General FAQs
A business centre is an office service provider that helps companies establish a professional market presence in a prestigious setting. This includes, in addition to office units of various sizes available to rent on a flexible basis, the hire of Coworking spaces or meeting rooms on an hourly or daily basis – with catering available on request. There is also the option to make use of on-site telephone and secretarial services.
A COLLECTION Business Center is similar to a hotel where companies set up their operations: businesses rent fully equipped offices or Conference rooms in prestigious, central locations. They determine the length of the tenancy and decide whether and when to make use of office services such as telephone or secretarial support. They then pay only for the services they actually use. There are no long-term contractual commitments.
Anyone who chooses a COLLECTION Business Center can quickly secure an office of their desired size, with the right facilities and professional service, without any financial risk. There are no investment costs or commissions. Nor are there any long-term lease agreements. This gives companies the opportunity to open new locations at short notice without significant financial or staffing costs, and to close them again if necessary. Foreign companies benefit from the fact that the staff are fluent in the local language and are familiar with German business practices. Compared with conventional office solutions, cost savings of up to 50 per cent are possible.
The 5-star concept: COLLECTION offers high-quality, well-equipped spaces and prime office locations with excellent transport links. Services such as order processing, translation services and office technology meet the very latest requirements. Tastefully furnished premises, superb design, pioneering innovation, a modern focus on service and a unique attention to detail are the absolute priorities at every COLLECTION Business Center.
A virtual office is an ‘office without a physical space’ – and is a service provided by COLLECTION Business Center. Entrepreneurs who do not have their own office can hire the secretarial services and the prestigious address of the COLLECTION Business Center. Staff at the business centre answer calls under the relevant company name or forward them. If requested, the company name is displayed at the building’s entrance. Offices and Conference rooms can be used by the hour for meetings. A Virtual Office is particularly worthwhile for self-employed people who work from home and need to be available at all times.
Clients come from all sectors. They range from expanding large corporations, both domestic and international, to small and medium-sized enterprises and sole traders who simply need a temporary desk. Start-ups in particular – whose success is not yet certain – benefit from the flexibility of this concept. Companies that have not yet found suitable office space locally also rent space at the business centre.
Every company operates from its own office space. Those who handle sensitive data close the door – and keep to themselves. The COLLECTION Business Center provides the infrastructure required to comply with current data protection regulations: from the network and telephone system to a customised door access system. The reception staff look after visitors and check who is entering the office area.
The first business centre providers were US companies which, in the 1970s, were unable to utilise all their office space – and so instead let it out to other firms on a temporary basis. To encourage tenants, amenities such as free parking, a shared canteen and infrastructure such as telephone systems and fax machines were introduced. This ‘shared office’ concept for businesses gave rise to a sector of the property market which has become increasingly professional, particularly over the last 20 years – and is in ever-greater demand in today’s mobile working world. Today, the concept is being replicated worldwide. The business centre market is becoming increasingly diversified.
According to a study by Ernst & Young, business centres are generally more cost-effective than traditional Office space when renting up to 20 workstations. Depending on the number of workstations rented, the cost savings range from 24 per cent to over 200 per cent. In a business centre, flexible tenancy agreements in terms of both duration and space can be arranged, thereby significantly reducing the risk of being tied into long-term leases. Business centres thus make a significant contribution to minimising the risk associated with fixed costs.
However, they also offer the necessary potential for expanding office space as required. Offices in business centres can be let immediately. They enable you to enter the market straight away without lengthy negotiations or the need for refurbishment or fitting-out work, thereby saving both time and money.
Business centres also offer small firms the opportunity to establish themselves in particularly prestigious office buildings in prime locations. They thus contribute significantly to building a positive image.
As flat-rate prices are charged, the costs of business centres can be planned much more reliably and effectively than those of conventional offices. They help preserve cash flow, as there is no need to invest in furniture and infrastructure.
Our business centres are open during our business hours (Monday to Thursday from 8.30 am to 6.00 pm and Friday from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm). We recommend booking a personal appointment so that we are fully available and to ensure that viewing appointments do not clash. This appointment is entirely no-obligation and free of charge. You are also welcome to take a virtual tour of our locations, for example on our YouTube channel.
Our business centres are accessible to our office and Coworking clients at all times: 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Conference rooms can also be booked at any time throughout the year.
However, support from our staff is only available during our opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 08:30 to 18:00 and Friday from 08:30 to 17:30. Tenants of our Conference rooms can receive assistance at any time, including outside normal business hours, subject to prior arrangement.
Our staff will welcome your guests and escort them to your office or Conference room.
They will answer incoming calls on a dedicated number provided for you in your company’s name and either forward these calls directly to you or notify you by email that a call has come in.
We are happy to carry out standard secretarial tasks for you. Naturally, we will look after your conferences and meetings, bring you drinks or collect your post and parcels.
Thanks to our many years’ experience in the business centre sector, we have the necessary technical facilities and a high level of organisational expertise to manage processes professionally and optimise them at all times. Furthermore, our trained teams are committed to catering to each client’s individual requirements.
FAQs about offices
Depending on the location, our business centres offer a wide range of office sizes:
- private offices
- Team offices
- Project offices
- Group offices
- Executive offices with an antechamber
- Entire office floors
- Separately locked units
However, you can also rent individual workstations in our shared or Coworking offices.
Our office spaces are fully equipped with very high-quality office furniture. Desks, ergonomic chairs with armrests, sideboards, telephones, trolleys, wastepaper baskets, wall art, decorative items and, depending on the size of the offices, visitor chairs and tables are all included in our minimum specification.
Of course, the rent also includes
- a professional reception team,
- modern and secure technology,
- professional multifunction printers,
- high-speed Wi-Fi,
- electricity costs,
- heating,
- water,
- cleaning,
- maintenance,
- use of the business address,
- the communal kitchen and
- the communal lounge areas.
You’ll be quoted a simple all-inclusive price, allowing you to plan your costs with confidence.
A wide range of companies from various sectors operate out of our business centre. Anyone who wishes to do so can easily establish Contact with other clients in our lounges and communal areas. In the Coworking areas in particular, you share your workspace and work side by side with other companies if you do not require your own separate office.
It is possible to network several computers. When you order an internet connection (no open Wi-Fi in communal areas), we will activate as many ports as there are workstations for your rented workspaces. These can be connected to one another, even across different offices, to access a printer or similar equipment, for example.
You are also welcome to set up your own switch (we do not provide one) to increase the number of ports in the office and connect them. Our expert technical team will be happy to help and assist you with the set-up.
You are, of course, welcome to bring your own technical equipment into the offices. However, for insurance reasons, you are not permitted to bring in coffee machines, kettles or fridges. We do, however, provide fridges, professional coffee machines, microwaves and kettles in the communal areas.
In addition, you are welcome to use our multifunction printers, which are available in the communal areas and ready for use at any time. We’d be happy to set up an access code for you.
FAQ on Coworking
In the Coworking area, you share an office or office space with other companies. You do not have a fixed workstation assigned solely to you; instead, you choose a different workstation each day. You can store your documents in your own locker.
In the Coworking area, you’ll quickly establish contact with other companies. There are various quiet zones in our business centre for private phone calls.
Your private office is accessible only to you and allows you to work in peace and with the utmost discretion.
We offer a range of Coworking solutions. The best way to discuss your personalised Coworking package is to speak to our sales team. All Coworking options include at least the following:
- Coworking desk space
- Postal service
- High-speed Wi-Fi
- Cleaning
- Maintenance
- Use of the business address
- Use of the communal kitchen and all shared facilities
- Access to our other locations
You receive these services for a simple flat-rate price, allowing you to budget with confidence. You can book our Conference rooms at any time, including at other COLLECTION Business Center locations.
Our business centres are freely accessible during business hours (Monday to Thursday from 08:30 to 18:00 and Friday from 08:30 to 17:30) and can therefore be accessed at your convenience. With a Dedicated Coworking Package, our customers also receive their own access card to the building, which grants them access to our business centre at any time.
FAQ on Virtual Offices
With a virtual office, you enjoy the benefits of a physical office without actually having one.
- You’ll have your own company sign at the entrance to the building and be given a dedicated telephone number, where incoming calls will be answered in your company’s name.
- You can use our Business address, and we’ll collect your post and forward it to you.
- For occasional meetings at our business centre, you can easily book a private day office or a meeting room.
We place the utmost importance on a personalised approach and professionalism. That is why all calls are answered by our own staff at our on-site business centres, rather than by a call centre. This is the only way to ensure a personalised approach. Our staff know your customers and can therefore provide a personalised service over the phone.
COLLECTION’s specialised telephone software uses the extension number to identify who the call is for. All key details – such as the greeting message, up-to-date information, holiday cover arrangements and call handling (connecting calls or forwarding messages by email) – are visible in your customer interface within the software. This enables our staff to act individually on your company’s behalf and in accordance with your specifications.
A great many customers use our business centres as their registered office. In order to officially register a limited company with a registered office, a physical workplace must be demonstrated to the authorities. Our sales team can explain how this can be done smoothly and in full compliance with the law.
FAQ on day offices, lounges and Conference rooms
Our meeting rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art, professional-grade technology:
- TV screen
- Whiteboard or flipchart
- High-speed internet
We will welcome your guests on site and manage your meeting with professional dedication. Additional technical equipment, such as ‘video conferencing owls’, can easily be booked as an extra. You can also book drinks, snacks and catering.
Cancellations can be made free of charge up to 3 days in advance. For cancellations made up to 2 days in advance, we charge 50 per cent of the invoice amount; for cancellations made up to 1 day in advance, we charge 75 per cent of the invoice amount. For cancellations made on the day of booking, we charge the full invoice amount.
The date on which the cancellation is received determines the cancellation period. It must be received during our business hours – otherwise, it will only be deemed to have been received on the next business day. The cancellation terms for bespoke catering may vary.