So how can startups justify the cost of setting up and maintaining an office? An increasingly popular approach is “fixed hybrid" where teams come into the office on set days every week. In this model, work-from-home days present an opportunity for another business to make use of the space. This is a great way to save money for both parties and enables startups to rent offices that might otherwise be out of their budget.

There are a few factors to consider when going into an office-sharing agreement . At Space32, we've come across a huge range of different office shares and arrangements, including our own. Here are our top tips on how to nail the startup office share:

Plan your workflow

Sharing your office space means having your entire team in one place on set days every week, rather than everyone in their own hybrid working rhythm. This enables you to streamline the flow of your working week and maximise productivity. One-to-one meetings, training and development, collaborative sessions and socialising opportunities should be scheduled for office days when you’re all under one roof.

Individual, deep-focus tasks that best suit remote work can then be prioritised for the other days. Many of the hybrid teams we work with have found that having fixed office days removes ambiguity by giving employees a firm structure to their working week, ultimately enabling better team synergy and higher outputs. Plus, your team gets the added benefit of knowing when they’ll be home for deliveries or school drop-off.

Be realistic about dividing the week

One of the biggest decisions to make is how you will split the week. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are universally the most in-demand office days. You’re unlikely to find a business that just wants the office on Mondays and Fridays. Be pragmatic and prepare to meet the other party halfway.

A popular model we see is one team in the office on Monday, Thursday, and Friday, while the other team comes in on Tuesday and Wednesday. A 50/50 split of the first four days of the week and then alternating every second Friday also works well. 

Setup your space

Finding the right space, or optimising your existing office, will make it easier to find a compatible partner. If your team needs multiple screens on desks, break-out spaces, and a conference room then set up your office accordingly and you will attract businesses with similar needs. If smaller, private meeting rooms are your priority, that will likely work for comparable organisations, too.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for an existing office space to move your team into, think about what businesses would likely have an arrangement that works for you. Make a list of things that make your team want to be in the office. Then use this to prioritise when you’re checking out your options.

Draw up an 'office code’

It’s crucial both parties have clear expectations and boundaries going into an office sharing partnership. Your code should state that you’re both equals and neither partner is considered a ‘guest’.

Hybrid shared offices work best for everyone when both companies respect each other and the space, leaving it as they wish to find it. Implement a ‘clean desk policy’, where everyone clears their workstations at the end of the day so that it’s ready for the other company to use straight away when they return. 

It’s worth putting some time into aligning on finer details. This might look as simple as dividing up fridge space or installing separate stationery cupboards - but it will make your office share run all the more smoothly.

Figuring out what flexible work should look like for your startup can take a bit of trial and error, especially as your needs change over time. Office sharing can be a great solution for balancing remote work and office time on your own terms. Head into it with the above tips and you’ll be able to forge a strong, mutually beneficial office share which gives your team the best of both worlds, while boosting overall productivity, culture and wellbeing.