Business Centre Licences

The contractual agreement for business centres and workspace is normally a licence. This provides an agreement for occupation without protection of tenure as with a lease i.e. it is outside the Landlord and Tenant Acts. This enables operators to provide space for flexible time periods. It is important to read licences carefully. Often the terms will change if new licences are not signed at the end of the agreed period and if discounts have been negotiated these may lapse automatically.

Business Centre Licences can be negotiated for a period ranging from one month to one year. Fees will increase for the more flexibility you wish to have i.e. the shorter period you are prepared to commit to the higher the fees will be.

Business Centre Licence Notice Period

Generally the provider will require a notice period on a licence of two months prior to the termination date of the current business centre licence. If notice is not given licence terms will generally roll forward on a minimum commitment of two months.

Deposits are taken by the majority of providers and these will very between one and three months equivalent to the monthly fees without VAT and will be held by the operator. It is worth asking whether these funds are held in a trust account or if the operator will accept a solicitor holding your deposit in an Escrow account.

Business Centre Licence Fees and Charges

Providers normally increase their office fees in line with RPI (Retail Prices Index); however, these increases may be more frequent if initial discounts have been negotiated.

Charges for additional services will be made on a monthly basis to clients and paid in arrears. A current price list should be requested upon signing the licence. This will ensure that clients are fully aware of what they are likely to incur in the day to day running of their business. Charges may include outgoing telephone calls, internet line rental, parking, postage, meeting room hire, catering, stationery, fax traffic, photocopying, etc.

Offices Please provide business services such as business centres, virtual offices, conference and meeting rooms, flexible managed leases, traditional leases, and many other business solutions.