What Is the Difference Between a Serviced Office and a Private Office?

If you're looking for an office in Singapore, you've probably come across terms like serviced office and private office. They sound similar, but they offer very different experiences — and come with their own pros and cons.

So, what’s the difference? Which one suits your business better?

Let’s break it all down in simple terms.

1. What Is a Serviced Office?

A serviced office is a fully furnished, ready-to-use office space that you can rent on a flexible, short-term basis — often by the month.

It’s part of a larger office facility managed by an operator who provides shared amenities like:

• Reception services

• Internet and IT support

• Cleaning and maintenance

• Meeting rooms and breakout areas

• Pantry and coffee machines

In short: You pay one fee, move in with your laptop, and you’re ready to go.

2. What Is a Private Office?

A private office typically refers to dedicated space leased directly from a landlord — often bare and unfurnished — where your business is the sole occupant.

You’ll have to handle:

• Renovation and fit-out

• Furniture and equipment

• Utilities and internet setup

• Office management and cleaning

• Lease contracts (often 2–3 years or more)

It’s your space, your style, your rules — but it also means more responsibility.

3. Key Differences at a Glance

4. When Should You Choose a Serviced Office?

Serviced offices are ideal if you:

• Need a quick setup with minimal fuss

• Run a small business or startup

• Want to test a new market (e.g., entering Singapore)

• Have a remote or hybrid team

• Want to avoid capital expenditure like renovations and furniture

They're especially popular among:

• Startups and freelancers

• Regional offices of international companies

• Businesses that value flexibility and low commitment

Example:

You’re a tech startup expanding into Singapore. Instead of signing a 3-year lease and buying desks, you rent a 6-person serviced office in the CBD for 3 months to test the waters.

5. When Should You Choose a Private Office?

A private office makes more sense if you:

• Want a long-term business base

• Need custom layouts or branding

• Plan to invest in your own IT infrastructure

• Have 20+ team members and want cost efficiency at scale

• Require full control over security and operations

They're often the choice of:

• Established SMEs and corporations

• Law firms, consultancies, and finance firms

• Businesses with specific facility or design requirements

Example:

You’re a legal firm with 25 staff members. You lease a 3,000 sq ft office in Tanjong Pagar, design it to suit your workflow, and stay for 5+ years.

6. Cost Comparison: Serviced Office vs Private Office in Singapore

Let’s look at rough 2025 rates for a 10-person team in a city-fringe location:

Note: While serviced offices seem more expensive upfront, the all-in-one pricing often works out better for short-term use or smaller teams.

7. Customization and Branding

• Serviced Office: You get a fixed layout and shared design. Custom branding may be limited to a sign or digital display.

• Private Office: You can design every detail — from open desks to boardrooms to your logo on the wall.

8. Flexibility and Growth

Need to hire 5 new people next month?

• Serviced Office: Just move into a larger suite or add desks (easy).

• Private Office: You’ll need to check if your current space can fit more, or negotiate new leases (not so easy).

9. Hidden Costs to Watch Out For

Serviced Offices

• Some offer packages with tiered pricing (e.g., extra for meeting rooms or printing).

• Internet speed upgrades may cost more.

Private Offices

• Renovation costs

• Property tax and insurance

• Office furniture and IT setup

• Deposit (typically 3–6 months’ rent)

10. The Hybrid Option: Private Office in a Coworking Setting

Some providers offer private offices within coworking spaces, which gives you:

• A private, lockable room for your team

• Access to shared amenities like lounge, meeting rooms, pantry

• Shorter lease terms than traditional offices

Think of it as the best of both worlds.

Conclusion: Which One Is Right for You?

• Serviced offices are great if you want speed, simplicity, and flexibility.

• Private offices are better if you're in for the long haul and want full control.

Your choice depends on your team size, budget, growth plans, and how much responsibility you're willing to take on.