The pandemic-driven shift to remote work was a revelation for many small businesses and startups. Kitchen tables became desks, spare bedrooms transformed into offices, and teams learned to collaborate across digital spaces.
But as your business grows, the limitations of a fully remote setup can become increasingly apparent. Has your small team outgrown working from home? At Work.Life, we’ve welcomed hundreds of small teams who reached that crucial inflection point where working from home was no longer serving their evolving needs.
Here are the seven signs that your team might be ready for the next step – and what to do when you recognise them.
Remember when your team was just two or three people, and staying aligned was as simple as a quick video call? As teams grow beyond five members, communication becomes exponentially more complex.
The signs:
When digital communication tools start creating more problems than they solve, it’s often a sign that your team needs some face-to-face time in a shared physical space.
The home environment comes with inherent distractions – from family members and household chores to the temptation of Netflix just a click away. While established professionals might have the discipline and dedicated space to manage these distractions, growing teams often include newer employees who struggle with boundaries.
The signs:
A professional workspace creates a psychological boundary between work and home life that many team members need to perform at their best.
Company culture isn’t built through Zoom happy hours alone. The spontaneous conversations, shared experiences, and unplanned moments of connection that happen in physical spaces are crucial for building a cohesive team identity.
The signs:
Research from Microsoft’s Work Trend Index shows that 65% of employees crave more in-person time with their teams. This human connection isn’t just nice to have – it’s essential for building the trust and relationships that power high-performing teams.
As your business grows, so does the importance of professional client interactions. Meeting at coffee shops might work for initial conversations, but it doesn’t project the image of stability and success that helps win bigger contracts.
The signs:
A dedicated workspace with proper meeting facilities doesn’t just solve a logistical problem – it transforms how clients perceive your business.
Innovation rarely happens in isolation. The cross-pollination of ideas that occurs when people work in proximity is difficult to replicate in a fully remote environment.
The signs:
A Harvard Business Review study found that face-to-face requests are 34 times more successful than emails, and in-person teams solve complex problems faster than their virtual counterparts. Sometimes, there’s simply no digital replacement for the energy of people thinking together in a room.
The blurring of boundaries between professional and personal spaces takes a toll on wellbeing. For small business owners and team leaders especially, the inability to “leave work at work” can lead to burnout.
The signs:
A physical workspace creates a natural boundary that helps maintain work-life balance – something that 87% of employees now consider when evaluating job opportunities.
Most home internet connections and setups weren’t designed for professional use, especially as teams grow and technology needs become more sophisticated.
The signs:
Professional workspaces offer enterprise-grade internet, proper technical infrastructure, and security measures that protect your growing business.
Is your team ready for a workspace? Take this quick assessment:
If you’ve recognised several of these signs or scored high on the assessment, it’s likely time to consider a professional workspace. Here’s how to make the transition smooth:
Most successful teams don’t jump from fully remote to fully office-based overnight. Begin with a hybrid model where team members come together 2-3 days per week. This provides the benefits of in-person collaboration while maintaining the flexibility remote work offers.
The workspace transition will be more successful if your team feels ownership in the process. Survey them about their preferences, pain points, and what they’d value most in a shared space.
Traditional office leases typically require 3-5 year commitments—a risky proposition for growing teams with changing needs. Flexible workspace solutions like Work.Life offer the professional environment you need without the long-term financial commitment.
Choose a workspace that’s reasonably accessible for your entire team. A central location with good transport links will make the transition more palatable for team members who’ve grown accustomed to zero commute time.
Establish guidelines for when team members should be in the workspace and how collaboration will happen across in-person and remote contexts. Clarity prevents confusion and helps everyone maximise the benefits of each environment.
How Work.Life supports growing teams
At Work.Life, we’ve designed our spaces and membership options specifically to address the challenges small teams face when transitioning from home to professional environments.
Our memberships look like:
Flex
Our Flex membership is ideal if you need a workspace less than 2 days per week or up to 8 days per month. You’ll only pay for what you actually use, making it cost-effective for small teams with changing schedules. The best part? You can easily share days across your entire team, giving everyone the flexibility they need.
Perfect for: Remote teams who meet occasionally, startups with variable schedules, or freelancers who need professional space for client meetings.
Unlimited
Our Unlimited membership provides consistent, hassle-free workspace access for teams who need more regular office time. If you’re in the office more than 2 days per week or 9+ days per month, this is your ideal solution. With unlimited access, there’s no need to track or count days, and each team member gets their individual access. This option eliminates administrative headaches while ensuring everyone has the space they need, when they need it.
Perfect for: Growing teams needing consistent space, businesses with regular client meetings, or hybrid teams with established office schedules.
What sets us apart is our understanding that small teams need more than just desks – they need environments that support their growth journey.
Our membership teams make the effort to know every member by name and facilitate connections that can lead to collaboration, new business, and knowledge sharing. With 93% of our members reporting they’re happier since joining Work.Life, we’ve created spaces where small teams can thrive.
Ready to take the next step?
If you’ve recognised the signs that your team has outgrown working from home, we’d love to show you how Work.Life can support your next phase of growth.
Book a tour at your nearest Work.Life location to see our small team solutions in action.
The transition from home to professional workspace is a significant milestone in your business journey – and with the right approach, it can be the catalyst that takes your team from good to great.
Looking for more insights on creating the ideal workspace for your growing team? Learn how other businesses have scaled successfully with flexible workspaces.
Tailored solutions for growing teams
Adding 10 or more team members? That’s exciting — and we’re here to help! For teams like yours, we offer custom membership options designed to fit your needs perfectly.
Let us know some more information using the form below — we usually reply within an hour during business hours. Prefer to chat? Give us a call on 020 3349 8269 — we’d love to hear from you!