Updated: August 14, 2025
Expanding into a remote office can open the door to new markets, talent, and opportunities. But it only delivers results if it’s done right. From choosing the right location to setting up systems that keep your team connected, there’s a lot to consider before you open the doors.
This article gives you 7 steps for successfully setting up a remote office, with practical tips and tools to make the process smoother, faster, and more effective.
What a Remote Office Really Is (and Why It Matters)
A remote office is a separate location your business operates from—whether across the city, in a different region, or in another country—that still functions as part of your overall operation. It can be a permanent setup or a flexible arrangement that scales with your needs.
Many companies now use providers like Launch Workplaces to establish these offices quickly and cost-effectively. With fully equipped, professional work environments ready from day one, you can give your team a productive, polished place to work without committing to the costs and constraints of a long-term lease.
The right remote office does more than give you another address. It can open doors to new markets, bring fresh talent into your team, and give you the operational flexibility to adapt as business needs change.
Why Remote Offices Are Surging in Popularity
The momentum behind remote offices comes from a perfect storm of market shifts, employee expectations, and business strategy. Three forces in particular are fueling the change:
Flexibility is now the baseline: People want more control over where and how they work, and companies are offering it to stay competitive in hiring and retention.
Better focus, fewer distractions: A remote office can remove many of the interruptions that come with a central hub, while still keeping collaboration intentional and productive.
Recruitment without borders: Expanding your footprint means access to skilled candidates who might never relocate for a job.
Taken together, these factors have made remote offices one of the smartest ways for companies to adapt quickly, attract the right people, and keep operations lean without losing capability.
How Businesses Turn Remote Offices into an Advantage
While some companies treat a remote office as just “extra space,” others turn it into a competitive edge. The difference lies in how they approach it from the start.
Here’s what the most effective businesses do:
Set the rules of the game: Without clarity on goals, communication, and accountability, flexibility can turn into confusion fast.
Use location as a collaboration asset: Bring people together in person for big-picture planning, onboarding, and creative problem-solving, while keeping day-to-day tasks flowing remotely.
Offer choice as a hiring advantage: The option to work from a different location is now a powerful part of the total compensation package—and it doesn’t require raising salaries to compete.
When a remote office is built with strategy in mind, it stops being a nice-to-have and becomes a growth engine, helping you move faster, hire better, and keep your team aligned no matter where they are.
6 Advantages of a Remote Office
Before we dive into the how of setting up a remote office, let’s talk a bit about the why.
1. New Market Access
Having a remote office can provide your business with a strategic foothold in new markets, enabling you to expand your reach and tap into local opportunities without the need for a full-scale relocation.
By establishing a physical presence in different regions, your company might get the opportunity to:
- Build stronger connections with local clients
- Better understand market dynamics
- Leverage local resources
- Possibly capitalize on tax and regulatory benefits
- Tap into new talent pools
- Reinforce your brand presence in key regions
- Gain a competitive edge by localizing your services or products to meet specific market needs
2. Flexibility and Operational Agility
In the modern business world, change is a certainty, and maintaining operational agility is essential.
Having a remote office better allows your business to quickly adapt to changing market conditions, scaling up or down based on regional demand without being locked into long-term commitments.
3. Significant Cost Savings
Beyond safeguarding your operational agility, remote offices generally come with reduced operational costs when compared to traditional office leases.
Often situated in coworking spaces, remote offices can typically be opened and operated without the need for heavy investments in infrastructure, staffing, utilities, and maintenance.
4. Enhanced Work-life Balance for Employees
With remote work growing in popularity and viability, your office—remote or otherwise—needs to be a place where employees want to go, not just somewhere they’re forced to go.
Modern employees expect their employers to support their work-life balance, and remote offices can do just that.
With access to remote offices in various locations, your team can enjoy greater flexibility to balance their professional and personal lives, whether that means working closer to home or choosing a location that allows for easier family care or personal commitments.
5. Access to Amenities
As an extension of improving work-life balance, the amenities at your remote office are also massive contributors to employee wellness and their enjoyment of work.
When you open a remote office, particularly in a coworking space like Launch, your team can access amenities like fitness centers, fully-stocked kitchens, relaxation and meditation spaces, comfortable lounges, and outdoor areas.
This gives them the ability to work wherever and however suits them best throughout the workday—and to take breaks the way they want to as well.
6. Networking and Collaboration
If there’s one thing people lost when remote work came into play, it’s the vital social element that comes with working in an office.
While most people didn’t give it much thought pre-pandemic, those workplace interactions and “watercooler” chat were vital to our happiness at work.
When many people moved to a home office environment, the first thing they realized was that isolation and loneliness became catalysts for unhappiness.
By offering your team a remote office, you’re also giving the opportunity to network, socialize, and collababorate—whether it’s with their colleagues or people they meet in the building.
Coworking spaces like Launch Workplaces even provide social events for all to attend where they can learn, connect, and grow.
Suffice it to say that providing the opportunity for social interaction creates a personally and professionally enriching workplace experience for your team.
7 Steps for Successfully Opening Your Remote Office
If you’re thinking about opening a remote office but don’t know where to start, here are seven high-level steps you’ll need to consider in the process.
1. Plan First
Like any major business decision, setting up a remote office should start with a clear plan. Take time to assess your business goals—both short-term and long-term—and determine if a remote office aligns with them.
Ask yourself, “What benefits could a remote office bring to our business?” and, conversely, “Can our business continue to succeed without one?” These questions will guide the next steps in the process and help shape your plan.
2. Brainstorm Your Ideal Work Environment
Before you move forward, think about the type of work environment that would best support your remote team. Would a traditional office setup with cubicles work best, or would an open, flexible space be more conducive to collaboration and productivity?
Gather input from your team and discuss their preferences. While you may not be able to meet every request, understanding their needs will help you create a workspace that fosters success.
3. Focus on Design
Design is more than just aesthetics; it plays a vital role in productivity. The right design elements can motivate your team and shape how clients perceive your business.
From mobile furniture to lighting, multipurpose workstations, and color schemes, every detail contributes to creating an environment where your team can focus and excel.
At Launch Workplaces, we emphasize thoughtful design that enhances both employee well-being and the professional image of your business.
4. Make Accessibility A Priority
When selecting a location for your remote office, accessibility is key. Consider how easy it will be for employees to commute, whether by car or public transportation and how simple it will be for clients and visitors to reach your office.
During the planning stage, scout locations that offer a range of accessibility options to accommodate everyone involved.
5. Invest In The Right Tools
Ensuring your remote team has the necessary tools to perform efficiently is essential.
High-speed internet, computers, printers, and collaborative tech solutions like whiteboards and video conferencing are just a few of the tools that will keep your remote office connected to your main location.
Without these essential tools, productivity could falter, and communication between offices may become challenging.
6. Provide the Amenities That Matter to Your Team
A successful remote office requires more than just functional tools and a good layout. Your team also needs access to amenities that support their well-being and performance.
Don’t just make assumptions—ask your team what kind of amenities would make a positive impact on their workdays, and look for a remote office location that offers them.
7. Choose a Location That Works for Your Team
The right location is essential for any remote office. It’s not just about finding a spot that’s convenient for your team, but also about selecting a place that offers them more than just a desk.
Consider what’s nearby—restaurants, parks, and public transport—that can improve work-life balance and make the workday more enjoyable for everyone.
A vibrant, well-situated office can contribute to higher morale, better productivity, and an overall positive team culture.
At Launch, we’ve already made this easy for you with nine locations throughout Maryland, Ohio, and Washington, DC.
Bethesda
Just steps from the Metro Red Line, our Bethesda location offers thoughtfully designed workspaces in a vibrant neighborhood filled with dining, shopping, and community energy. Amenities include on-site parking, large conference rooms, a fitness center with Peloton bikes, and a variety of office sizes to suit your team.
Gaithersburg
Located in the lively Rio Washingtonian Center, this Launch Workplaces location puts you near lakeside paths, retail shops, and over 50 restaurants. With easy access to I-270, free parking, and a modern interior, it’s an ideal space for growing teams who want convenience without compromising on style.
Rockville
Nestled in the Park Potomac community, our Rockville offices offer a polished suburban setting with LEED-certified design, flexible floor plans, and easy walkability to fitness studios, cafes, and retail. It’s a great fit for businesses that value sustainability, accessibility, and a professional atmosphere.
Alexandria
Situated steps from the Eisenhower Metro in Carlyle Tower, this new location offers 74 private offices, 9 meeting rooms, and a full fitness center. With easy access to I‑495 and Route 1, it’s ideal for Northern Virginia teams seeking flexibility, convenience, and modern amenities.
DuPont
Launch at DuPont offers unparalleled workspace options for the urban professional. Only a 5-minute walk from the Dupont Circle Metro and a plethora of restaurants to choose from, Launch Workplaces at DuPont offers all-inclusive pricing, customizable offices, and great amenities so you can upgrade your workdays in the nation’s capital.
Glover Park
This DC location brings a neighborhood feel to professional office life. Set in a walkable part of Wisconsin Avenue, it offers secure entry, private and coworking spaces, and proximity to Georgetown. The result: a quiet, focused environment with charm and convenience.
The Stacks
Opening Summer 2025, Launch Workplaces will be situated in The Stacks at Buzzard Point, offering modern office space, on-demand meeting rooms, and a community gym in DC’s fastest-evolving neighborhood.
Watergate
For those looking for a unique office address, the Watergate delivers. Enjoy views of the Potomac, access to hotel amenities, and the prestige of working in one of DC’s most storied buildings—alongside all the modern features your team needs.
Navy Yard
In one of DC’s fastest-growing areas, our Navy Yard location offers floor-to-ceiling windows, a rooftop terrace, an on-site fitness center, and close proximity to Nationals Park. This space was built for modern teams looking for energy, convenience, and scalability.
What Makes the Best Remote Office Setup?
You want a setup that lifts performance, protects people, and grows with the business. The best remote offices are intentional from day one. They pair the right space with the right systems, then leave room to scale. Flexible providers like Launch Workplaces make this simple by delivering professional, fully equipped environments without long-term leases, so you can focus on execution instead of facilities.
Ergonomic Workspaces & Health
Start with the body. Productivity drops fast when workstations fight the way people sit, see, and move. Prioritize these essentials:
An adjustable chair with firm lumbar support and a seat height that keeps feet flat and knees at roughly 90 degrees
A desk height that lets elbows rest near 90 degrees, with the keyboard and mouse close to the body
Screens at eye level and an external keyboard/mouse for laptop users to avoid forward head posture
Task lighting that reduces glare and eye strain, plus controllable ambient light
Movement baked into the day: micro-breaks every 30 minutes, brief walks each hour, and the 20-20-20 rule for eyes
Acoustic comfort through soft finishes, panels, or phone booths to cut fatigue from noise
Comfortable air quality and temperature that stay consistent throughout the day
When ergonomics are right, people last longer at high concentration, injuries drop, and energy holds up into the afternoon. That is a direct gain in output, not a nice-to-have perk.
Reliable Internet & Secure Connections
Next, make speed and security boringly reliable. If your connection falters, everything else grinds. Build on this foundation:
Business-grade bandwidth with strong upload speeds for video calls and large file syncs
Redundancy through a secondary line or 5G failover, so a single outage never stops the team
Professional routing gear with QoS to keep calls and screen shares crisp during heavy use
Secure Wi-Fi with modern encryption, segmented guest networks, and unique credentials
Company-approved VPN with multi-factor authentication for access to internal systems
Managed devices with enforced updates, disk encryption, and remote wipe capability
Regular patching, endpoint protection, and automated backups tested on a schedule
With dependable bandwidth and tight security, collaboration feels seamless, trust in your systems grows, and downtime stops stealing margins.
Scalability and Flexibility
Finally, design for change. Headcount shifts, project teams form and dissolve, and real estate should keep up. Look for these signals that your setup can flex:
Modular furniture, mobile displays, and standardized desk kits that reconfigure in minutes
Bookable rooms, phone booths, and hot desks that expand capacity without adding leases
Short, flexible terms that let you add or reduce space as demand moves
A consistent “office in a box” kit: network, access control, visitor management, and AV that deploy the same way every time
Clear playbooks for opening a new location, onboarding local staff, and rolling out policies
Vendors that can scale across markets so billing, support, and service levels stay consistent
When scalability is baked in, space stops being a constraint. You can pilot a new market, spin up a project team, or double capacity without a reset of your real estate strategy.
Explore Remote Office Solutions at Launch Workplaces
Whether you need a private workspace or dedicated desks or coworking space for your remote office, you’ll find it at Launch, and all memberships include:
- 24/7 access for convenience
- Networking events to connect with other professionals
- Mail services and secure package handling
- Comfortable furnishings with ergonomic seating
- High-speed internet and professional-grade printing/scanning
- Meeting and conference rooms with video conferencing equipment
- Daily cleaning services to maintain a tidy workspace
- Fully stocked kitchens with free coffee, tea, and snacks
- Breakout areas for collaboration or a change of scenery
- Private phone rooms for sound-masked calls
- Wellness initiatives such as yoga, massages, and wellness seminars
- Philanthropic activities through the “Launch Into Good Works” program
- Top-tier locations
With Launch Workplaces, you can set up a professional, well-appointed remote office in days rather than the months it may take with a traditional lease.
Ready to get started? Book a tour of your local Launch Workplaces today.
