There’s an expression in business: you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. Getting your message across involves ticking many boxes but whether you’re a recruiter or a high-powered executive there’s one fundamental; location, location, location.

The right office in the right place and, crucially, at the right price.

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Shelling out for new headquarters in a city like Stockholm can cost a fortune. That's simply not an option for start-ups whose resources are limited – or for business travellers who only need the space occasionally. However, the emergence of Regus onto the Swedish flexible workspace market provides a simple and flexible solution.

“I started my own firm last year and needed a central office with lots of space. In Stockholm that is difficult to find at a reasonable price, especially if you are a small company. For my line of work I need a proper meeting room with good facilities so I can meet my clients in the right environment. Regus provides that,” Johan Smith, founder of APTA, tells The Local.

Smith’s company APTA is a business oriented and client focused executive search firm. As such the prospect of conducting his meetings in a coffee shop simply doesn’t cut it.

Instead, he’s been using the Regus workspace in the central Östermalmstorg square of Stockholm. And he’s not alone. Several other well-established startups share the same building and the same is true of the other Regus locations in Solna and Gothenburg.

Flexibility in the workforce is more than ever of paramount importance. While more and more people are working from home, for many entrepreneurs having a professional workplace remains a necessity.

But the types of offices are changing. In the past it was a laser fax machine that turned heads, now there is the prospect of having your own virtual office complete with business address and local contact phone number.

In Sweden the demand for office space, whether it’s virtual, leased or permanent, has coincided with the upsurge in the number of startup companies getting off the ground.

The approach taken by Regus in offering services such as a part-time or short-term office contracts has been favourably received by the Swedish business community.

“Our feedback from clients is that this is the right time for this type of model as a lot of companies need to be flexible and have offices in which they can grow,” Patrik Ölvebäck, Area Director of Regus Sweden, tells The Local.

Companies such as APTA run by Johan Smith. While he carries out most of his meetings in Stockholm he recently availed of the option to use a Regus workspace in Berlin.

Regus, which was founded in 1989, has grown rapidly and has over 2,000 business centres in 750 cities around the world.

Click for your free pass to any Regus business lounge in Sweden

Clients are able to work on the move by plugging into a Regus mobile office when they are on the road, whether they are in Stockholm, London or New York.

In addition to the facilities provided by Regus, such as meeting rooms, board rooms and video-communication, the opportunity to adapt your costs to suit your real needs is a major plus for business owners.

“For a company like mine, which is growing organically, having flexible office options is more favourable. This way with Regus you can start on your own and expand as you need to, without being locked into a long contract that doesn’t suit your needs,” says Smith.

He adds; “Many companies which are now fairly well-established started using Regus workspace. For my business having an office in central Stockholm is essential and shows that you are professional. I’d imagine that in future more companies will use this type of office, as in a lot of cases it is one or two people with a laptop and phone.”

Regus presently has 10 office locations in Stockholm, Solna and in Gothenburg in western Sweden. Rates begin from 119 kronor a month to work on the move at one of its 2000 business lounges located around the world.

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Information about Regus workspace centres in Sweden (in English)

This article was produced by The Local and sponsored by Regus