Comparing Coworking Spaces and Traditional Offices for Teams Under 8: Which is the Optimal Choice?

Vân Trần
Sep 17, 2025
4 min read

In today’s booming startup era, more and more small businesses and young founders are searching for a workspace that balances budget and professionalism.

The two most popular options are traditional offices and coworking spaces. A traditional office offers privacy and stability, while coworking spaces stand out for their cost-effectiveness, flexible contracts, and vibrant communities. But which solution truly makes sense for a team under 8 people, especially in dynamic districts like Binh Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City?

This article will break down the details, compare pros and cons, and provide insights to help you make the right decision.

1. Why Do Small Startups Struggle to Choose an Office?

When starting a business, the office issue often gives founders a headache. A startup team under 8 people doesn’t need a huge space, but they do need professionalism to focus, meet clients, and build the company image.

At this stage, two main options emerge:

Traditional office: renting a space or small room, self-furnishing, managing internet, utilities, and operations.

Coworking space: renting desks or small rooms in a shared workspace with all-inclusive costs.

So which one is better for a small startup in Ho Chi Minh City, especially in central areas like Binh Thanh? Let’s break it down.

2. Traditional Offices for Small Teams: Pros & Cons

2.1. Advantages

High privacy: Your startup has full control over the space, without sharing.
Freedom in design: You can furnish and decorate according to your brand style.
Long-term stability: 1–3 year contracts secure your location without worrying about moving.

2.2. Disadvantages

High costs:
- Rent: 12–20 million VND/month for small spaces.
- Utilities (electricity, water, internet): 3–5 million.
- Maintenance & cleaning: 2–3 million.
- Total: ~18–25 million VND/month for just 5–6 people.
Rigid contracts: Hard to scale up or down as your startup changes.
Time-consuming management: Founders must handle cleaning, repairs, and admin tasks unrelated to business.
Lack of community: Working alone can feel isolating, with limited networking opportunities.

3. Coworking Spaces for Small Teams: Pros & Cons

3.1. Advantages

Cost-effective:
- Dedicated desks: 1.5–2 million VND/person/month.
- A 6-person team: ~9–12 million VND/month → nearly 50% cheaper than a private office.
- Long-term contracts (6–12 months) offer 15–20% discounts.
All-inclusive amenities: High-speed wifi, electricity, water, cleaning, printers, pantry, meeting rooms… all covered.
Flexible contracts: Rent monthly, 6 months, or 1 year.
Dynamic community: Network with other startups, freelancers, and young entrepreneurs.
Zero office admin hassle: Teams focus 100% on work instead of office management.

3.2. Disadvantages

Limited customization: You can’t fully design the space like a private office.
Moderate privacy: Shared environments may not suit startups with strict confidentiality needs.
Shared facilities: Areas like meeting rooms and pantry require booking in advance.

4. Detailed Comparison: Traditional Office vs. Coworking Space

Criteria	Traditional Office	Coworking Space
Cost	High (18–25m VND/month for 6 people)	Optimized (9–15m VND/month for 6 people)
Contract	1–3 years, rigid	Flexible: monthly, 6 months, 1 year
Amenities	Self-managed utilities, internet, upkeep	All included in rental fee
Management	Founder handles everything	Provider handles it all
Networking	Almost none	High, many collaboration opportunities
Space	Full privacy	Shared, with small private rooms available
Scalability	Difficult, costly	Easy, add more desks as needed

👉 From a practical standpoint, coworking spaces clearly win on cost, flexibility, and community—key factors for small startups.

5. Real Cost Analysis: 6-Person Team

Traditional office:

Rent: 15m VND/month
Utilities: 4m
Maintenance: 2m
Furniture & equipment (averaged): 3m
Total: ~24m VND/month (~4m per person)

Coworking space:

Dedicated desk: 1.8m/person/month
Team of 6: 10.8m VND/month
Amenities: included
Total: ~10.8m VND/month (~1.8m per person)

👉 The startup saves ~13m VND/month, or 156m/year—enough to fund marketing campaigns or hire an extra employee.

6. Case Study: A Startup Moving from Private Office to Coworking

A 7-member marketing startup rented a small office in Binh Thanh for 18m/month. But hidden costs (utilities, maintenance) raised the total to 23m. The founder realized they were spending too much time and money on office admin instead of clients.

They switched to Pigeon Spaces with a 1-year contract:

Costs dropped to 12m/month.
They had access to private meeting rooms for client visits.
Thanks to coworking, they connected with 2 freelance designers and 1 tech startup, becoming long-term partners.

After a year, the company grew revenue by 30% while keeping office costs stable.

7. Who Benefits Most from Coworking Spaces?

Startups <8 people: Save costs while maintaining professionalism.
Young founders: Focus entirely on product development instead of office chores.
Small foreign businesses: Affordable representative office in Vietnam.
Freelancer teams: Shared desks foster collaboration and project management.

8. Pigeon Spaces – The Optimal Coworking Solution in Binh Thanh

Among countless coworking spaces in Ho Chi Minh City, Pigeon Spaces stands out with:

Discounted long-term plans: 6-12 month contracts save 15–20%.
Flexible layouts: From freelancer desks to private rooms for 4–8 people.
Full amenities: High-speed wifi, modern meeting rooms, pantry, printers, reception.
Vibrant community: Connect with startups, freelancers, and young businesses.

9. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Do you offer short-term rentals? Yes, daily, weekly, or monthly.
Are utilities included? Yes, electricity, water, and internet are all included.
Can startups rent private rooms? Yes, small rooms for teams of 4–8.
Is it suitable for client meetings? Absolutely, with modern meeting rooms.
Is there parking available? Yes, on-site or nearby parking lots.
Do you offer reception services? Yes, guest reception and mail handling.
Can we expand as our team grows? Yes, easily add more desks.
Are there long-term discounts? Yes, 6–12 month packages are the most cost-effective.

10. Conclusion

For startups under 8 people, choosing the right office is more than just about desks—it impacts:

Operating costs.
Work efficiency.
Brand image with clients.

From a real-world comparison:

Traditional offices: costly, rigid, and isolating.
Coworking spaces in Binh Thanh: affordable, flexible, and community-driven.

👉 That’s why coworking is the optimal choice for small startups—and Pigeon Spaces is one of the best options in Binh Thanh, offering competitive long-term rates.

🚀 Are you a startup under 8 people looking for an office?