By Matthew DeRose – CEO, Nomad Group

How to Find the Perfect Office (Without Wasting Months Doing It)

There’s a moment every founder hits — when the dining table isn’t cutting it, the WeWork has lost its buzz, or your team has doubled and HR is begging for more space. It’s not just about needing more desks. It’s about momentum. Culture. Growth. And in NYC, real estate either gets you there — or gets in your way.

The good news? There’s a better way to do this.

Let’s break down the path from “we need something new” to “we’ve got the perfect office,” without getting crushed by time, budget, or bad leases.

1. Size Isn’t Just Headcount. It’s Workflow.

People love to throw around 150 square feet per employee. It’s a fine baseline, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Are your engineers in deep-focus mode? Is your sales team loud? Are you hybrid or mostly in-office? Do you need breakout zones, or is everything happening in Slack?

Your office needs to match your work rhythm — not just your team size.

📏 Not sure how much space you need? Check out our Space Calculator — a quick tool to help you get clear on square footage.

2. Location Should Be Strategic, Not Just Trendy

Sure, SoHo’s got the cobblestones and coffee shops. But does your team actually live nearby? Do your investors visit often? Are you recruiting from Brooklyn or Westchester?

Great offices aren’t just pretty — they’re practical. The right location cuts commute time, impresses clients, and reinforces brand identity. If that means Flatiron over Hudson Yards, great. If it means near Grand Central because half your team’s in CT, even better.

3. Crunch the Numbers: Coworking vs Private Office

Here’s the part your coworking operator won’t tell you:

• 10 people in coworking = $850/person = $8,500/month
• 1,500 SF private office @ $55/SF = $6,875/month

You save money and get control. Plus, with Nomad, we often negotiate 1–3 months of free rent, meaning your effective cost is even lower. That savings? Reinvest it in team lunches, gear, better hiring packages, or a coffee setup that doesn’t feel like a college dorm.

4. Think Like a CEO — ROI Over Rent

This isn’t just a real estate decision. It’s a culture investment.

• Custom space boosts retention
• Private space = fewer distractions = better output
• A branded office helps win clients and top talent

If your headcount is 10+, a private space isn’t just smarter — it’s a strategic growth play.

5. Timelines Are Tighter Than You Think

Most startups underestimate how long this takes:

• Search + tours: 2–3 weeks
• LOI + legal: 2–3 weeks
• Build/furnish: 4–8 weeks

We’ve collapsed that down to 30 days before. It depends on your flexibility, but with the right team behind you, move-in can be fast and seamless.

6. You Don’t Pay Us. But You’ll Be Glad You Did.

Broker services are free for tenants. Read that again.

At Nomad, we don’t just tour buildings. We manage them. We own space. We build space. We’ve helped 50+ companies transition from coworking to custom offices since the pandemic — and our team handles everything from lease negotiations to phone booth installs.

Your job is to run your company. Ours is to make real estate an asset, not a headache.

This Isn’t About Office Space. It’s About Leverage.

Your space reflects who you are — and who you’re becoming. The right office isn’t just square footage. It’s storytelling. It’s strategy. It’s how you retain people, win business, and accelerate momentum.

Don’t wait for your space to become a problem.

Let’s make it your advantage.

📩 Want to see how much better your next move can be? Let’s run a five-minute audit.