A Conversation with CEO Nick Riesel

Founded in 2002, FreeOfficeFinder is an innovative, comprehensive service that helps businesses find and rent the perfect office space at no cost.

As one of the leaders in the flexible private office space market, the company has grown alongside the industry, which It is expected to reach US$2.84 billion by 2029. In the UK alone. FreeOfficeFinder has been at the forefront of this growth, meeting the demand for adaptable, managed and serviced office space across London and the UK.

The company’s mission is to provide businesses with a wide range of office options without the burden of expensive transfer fees, a common practice among other agents. What started with a modest database of just two buildings has grown to a portfolio of over 2,700 properties managed by over 1,000 owners. This growth reflects FreeOfficeFinder’s unwavering commitment to providing a wide range of office solutions that meet the diverse needs of clients, from small startups to large corporations.

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

The FreeOfficeFinder team operates in a hybrid working environment, splitting their time between a fully-equipped office in Farrington, London, and remote working. This experience underscores the importance of a collaborative office environment – ​​the perspective they bring to the clients they serve.

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

What is the inspiration behind FreeOfficeFinder?

Eventually, I saw a gap in the market and decided to exploit it. I was working in residential real estate, and I saw an opportunity to fix a problem that a lot of people were facing. As I talked to people, it became clear to me that traditional methods of finding office space were overly complicated and outdated, often involving high costs in the form of agency fees and a lack of transparency.

The vision was to create a service that not only connected customers to the right office space, but also offered a seamless process in one place. And so, FreeOfficeFinder was born.

By leveraging a model where landlords pay us for successful listings, we are able to make the service completely free for clients, meaning businesses can focus on what they do best without the added financial burden and complexity of finding an office. The term FreeOfficeFinder reflects our offering in 2002, and it remains so today.

Who do you admire?

Jeff Bezos stands out to me. His journey with Amazon, transforming it from an online bookstore into a global marketplace that sells almost anything, quickly and easily, is a fascinating story of strategic transformation. His ability to anticipate the potential of the internet and adapt his business model to it has not only revolutionized e-commerce, but has also made him one of the richest people in the world. By remaining creative and customer-focused, Bezos has demonstrated incredible entrepreneurial versatility.

I also admire Richard Branson’s incredible ability to create a brand that has spanned many different markets and industries for over fifty years. His ability to make his brand successful in so many sectors is remarkable.

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

Honestly? I can’t count how much I’ve learned! I’ve learned a lot that would have been invaluable in the early days of the business. But I think having a mentor at the beginning would have really helped me.

Reaching out to someone with similar entrepreneurial experiences could have helped us accelerate our growth and improve our decision-making processes. Over the past two decades, the learning curve has been steep, with new insights being gained every week. A mentor could have provided guidance and wisdom that would have led to milestones being achieved faster and perhaps with fewer obstacles as well. There were so many questions I wish I could have asked. I hope that in the future I can offer the kind of mentorship to others that I now know has been so helpful to me.

What defines your approach to business?

The way FreeOfficeFinder runs its business is built on principles that may seem trite but are fundamentally sound: providing good service and dealing fairly with everyone involved – employees, customers and suppliers.

We work to foster a positive work environment and build long-term relationships. When people want to work with you and enjoy their work, it reduces the time and resources spent replacing employees or negotiating with dissatisfied customers. Instead, your time can be better spent growing the business and improving our service offerings.

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out?

I think the key piece of advice here is to try to value criticism over praise. While it may seem difficult, understanding the weaknesses of your service or product is crucial. Constructive criticism means you have actionable insights that, when handled correctly, can dramatically improve the quality and appeal of your offering. Accepting feedback with a growth mindset can genuinely turn challenges into opportunities.

And of course, as I mentioned before, you should get a mentor if you can. Having a mentor means you learn from someone who has been through the ups and downs and can share their wisdom to help you avoid mistakes and make smart choices. Mentors help you build confidence, refine your plan, and introduce you to important people. Judge the success of an idea by who came up with it.