A private office in the Wellington CBD feels like the “proper” choice — until you start asking the right questions. For many freelancers, remote workers and small teams, a coworking membership is the smarter call. But not for everyone. Here is how to think through it.
The core question: control vs flexibility
A private office lease gives you full control. You brand the space, set the rules, and build a consistent physical culture. A coworking desk gives you flexibility — you pay for what you use, with no fit-out, no lease and no commitment beyond the current month.
Which one serves you depends on where your business actually is right now, not where you hope it will be.
When a coworking desk makes more sense
You are a solo worker or small team who wants to get on with it. A coworking membership means you walk in, sit down and work. No setup, no overheads to manage, no lease to worry about. Everything — internet, coffee, meeting rooms, parking — is already there.
Your work pattern is flexible or changing. If you come in three days a week, bring your dog, travel regularly, or expect to grow or shrink your team in the next 12 months, a month-to-month desk is a far lower-risk arrangement than a multi-year lease.
Cost predictability matters. A coworking membership is a single line item. A private office is rent, plus parking, plus fibre, plus power, plus cleaning, plus whatever broke this week. For a full breakdown of what coworking actually costs in Wellington versus a CBD office, see our Wellington coworking price guide.
You want a better location than your spare room — but not the CBD commute. At Lyall Bay WorkHub, you get a professional, fully-equipped desk five minutes from the airport, with free parking and the beach outside. No CBD parking bill, no 40-minute commute each way.
When a private office lease makes more sense
You have a stable team of five or more people. At a certain size — usually five or more — a private lease starts to compete economically with coworking, and the benefits of a fully controlled space become more tangible.
Your work requires strict physical security or confidentiality. Some industries need locked rooms, controlled access and the ability to set their own IT security policy. A private office gives you that. A shared space does not.
You need to project a specific brand presence. If clients regularly visit your office and the physical environment is part of your pitch, a branded private space matters. Most coworking spaces are neutral by design.
You are building a team culture that needs permanence. A dedicated office reinforces that this team has a home. That signal matters for retention and identity at a certain stage of growth.
The middle ground
There is a useful option between a hot desk and a full lease: a shared office or private coworking space. These give a small team a dedicated, lockable room within a larger coworking environment — the privacy of an office with the flexibility and amenities of a hub. Worth considering if you have outgrown a hot desk but are not ready to sign a long lease.
The questions worth asking yourself
Before you decide, answer these honestly:
- How many days a week will I actually come in?
- Is my team size stable, growing or uncertain?
- What is the realistic total monthly cost of each option, including parking?
- How long am I comfortable being locked into a single arrangement?
- Does the physical location of my workspace affect my clients, my commute, or my quality of life?
If you are leaning towards coworking and want to try it before committing, book a free trial day at Lyall Bay WorkHub. No cost, no credit card.