Greenspace vs
Traditional offices
“Greenspace vs traditional office” ! The Ultimate Comparison
The Covid-19 pandemic acted as a major catalyst for change, disrupting the world as we knew it and creating a new reality for many employees and businesses. For almost three long years, working from home became the norm, profoundly transforming our working habits and reshaping expectations and perceptions of remote work among employees, freelancers and companies.
With the end of the pandemic and 76% of workers returning to the office, according to Deskeo, it would have been easy to assume that everything would simply return to normal. But it is not quite that straightforward. The previous years created new habits, and flexibility and freedom of choice regarding where people work have become essential criteria, especially for employees and self-employed workers, some of whom had already embraced remote working before the crisis.
However, before singing the praises of remote work, it is important to weigh up the pros and cons. While remote working offers greater freedom, it also comes with less appealing consequences: companies are left with partially empty offices and high overhead costs, while employees and freelancers face a greater risk of depression and social isolation.
Faced with the choice between impersonal traditional offices and the isolation of working from home, one alternative has been gaining popularity in recent years: coworking spaces. Our peaceful workspace, ideally located in Paris’s 11th arrondissement, just a stone’s throw from Bastille, is a perfect example.
To learn more about these new working environments, you have come to the right place — or rather, clicked on the right link.
This article provides a detailed, data-driven analysis of Greenspace’s offering. We will highlight how our coworking space meets the new needs and expectations of small businesses, remote employees and freelancers in the post-Covid world.
To do so, we will focus on three key areas:
- The cost of our plans compared with traditional offices
- The working environment
- The membership terms and commitments
Ready ? Let’s get started !
Coworking, Greenspace style: is it more expensive than a traditional office?
As mentioned in the introduction, working habits have changed. The expectations of entrepreneurs, employees and businesses have evolved considerably, although some factors remain firmly rooted.
When choosing an office, price is still a fundamental consideration and often the deciding factor. This is especially true for freelancers and small businesses, for whom premises are frequently the second-largest operating expense.
At Greenspace, we therefore wanted to be transparent and provide an unfiltered overview of the office rental market, including the prices you may come across in the wild — or rather, in the city.
Greenspace private offices vs traditional offices
To begin this deep dive into the office rental market, we will focus on so-called “traditional offices”. These are premises designed exclusively for office use and generally equipped with facilities such as bathrooms, meeting rooms and other shared amenities.
For this analysis, we selected the Paris districts located around Greenspace: the 11th arrondissement, where our coworking space is based, as well as the surrounding 3rd, 4th, 9th, 10th, 12th and 20th arrondissements.
Unless otherwise stated, all prices quoted in this article are in euros, excluding VAT, with service charges included.
Don’t be afraid of the chart above !
This type of chart, elegantly known as a “box plot”, is much easier to read than it may seem:
The line in the middle of the box represents the median, meaning that 50% of offices have a rent below this value, while 50% have a rent above it.
The bottom of the box marks the end of the first quartile, meaning that 25% of rents are below this threshold.
The top of the box marks the end of the third quartile, meaning that 75% of rents are below this threshold.
The box itself therefore contains 50% of the values.
The “whiskers” represent the lowest and highest values that are not considered outliers.
And there you have it, you are now a box plot expert! Congratulations.
Now, back to our chart!
At first glance, the headline rent per square metre for a traditional office is lower than that of a private office at Greenspace. Although this comparison, and these figures, may not initially appear to work in our favour, it is the comparison you will naturally make when browsing office listing websites.
However, this comparison needs to be put into perspective. The headline rent does not take into account the fact that:
The office space required in a coworking environment is generally around half the size of a traditional private office for the same number of people.
When you rent a private office in a coworking space such as ours, you also benefit from access to all the shared areas, including the communal dining area and kitchenette, relaxation spaces such as sofas and the mezzanine, six bathrooms, as well as bookable spaces such as call boxes and meeting rooms.
Together, these shared facilities account for approximately 50% of the total space.
“Alright, alright, Greenspace may be an interesting alternative to traditional offices, but what about other shared workspaces that also offer private offices?”
Still wondering? Still keeping your guard up?
No need to worry, the next section is for you! 😌
We are going to explore the coworking landscape and see what makes Greenspace stand out.
Stay with us, the journey continues!
Greenspace private offices compared with those offered by other coworking spaces
Ideally located in Paris’s 11th arrondissement, Greenspace’s private offices stand out not only because of their attractive pricing, below the market median, but also because of the comprehensive range of services included.
Beyond the financial aspect, a private office at Greenspace comes with a wide range of services that are often unavailable elsewhere, or only offered as paid extras in other private office packages.
Choosing a private office at Greenspace means benefiting from:
High-quality coffee and tea, prepared using a professional coffee percolator, free and unlimited! ☕️
Call boxes, and even a soundproof cable car cabin brought all the way from Megève, so you can take video meetings and phone calls in peace 📞
Flexible meeting rooms for 3 to 8 people, equipped with flat-screen displays for presenting your brilliant PowerPoint slides 📊
A walking desk available for anyone who likes to stay active while working 🚶🏻
Monthly events, including cocktail parties, pétanque and more 🥳
A dedicated mailbox bearing your company’s name 📬
And plenty of other benefits… 😉
“That all sounds great, but I don’t need a large office with several workstations. I’m a freelancer, remote employee or independent professional, and I only need an individual desk.”
Does that sound familiar ?
No problem, at Greenspace, we have thought of you too !
Whether you are a solopreneur looking for your own workspace or a remote employee searching for a flexible place to work, we have designed solutions to suit every need.
Comfort and productivity are within reach, all in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
Curious? Stay with us, there is more to discover !
Greenspace individual workstations
Greenspace is first and foremost an open-plan workspace where everyone can choose between a dedicated or flexible workstation, on either a full-time or part-time basis.
Just like our private offices, our individual workstations are offered at the right price. Or rather, at the right prices! Yes, we have not one, but two plans specially designed for you:
The “Dedicated Desk” plan, €420 per month, full-time: your own dedicated desk and private storage locker within the open-plan workspace. Would you like to bring your own external monitor, desktop computer, printer or other equipment? Then this is the plan for you.
All the services included in a Greenspace membership, and therefore included in the price per square metre, would need to be added separately when renting a traditional office, including internet access, supplies, furniture where required, cleaning, service charges and taxes.
These additional expenses can quickly amount to several hundred euros per month, significantly increasing the true cost per square metre of an independent office.
And the best part? Whether you choose one of our individual workstation plans or a private office, you will have access to all Greenspace’s facilities, including meeting rooms, call boxes and all the services that make our workspace such a unique and welcoming place.
So, are you ready to join our creative and dynamic community? At Greenspace, your workstation is waiting for you, all you have to do is choose it !
What is more, the statistics presented here actually favour traditional offices. The average size of the offices included in our analysis, based on the listings reviewed, is approximately 240 square metres. The larger an office is, the lower its price per square metre tends to be.
But shhh... Let’s not be too picky. We will let traditional offices keep that advantage.
Coworking by Greenspace, a peaceful place...
Unlike traditional offices, which can sometimes feel cold and impersonal, Greenspace has chosen to create a completely different working environment.
It is a warm and welcoming space where wellbeing and comfort take centre stage. Still not convinced? Book a visit and see for yourself
!
And because a picture is worth a thousand words, here are a few photos of our workspace. Let yourself be won over by the unique and friendly atmosphere that makes Greenspace so special.
…And above all, welcoming!
The Greenspace community is not simply a group of people who happen to work alongside one another in an open-plan space. It is much more than that.
It is about professional connections being formed, friendships developing, genuine mutual support and a real sense of camaraderie. At Greenspace, kindness is not just a word, it is the guiding principle of our space and a value we firmly believe in.
We gave a great deal of thought to how we could turn these intentions into something tangible. That is when we came up with the idea of organising community events to help the Greenspace community grow and thrive.
Whether you are in the mood for a weekly lunch, a cocktail party, a game of pétanque or even a wellbeing session, there is something for everyone.
These friendly gatherings are designed to break the ice, encourage new connections and strengthen the sense of community that makes Greenspace such a special place.
Whether you are someone who usually prefers working alone but would like to build professional connections, or simply someone who enjoys meeting, talking and sharing with others, you will find a warm and welcoming place at Greenspace, where people genuinely look out for one another.
And who knows? The coworkers you meet here today may become your future project partners, or even lifelong friends.
And we are not the only ones saying it. Here is what one of our current and former Greenspaciens had to say:
The most peaceful coworking space in Paris, and the friendliest too! An amazing community, with genuine mutual support and kindness. It is the perfect place to grow your business, in a beautiful setting. Thank you to Amaury and Benoît for creating such a wonderful place.”
— Pierre Lafouge - Founder of Hollymotion Studio
Coworking, flexibility and transparency when it comes to commitment
Traditional offices are a little like an old family recipe everyone knows, but which takes time and requires a long list of ingredients.
They are generally rented through a commercial lease, often structured as a three, six or nine-year agreement, and it is far from straightforward. Looking for flexibility? A commercial lease may require you to wait several days, or even several weeks, before you can move in. And when it comes to notice periods, do not expect anything shorter than six months.
Greenspace guarantees a simple and efficient process, both when moving into your workspace and when ending your membership. You can move in on the same day, and when you decide to leave, two months’ notice is enough for a private office, while only one month is required for an individual workstation.
For the most mobile among you, it is even possible to join us for a short period of just one month, with no long-term commitment.
Next, let us address the question on every entrepreneur’s mind, the cost.
As we briefly explained at the beginning of this article, with a traditional office, the advertised price is often only the tip of the iceberg. You pay the rent, of course, but also service charges, property tax, which, surprise, is often passed on to the tenant, as well as all the additional costs, including maintenance, internet access and even coffee.
Yes, that small daily pleasure can quickly become expensive.
At Greenspace, we believe in transparency. The price displayed is the full amount you pay. All services are included, meaning there are no unpleasant surprises at the end of the month.
And should you be looking for something that a commercial lease and a Greenspace membership have in common, rest assured, there is one, the security deposit, which is equivalent to two months’ membership fees.
That is where the similarity ends. In every other respect, Greenspace is the modern, flexible and transparent option, allowing you to focus on what truly matters, your work.
Conclusion
“A very friendly coworking space. A warm, bright and peaceful environment where you are certain to meet and connect with other people. An essential factor when building a business.”
The world of work is changing, and so are the needs and expectations of entrepreneurs, employees and freelancers.
The days when traditional offices reigned unchallenged are over. The pandemic transformed our relationship with work and highlighted the need for greater flexibility and genuine transparency.
Greenspace is part of this transformation, offering solutions suited to every type of professional, whether they need a private office or an individual workstation.
With clear pricing, no hidden costs and a warm atmosphere that encourages collaboration and innovation, we are proud to say that Greenspace represents a serious alternative to traditional offices.
The opportunity to join a supportive and dynamic community, regular events designed to build meaningful connections, and competitive prices that include everything required for everyday work, that is what having an office at Greenspace means.
Nothing can replace visiting Greenspace in person and experiencing its unique atmosphere for yourself. After all, as the saying goes, seeing is believing.
At Greenspace, we are always ready to show you around and offer you a coffee !