A conversation with CEO Nick Riesel

FreeOfficeFinder, founded in 2002, is an innovative and comprehensive service that helps companies find and rent their ideal office space free of charge.

As one of the pioneers in the private, flexible office space market, the company has grown with the industry is expected to reach $2.84 billion by 2029 in Great Britain alone. FreeOfficeFinder is at the forefront of this growth, meeting the demand for adaptable, managed and maintained office spaces in London and the UK.

The company’s mission is to provide businesses with a wide range of office options without the burden of high moving costs, a common practice among other brokerages. What started with a modest database of just two buildings has grown into a portfolio of more than 2,700 properties, managed by more than 1,000 landlords. This growth reflects FreeOfficeFinder’s continued commitment to offering a wide range of office solutions that meet the diverse needs of customers, from small startups to large corporations.

To date, FreeOfficeFinder has helped more than 50,000 organizations secure their perfect flexible office spaces, a testament to the trust companies place in their services. The company’s commitment to quality and industry standards is further highlighted by its membership in The Flexible Space Association since 2009.

The FreeOfficeFinder team works with a hybrid working setup, splitting their time between a serviced office in Farringdon, London, and remote working. This experience underlines the importance of a collaborative office environment; a perspective they offer to the customers they serve.

Here, FreeOfficeFinder CEO Nick Riesel shares insights into the inspiration behind the company, the lessons learned over the years, and the principles that shape their approach to business.

What was the inspiration behind FreeOfficeFinder?

Ultimately, I saw a gap in the market and went for it. I was working in the housing industry and saw an opportunity to solve a problem that was affecting so many people. As I spoke to people, it became clear that traditional methods of finding office space were too complicated and outdated, and often came with high costs in the form of broker fees and a lack of transparency.

The vision was to create a service that not only connected customers to suitable office spaces, but also offered a seamless one-stop-shop process. Thus, FreeOfficeFinder was born.

By using the model where landlords pay us for successful launches, we can keep the service completely free for customers, meaning businesses can focus on what they do best, without the added financial burden and complexity of searching for offices. The term FreeOfficeFinder reflected our offering in 2002, and continues to do so today.

Who do you admire?

Jeff Bezos stands out for me. His journey with Amazon, transforming it from an online bookstore to a global marketplace where virtually anything is sold quickly and easily, is a remarkable story of strategic shifting. His ability to foresee the potential of the Internet and adapt his business model accordingly has not only revolutionized e-commerce, but also made him one of the richest people in the world. By remaining innovative and customer-focused, he has demonstrated incredible entrepreneurial versatility.

I also admire Richard Branson for his amazing ability to create a brand that has spanned so many different markets and industries for over 50 years. His talent for making his brand a success in so many sectors is remarkable.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?

Honestly? Too many to count! I learned so much that would have been invaluable in the early days of the company. But most of all, I think having a mentor would have really helped in the beginning.

If we had access to someone with similar entrepreneurial experiences, our growth could have really been accelerated and our decision-making processes improved. The learning curve has been steep over the past twenty years, with new insights being gained every week. A mentor could have provided guidance and wisdom, allowing milestones to be achieved much more quickly and likely with fewer obstacles. There were so many questions I would have liked to ask. I hope that in the future I can provide others with the kind of mentorship that I now know has been so helpful to me.

What defines your way of doing business?

The way FreeOfficeFinder does business is based on principles that may seem cliché, but are fundamentally sound: providing good service and being fair to everyone involved: staff, customers and suppliers.

We’re all about fostering a positive work environment and building long-lasting relationships. When people want to work with you and enjoy their work, the time and resources spent replacing staff or negotiating with dissatisfied customers are minimized. Instead, you’re better off investing your time in growing the company and continually improving its service offerings.

What advice would you give to someone starting out?

I think an important piece of advice is to try to put criticism before praise. As difficult as it sounds, understanding the weaknesses in your service or product is crucial. Constructive criticism means you have actionable insights that, if addressed properly, can significantly improve the quality and appeal of what you offer. Embracing feedback with a growth mindset can truly turn challenges into opportunities.

And of course, as I said before, find a mentor if you can. Having a mentor means you learn from someone who has been through ups and downs and who can share his/her wisdom to help you avoid mistakes and make smart choices. Mentors help you build confidence, hone your game plan, and introduce you to important people. Value the success of an idea over whose idea it was.