General FAQs
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What is a Business Centre?
A business centre is an office service provider, which helps companies to have a professional market presence in a prestigious environment. As well as office units of various sizes, which can be rented flexibly in terms of time, this includes renting coworking spaces or meeting rooms on an hourly or daily basis – with catering if wished. In addition, there is the possibility of having access to local telephone or secretarial services.
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How does a COLLECTION business centre work?
A COLLECTION Business Center is a bit like a hotel where firms set themselves up: companies rent fully equipped offices or conference rooms in a prestigious, central location. They determine the duration of the rental period and decide whether and when they want to use office services such as telephone or secretarial services. They then just pay for what they use. There are no long-term commitments to contracts.
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What advantages do companies enjoy when they rent space in a COLLECTION business centre instead of maintaining their own offices?
Anyone who decides in favour of a COLLECTION Business Center quickly has an office of the size they want, with suitable equipment and professional service, all with no economic risk. There are no investments or arrangement fees. There are no tenancy agreements to tie them down for a long time either. This means firms have the chance to open up new locations short-term without high costs or staffing expenses and can close them again if they need to. Foreign firms benefit from staff who know the local language and are familiar with German business practices. Cost savings of up to 50 percent in comparison to conventional office solutions are possible.
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What makes COLLECTION Business Center different to other office service providers?
The 5-star concept: COLLECTION offers rooms with high-quality fittings and the best office locations with optimum transport connections. Services such as taking orders, translation services and office equipment meet the very latest requirements. Tastefully furnished premises, superb design, groundbreaking innovation, modern service focus and unique attention to detail are the hallmarks of every COLLECTION Business Center.
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What is a virtual office?
A "virtual office" is an "office without a physical space" — and is one of the services offered by COLLECTION business centres. Companies that do not have their own offices lease the secretariat services and the representative address of the COLLECTION business centre. Employees at the business centre accept calls in the name of the specific company or connect callers to the appropriate contact. If desired, the company name will be listed at the building entrance. Offices and conference rooms can be hired by the hour for meetings. A virtual office is a rewarding facility for freelancers in particular who work at home and must always be reachable.
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Who uses COLLECTION Business Center?
Clients come from all sectors. Major corporations from Germany and abroad who are expanding are just as likely as medium-sized businesses and small entrepreneurs who just need a desk on an hourly basis. Above all, start-ups whose success is not yet foreseeable make use of the concept’s flexibility. Also companies who have not yet found their own suitable office premises in the locality rent space at Business Centers.
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So many companies under one roof: How safe are trade secrets?
Every company works in their own offices. Anyone dealing with sensitive data closes the door – and sticks with their own people. The infrastructure, which meets established data protection regulations, is provided by the COLLECTION Business Center: from the network to the telephone and individual door locking system. The staff on reception take care of visitors and check who is entering the office area.
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WHERE DOES THE IDEA OF RENTING OFFICE SPACE WITH SERVICES ON A FLEXIBLE TIME BASIS COME FROM?
The first business centre providers were US companies who couldn’t use all of their office space back in the seventies – and rented it out to other firms on a time basis instead. Additional incentives to rent developed, such as free parking, a shared cafeteria or infrastructure such as a telephone system or fax machine. A branch of estate agency evolved from this “house share” idea for companies and has become ever more professional, especially in the last twenty years – and has become more and more popular in the mobile working world. These days, the idea is being copied all over the world. The business centre market is becoming increasingly diversified.
- WHO IS A BUSINESS CENTER AND VIRTUAL OFFICE SUITABLE FOR?
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WHAT GOOD REASONS ARE THERE FOR AN OFFICE IN A BUSINESS CENTER INSTEAD OF CONVENTIONAL OFFICE SPACE?
According to a study by Ernst & Young, business centres are generally cheaper than a classic office when renting up to 20 workspaces. The cost benefits range from 24 to over 200 percent, depending on the number of workspaces that are rented. Rental agreements, which are flexible in terms of time and space, can be concluded and therefore the risk of being tied to long-term tenancy agreements can be considerably reduced. Business centres therefore make a considerable contribution to the minimisation of the risk associated with overheads.
But they also offer the necessary potential for spatial expansion by adding offices. Renting offices in a business centre can be done immediately. They can facilitate an immediate entry to the market without lengthy negotiations and dismantling or installing furniture, saving time as well as costs.
Business centres also offer small businesses the opportunity to open up in especially prestigious office buildings in the best locations, making a considerable contribution to building up a positive image.
Because charges are all-inclusive, the costs of business centres can be planned a lot more reliably and better than conventional offices. They protect liquidity since no investments in furniture or infrastructure are needed.
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IS IT POSSIBLE TO VIEW THE BUSINESS CENTER ANY TIME OR SHOULD I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
Our Business Centers are open during our office hours (Mondays to Thursdays from 8.30 am to 6 pm and Fridays from 8.30 am to 5 pm). We recommend making a personal appointment so we are fully available and no viewing appointments overlap. This appointment is totally without obligation and is free of charge. You are also welcome to view our locations virtually, for example on our YouTube-channel.
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WHEN CAN THE OFFICES, COWORKING SPACES OR CONFERENCE ROOMS AT THE BUSINESS CENTER BE USED?
Our Business Centers are accessible to our office and coworking clients around the clock: 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Conference rooms can likewise be hired at any time on all 365 days.
However, our staff are only there for support during our office hours: Mondays to Thursdays from 8.30 am to 6 pm and Fridays from 8.30 am to 5:30 pm. People hiring our conference rooms can request services at any time, i.e. outside of normal office hours by prior arrangement.
- WHICH LANGUAGES DO YOU SPEAK AT THE BUSINESS CENTERS?
- HOW DO I PAY?
- ARE PETS ALLOWED?
- IS THERE A MINIMUM CONTRACT TERM AND WHAT ARE THE CANCELLATION TERMS?
- DO BUSINESS CENTERS ALSO TAKE DELIVERY OF PARCELS?
- DO THE BUSINESS CENTERS HAVE THEIR OWN PARKING SPACES?
- CAN OUR OWN COMPANY NAMEPLATE BE HUNG IN THE ENTRANCE TO THE BUILDING?
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WHAT WORK DO BUSINESS CENTER STAFF UNDERTAKE?
Our staff will greet your visitors and escort them to your office or conference room.
They will take incoming calls in the name of your business on a phone number provided especially for you and either put these calls through to you directly or let you know by email that they have taken the calls.
We would be happy to undertake normal secretarial duties for you. We can of course provide assistance for your conferences and meetings, bring you drinks and take delivery of your post and parcels.
- WILL I HAVE MY OWN CONTACT AND ARE THEY ON SITE?
- IS THERE A SEPARATE CONTACT FOR MAJOR CLIENTS?
- IS MY DATA SECURE?
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HOW DO YOU GUARANTEE THAT MY NEEDS WILL BE MET AMONGST THE LARGE NUMBER OF CLIENTS YOU LOOK AFTER AND THAT THE SERVICE WILL ALWAYS BE HIGH-QUALITY?
Because we have many years of experience in the business centre sector, we have the relevant technical equipment and a high level of organisational experience so we can organise our processes professionally and optimise them at any time. Furthermore, our trained teams are geared up to take every single client request into account.
FAQ - Offices
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What size offices are there at the COLLECTION Business Center?
Depending on the location, our Business Centers have a multitude of different office sizes:
- single offices
- team offices
- project offices
- group offices
- manager’s offices with secretary’s office
- whole office floors
- individual lockable units
You can also rent individual workspaces in our shared or coworking offices
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WHAT DOES THE OFFICE RENT INCLUDE?
Our offices are fully equipped with very high-quality office furniture. Desks, ergonomic chairs with armrests, sideboards, telephones, trolleys, waste paper baskets, pictures on the walls, decoration and, depending on the size of the office, visitors’ chairs and tables are all part of our minimum furnishings.
The rent does of course also include
- a professional reception team,
- modern and secure technology,
- professional multifunctional copiers,
- high speed WLAN,
- electricity costs,
- heating,
- water,
- cleaning,
- maintenance,
- use of the business address,
- the communal kitchen and
- general lounge areas.
You get a simple all-inclusive price for reliable cost planning.
- IS THERE ANY MINIMUM TERM FOR RENTING OFFICES IN YOUR BUSINESS CENTERS?
- CAN I UPSIZE OR DOWNSIZE WHENEVER I NEED TO RENT SEVERAL OFFICES?
- CAN I PUT MY OWN FURNITURE IN THE OFFICES?
- CAN I ALSO USE YOUR BUSINESS CENTERS IN OTHER CITIES?
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HOW CAN I ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH THE OTHER OFFICE USERS?
Lots of different businesses from various sectors work at our Business Centers. Anyone who wants to have contact with our other clients will quickly do so in our lounges and communal areas. In the coworking areas especially, you will be sharing an office and working side-by-side with other businesses if you don’t need your own separate office.
- DO THE OFFICES HAVE THEIR OWN LANDLINE TELEPHONES?
- WHAT IS THE INTERNET CONNECTION LIKE IN THE OFFICES?
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IS IT POSSIBLE TO SET UP A NETWORK WITH SEVERAL COMPUTERS AND DESKS?
It is possible to set up a network with several computers. When you order an internet connection (not an open WLAN in the communal areas), we will activate the same number of ports as the desks you have rented. They can be connected to each other, even across offices, in order to access a printer or similar.
You are also welcome to set up a switch yourself (this is not provided by us) in order to increase the number of ports in the office and connect them. Our skilled technical team will be happy to help you and support you when you set up.
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CAN I PUT MY OWN TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT SUCH AS PRINTERS IN THE OFFICES?
Of course you can bring your own technical equipment to the offices. It is not possible to bring coffee machines, kettles or fridges in for insurance reasons. However, we do provide fridges, professional coffee machines, microwaves and kettles for you in the central areas.
Furthermore, you can have access to our multifunctional printers, which are always available for use in the communal areas if you wish. We would be happy to give you an access code to use them.
- DO I HAVE TO PAY A DEPOSIT WHEN I RENT AN OFFICE?
- CAN I LOCK MY OFFICE AND DO I GET MY OWN KEYS?
- HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE MY BUSINESS SECRETS ARE PROTECTED?
FAQ - co-Working
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WHAT IS THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WORKSPACE IN A COWORKING AREA AND A PRIVATE OFFICE?
In the coworking area, you share an office or office area with other businesses. You do not have a fixed workspace that is just for you, but you seek out a new desk each day. You store your paperwork in your own cabinet.
In the coworking area, you quickly make contact with other businesses. There are various zones at our Business Centers where you can get away to hold private telephone calls.
Your private office is only accessible to you and allows you to work in peace and quiet with the greatest discretion.
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WHAT DOES THE PRICE OF A WORKSPACE IN THE COWORKING AREA INCLUDE?
We offer various coworking solutions. It’s best to discuss your individual coworking package with our Sales Department. All coworking options include the following components as a minimum:
- coworking desk space
- handling of incoming post
- high speed WLAN
- cleaning
- maintenance
- use of the business address
- use of the communal kitchen and all general facilities
- access to our other locations
You get these services in a simple all-inclusive rate, which allows you to make reliable calculations. You can add a booking for our conference rooms any time, even at other COLLECTION Business Center locations.
- CAN I UPGRADE MY COWORKING SPACE TO A PRIVATE OFFICE OR RELOCATE IT TO ANOTHER COLLECTION LOCATION?
- IS IT POSSIBLE TO OCCUPY A WORKSPACE AT ANY TIME, EVEN SPONTANEOUSLY, OR DO I HAVE TO RESERVE IT IN ADVANCE?
- CAN I USE MY COWORKING WORKSPACE AT WEEKENDS OR INTO THE LATE EVENING TOO?
- DO I HAVE TO PAY A DEPOSIT FOR MY WORKSPACE IN THE COWORKING AREA?
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HOW DO I GET ACCESS TO THE BUSINESS CENTER AS A COWORKING CLIENT?
Our Business Centers are available during our office hours (Mondays to Thursdays from 8.30 am to 6 pm and Fridays from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm) and can therefore be entered on a flexible basis. With a Dedicated Coworking Package, our clients also receive their own key card to the building, which gives them access to our Business Center at any time.
- CAN I ALSO USE YOUR DAY OFFICES OR YOUR CONFERENCE ROOMS AS A COWORKING CLIENT?
FAQ - Virtual-Offices
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WHAT IS A VIRTUAL OFFICE?
With a virtual office you get the benefits of a physical office without actually having one.
- You can have your own company nameplate at the entrance to the building and your own telephone number on which your incoming calls will be answered in the name of your company.
- You use our business address as your own and we will take delivery of your post and forward it to you.
- For occasional meetings at our Business Center, you can simply book a private day office or conference room on top.
- DO YOU TAKE DELIVERY OF PARCELS TOO AND HOW OFTEN WILL MY POST BE FORWARDED?
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DO YOUR RECEPTION STAFF TAKE THE CALLS IN THE NAME OF MY COMPANY OR IS THIS UNDERTAKEN BY A CALL CENTRE?
We attach huge importance to individuality and professionalism. Therefore, all calls are taken by our own staff on site at the Business Center and not by a call centre. This is the only way to ensure individuality. Our staff know your customers and can therefore perform individually on the telephone.
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HOW DOES THE TELEPHONE SERVICE WORK? HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT MY CALLS ARE TAKEN IN THE NAME OF MY COMPANY?
The special telephone software at COLLECTION detects who the call is for from the extension number. All of the important details such as the greeting text, information that can be updated daily, holiday cover, call handling (putting calls through, forwarding messages by email) can be seen in your client interface in the software. This means our staff can operate using your individual company name and in accordance with your instructions.
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IS IT POSSIBLE TO REGISTER A LIMITED COMPANY (GMBH) AT THE ADDRESS OF THE CENTER IF I HAVE A VIRTUAL OFFICE?
Many clients use our Business Centers as their registered office.<s> </s>In order to be able to officially register a corporation (Kapitalgesellschaft) with a registered office, the authorities must have evidence of a physical workplace. Our Sales Team can let you know how this works easily and with legal certainty.
FAQ - Day offices, meetings rooms ans business lounges
- HOW DO I BOOK A DAY OFFICE, LOUNGE OR CONFERENCE ROOM? CAN EXTERNAL CLIENTS BOOK THESE ROOMS TOO?
- HOW BIG ARE YOUR CONFERENCE ROOMS AND IS CATERING OBLIGATORY?
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WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF YOUR MEETING ROOMS?
Our meeting rooms are professionally equipped with modern technology:
- TV screen
- whiteboard or flipchart
- high speed internet
We will greet your visitors on site at reception and look after your meeting with professional flair. Additional technical equipment such as video conference owls can easily be added to your booking. Drinks, snacks and catering can also be added.
- WHAT HAPPENS IF MY MEETING OVERRUNS OR IF I NEED THE ROOM FOR LONGER?
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WHAT ARE YOUR RULES FOR CANCELLING CONFERENCE ROOMS?
Cancellations can be accepted free of charge up to three days in advance. For cancellations received up to two days in advance, we charge 50 percent of the invoice amount and 75 percent up to one day in advance. For cancellations on the day of the reservation we charge the full amount.
The receipt of the cancellation is authoritative for calculating the cancellation period. This must be received during our office hours – otherwise it will be deemed to have been received on the following working day. The cancellation terms for individual catering may differ.
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