the building's history, we tend to attract creative types like architects, interior and web designers, and theatrical producers.

We also have a property that is more of a standard "Office suites" environment, and one that is located across the street from the courthouse that is very attractive to attorneys. We are even looking at the possibility of opening up a more California-styled "co-working" environment where one of the available services would be dog-walking!

I have to also take issue with the above comment that Craigslist is a waste of time in the office space search. While there is a lot of dreck to wade through sometimes, we have found that one kind of client in particular looks there - the small entrepreneur who is looking to take the first steps beyond the home office and the corner Starbucks. We get quite a few prospects through there.

I agree with answer #1- plenty of companies are eager to sublet 1 office room on their floor, with shared rights to use copiers/fax/kitchen/conference rooms, etc.