Flexibility against control: how to run the five-year math before you sign anything.
Leasing buys you flexibility; buying buys you control. The right answer depends on headcount volatility, capital reserves, and how much you care about choosing the coffee machine yourself.
Leasing wins when your team doubles or halves year to year, when you want serviced amenities on one invoice, and when capital belongs in the product. Buying wins when you are sure about the neighborhood for a decade, want the asset on the balance sheet, and can carry maintenance risk.
Run both scenarios over five years with real numbers: rent escalations against mortgage, tax, maintenance, and the opportunity cost of the down payment. Most teams under fifty seats find flexible space 20 to 40 percent cheaper once management overhead is counted honestly.
