Flexible office spaces are increasingly appealing to businesses seeking professional work environments without the long-term commitments and overhead of traditional commercial leases. For mid-market teams looking to grow or adapt quickly, choosing the right flexible workspace provider is crucial. Strive Workspaces, Industrious, and Spaces each offer solutions designed to meet these needs, but their approaches to operations, workplace experience, and office offerings differ significantly. The best choice depends on your company’s priorities, team size, budget, and the kind of working environment you want to foster.
This article provides a practical comparison of these three brands to help growing teams make an informed decision about their next workspace.
Meet the Three Flexible Office Brands
Strive Workspaces — Flexible Offices with a Hands-On Approach
Strive Workspaces is independently operated, with a management team directly involved in the day-to-day operations of its locations. It focuses on providing professional workspaces, private offices, coworking spaces, and flexible solutions that cater to a range of business needs. With over 1,200 members, Strive aims to create a vibrant community. Strive emphasizes building strong relationships with members and property owners, making it a great option for companies that value personal service, shared resources, and networking with like-minded professionals in a locally connected workplace experience. It also supports a collaborative environment by hosting events designed for member collective success.
Industrious — Hospitality-Focused Flexible Coworking Spaces
Industrious is known for its hospitality-driven approach to flexible office space, offering professional environments that emphasize service, design, and workplace experience. This brand appeals to businesses prioritizing a polished, hospitality-oriented office environment, with boutique hospitality-infused interior design and private glass-walled offices and suites, plus access to a broad network of locations across the U.S. and internationally.
Industrious commonly offers flexible terms such as month-to-month memberships, along with high-speed Wi-Fi and managed services.
Its innovative spaces also include regular community events for networking and a supportive setting that can encourage skill growth and career advancement.
Spaces — Flexible Offices with a Global Network
Part of IWG’s extensive flexible workspace portfolio, Spaces offers coworking, private offices, and meeting spaces across a large international network. It is ideal for businesses seeking geographic reach and workspace access in multiple markets worldwide.
Strive vs. Industrious vs. Spaces: At a Glance
| Category | Strive Workspaces | Industrious | Spaces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand approach | Hands-on, locally focused operations | Hospitality-focused experience | Network-oriented flexible workspace |
| Geographic reach | Select U.S. markets | Broad U.S. and international presence | Extensive global network |
| Private offices | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Team office solutions | Location-dependent | Location-dependent | Location-dependent |
| Coworking options | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Meeting rooms | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Management experience | Direct, relationship-driven | Service and hospitality-focused | Standardized network with local teams |
| Best potential fit | Teams seeking flexibility and personalized support | Teams prioritizing hospitality and workplace experience | Teams prioritizing broad geographic access |
This table highlights the core differences to help you quickly identify which brand aligns best with your team’s needs.
What Matters Most When Choosing Flexible Office Space for a Growing Team?
Flexibility as Your Business Changes
Growing businesses often need to expand, downsize, or adjust their workspace over time. Membership terms and office configurations are critical factors to consider, and access expectations may also include 24/7 access for members, depending on the provider and plan. Strive Workspaces offers flexible options, including month-to-month arrangements where available, and a coworking membership may be the best fit for teams that want to scale without long-term commitments. It’s important to review contract terms carefully, as flexibility varies across providers.
Finding the Right Private Offices, Size, and Layout
A workspace should support collaboration, privacy, and daily productivity. Access to flexible seating or reserved desks for a consistent workspace, plus private offices, team suites, and conference rooms, is essential, and meeting rooms are available for booking by the hour. Some spaces also include phone booths for added privacy alongside conference rooms. Strive’s hands-on approach allows it to work directly with businesses to explore available office configurations and ensure the space fits your team’s needs.
The Value of Responsive, On-Site Support
Reliable support is vital when your business depends on its office every day. Communication, responsiveness, and strong relationships with on-site teams can make a significant difference. Strive’s operating model involves direct involvement with members, fostering a supportive and responsive environment without diminishing the quality of service offered by other providers.
Understanding the Total Cost of an Office
Beyond advertised pricing, consider furniture, utilities, internet access, meeting room access, parking, mail and packaging services, and complimentary refreshments. Comparing what’s included in each office agreement, including whether you get fast secure wi fi, helps avoid unexpected expenses. Some coworking memberships also include unlimited color printing, which can meaningfully reduce day-to-day overhead. Flexible office memberships can simplify budgeting by bundling many services, but it’s important to assess each provider’s offerings carefully.
Why Growing Teams May Prefer Strive Workspaces
A More Personal Approach to Workspace Management
Strive’s leadership and operating teams are directly involved in the business, working closely with property owners to understand and optimize how its spaces operate. This hands-on approach enhances communication and responsiveness, providing a more personalized experience. For teams comparing Strive with hospitality-led operators like Industrious, Industrious puts more emphasis on resource optimization and operational efficiency, while Strive’s practical advantage is that direct involvement.
Flexible Solutions for Businesses at Different Stages
Strive’s options cater to different stages, from individuals to growing teams, with coworking for solo professionals and small teams plus private offices and larger team suites at select locations. Dedicated desks give you a consistent workspace before moving into private offices and larger suites. Membership plans accommodate changing business needs, so joining can feel like becoming part of a flexible workplace setup that changes with your business.
Local Connections, Professional Workspaces
Strive’s locations integrate into their neighborhoods and business communities, offering local relationships, an approachable on-site team, and a welcoming community that helps members feel connected. This creates a professional workspace that feels welcoming rather than impersonal. These spaces also promote collaboration, creativity, and a more connected workday, including through hosting events.
Explore Flexible Office Space at Strive Workspaces to find the perfect space for your team.
Which Flexible Office Brand Is Right for Your Team?
Choose Strive Workspaces if:
- You want a professional private office with flexible options.
- You value direct relationships with the people managing your workspace.
- You’re looking for a team-oriented environment with a local feel.
- You prefer a more personalized approach to finding and managing your office space.
Consider Industrious if:
- A hospitality-focused workplace experience is a top priority.
- You value a polished, service-oriented environment.
- Your team wants access to locations in markets served by Industrious.
Consider Spaces if:
- Your business prioritizes a large international workspace network.
- You need access to flexible workspace across numerous cities.
- Geographic coverage is one of your primary decision factors.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Flexible Office Provider
- What membership terms are available?
- Can our office space accommodate future growth?
- Which inclusions come with the price, such as internet, printing, refreshments, or mail handling?
- How are maintenance and member requests handled?
- Is there on-site staff available during business hours?
- What meeting room access is included?
- Can we book a tour and learn more before committing?
- Can meeting rooms or event space be booked as needed for workshops?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Strive Workspaces and Industrious?
Strive Workspaces offers a hands-on, locally focused management approach with direct involvement in its locations, while Industrious emphasizes a hospitality-driven experience with a broader network of locations. It also leans more heavily into private glass-walled offices, managed services, and regular collaborative community events for networking.
Is Strive Workspaces a good alternative to Spaces?
Strive may appeal more to teams that prioritize personalized service and local office relationships over the extensive international network offered by Spaces.
Which flexible office provider is best for small and mid-sized teams?
The best provider depends on your team size, location, budget, and specific office needs. Smaller teams may prefer providers with flexible coworking membership options and only need to bring the basics for day-to-day work, while mid-sized teams may focus more on office layout, meeting access, and community. Each brand offers options that can suit different priorities.
Are flexible offices better than traditional office leases for growing businesses?
Flexible offices offer benefits such as furnished spaces, predictable costs, and adaptable terms, which can be advantageous for growing businesses compared to traditional leases with long commitments.
Can growing businesses rent multiple offices or team suites at Strive Workspaces?
Yes, depending on location, Strive offers options for multiple offices or team suites. You can visit or book a tour at your preferred location to confirm availability and layout options. It’s best to inquire directly about availability.
Find the Right Flexible Office for Your Team and Book a Tour
Strive Workspaces, Industrious, and Spaces each provide legitimate flexible office solutions tailored to different business needs. The best choice depends on what your business values most—whether that’s hands-on management, hospitality-focused environments, or broad geographic reach. Book a tour to visit a Strive location and learn which workspace best fits your team.
Find Your Team’s Next Office at Strive Workspaces.