Compass Offices provides fully serviced shared office solutions and shared workspaces in Hong Kong and other Asian cities. We chat with three HK-based businesspeople who use Compass’s physical spaces to satisfy a range of different company needs.
#1 Compass Offices client – Marcus
Nationality: Singaporean
Years in Hong Kong: 4
Give us a snapshot of your business.
We are a digital wealth management and financial technology platform originally established in Singapore that expanded into Hong Kong three years ago. Our goal is to leverage proprietary technology to make transparent, institutional-quality investing accessible to everyday professionals, expats and high-net-worth investors.
When did you start using Compass Offices?
Our core staff initially operated between hot-desks and shared interim suites while traveling back and forth from our Singapore headquarters. When we were moving from our market entry and licensing phase into rapid commercial scaling, we required a dedicated, secure corporate footprint – a fully compliant operational base in the financial core where we could onboard clients and host partners with total confidence.
We opted for a dedicated private serviced office suite at Compass Offices 9 Queen’s Road Central, alongside ongoing access to their client meeting rooms, boardrooms, and shared lounge amenities.
Why did you choose Compass?
In financial services, convenience and presentation are paramount. 9 Queen’s Road Central is a prestigious landmark address in the absolute heart of Central, surrounded by major financial institutions and moments from Central MTR station, making it effortless for our team to commute and for clients to visit. A standalone commercial lease would have tied up substantial capital in deposits and long-term fit-outs while lacking agility. Furthermore, unlike many modern coworking spaces that feel overly casual or bustling, Compass offered a warm, welcoming, and refined corporate environment that aligns with our brand.
Which aspects of your workspace have made the biggest difference to your day-to-day operations?
The seamless operational management. The space is meticulously organized, meaning our 11-person team never has to troubleshoot facilities, manage cleaning contractors, or worry about shared office logistics. We can focus 100 percent of our energy on client portfolio strategy and business development. Additionally, the community environment has been a great asset. Casual interactions in the pantry and lounge have opened doors to valuable discussions with other established founders and professionals.
What interactions have you had with the Compass Offices team?
The on-site team is exceptional. They act as a direct extension of our front desk: greeting arriving investors professionally, seating them comfortably in the lounge, and notifying our team immediately. Beyond daily administration, we have collaborated with Compass on joint community initiatives, including hosting a roadshow series across multiple Compass locations in Hong Kong to introduce our investment solutions and extend exclusive benefits to tenant members. They operate as an active business partner rather than a passive landlord.
How do you see your office requirements evolving?
We are rolling out expanded discretionary portfolios and institutional advisory desks across Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. As our head count grows, we plan to scale our footprint within Compass without the friction or capital expense of relocating.
Any advice for small business owners considering a flexible or serviced office space?
Look beyond the price per square foot and evaluate the total operational support. Time spent dealing with tenancy agreements, Wi-Fi outages and facility maintenance is time taken away from client acquisition. Having a reliable team and a prime Central address gives you immediate credibility while keeping your business agile.
#2 Compass Offices client – Alistair
Nationality: British
Years in Hong Kong: 8
Give us a snapshot of your business.
I’m the founder of a boutique tax and cross-border advisory firm. We specialise in Hong Kong and international taxation, estate structuring and cross-border planning for overseas investors, expats and foreign entities operating through Hong Kong. I launched the firm five years ago after noticing that multinational entrepreneurs and private clients were underserved by rigid, traditional accountancy giants and needed direct, agile, partner-led counsel.
When did you start using Compass Offices?
I was launching the firm from scratch as an independent practice. We needed immediate credibility, a registered Hong Kong business address, and an executive setting where we could conduct board-level meetings for international clients establishing their regional presence.
We started four years ago with Compass, with a private four-desk office at Admiralty Centre Tower 1. As our client volume expanded, we smoothly transitioned into our current six-desk private suite. We also frequently book their boardrooms for overseas client meetings and utilise Compass’s business presence and registered address solutions for client entities.
Why did you choose Compass?
Admiralty Centre Tower 1 sits directly above the Admiralty MTR interchange, giving our team and overseas clients immediate transit connectivity across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. For an advisory practice, our office address reflects our professional standards. Traditional commercial leases would have required rigid multi-year commitments and substantial capital outlays on fitouts, whereas Compass gave us a fully functional, premium space with immediate boardroom access.
Which aspects of your workspace have made the biggest difference to your day-to-day operations?
The effortless scalability and access to premium meeting facilities. When overseas clients fly into Hong Kong to complete cross-border transactions or hold annual general meetings, we can host them in fully serviced, tech-enabled boardrooms. Because Compass manages the facilities, security and cleaning, we are completely spared from non-core administrative burdens.
What interactions have you had with the Compass Offices team?
They genuinely function as an extension of our own team. Because we operate as a boutique practice, we do not employ full-time receptionists or shared office managers; the Compass team steps into that role seamlessly with promptness and polish.
How do you see your office requirements evolving?
We are continuing to expand our cross-border family office desk and tax compliance advisory. Our team will likely add two to three senior associates over the next 18 months, and our Compass setup gives us the peace of mind that we can easily expand into larger adjacent suites within the same building.
Any advice for small business owners considering a flexible or serviced office space?
Sit down with the on-site centre team before you sign, walk them through your operational workflow, and tell them what you need. A quality workspace provider will think along with your business model and remove the daily operational headaches, freeing you to focus entirely on your core revenue.
#3 Compass Offices client – Laurent
Nationality: French
Years in Hong Kong: 6
Give us a snapshot of your business.
We are an Asia-Pacific enterprise technology and digital consulting practice. For over 15 years, our regional team has partnered with luxury retail, prestige beauty and specialty fashion brands to deliver enterprise digital transformation, omnichannel systems, and cloud infrastructure. We established our Hong Kong executive office to be at the doorstep of the flagship stores and regional headquarters of the world’s leading luxury houses.
When did you start using Compass Offices?
Our business was already well established across the APAC region. However, our Hong Kong operation required an executive base that reflected our brand stature and gave our international enterprise clients total confidence during high-stakes project negotiations.
We secured a private executive office suite at Compass Offices Lee Garden One, with recurring use of their executive conference facilities and seminar spaces.
Why did you choose Compass?
We were previously based in an older commercial building in an industrial-commercial fringe district. While the space was functional, it lacked the prestige, refined atmosphere and central retail adjacency expected by European brand directors and luxury executives.
Causeway Bay, specifically Lee Garden One, is the nexus of luxury retail in Hong Kong. It’s surrounded by the flagship boutiques of the exact clients we serve. Compass provided an institutional Grade A environment with a sophisticated, professional corporate atmosphere. Many coworking providers cater heavily to early-stage freelancers and have an overly informal vibe; Compass stands out for its high-end corporate finish and executive standard.
Which aspects of your workspace have made the biggest difference to your day-to-day operations?
The impression it makes on visiting clients. Recently, our strategic partners flew in from France to finalise a regional partnership. The moment they stepped into the floor, their immediate reaction was, “Your office is beautiful”. Between the prestigious building entrance, the neighbourhood, and the immaculate interior, clients develop instant trust in our capabilities before we even begin our presentation.
What interactions have you had with the Compass Offices team?
Professionalism is the single best word to describe them. From greeting overseas delegations to handling daily technical and administrative requests, their service is consistently polished, proactive, and discreet. They reflect the same exacting standards we maintain for our luxury clients.
How do you see your office requirements evolving?
We are expanding our retail AI consulting and data analytics practices across North Asia. We will be taking advantage of Compass’s seminar and event facilities to host exclusive thought-leadership roundtables for retail leaders, while scaling our desk footprint as new technical leads join our team.
Any advice for small business owners considering a flexible or serviced office space?
Never underestimate how much your physical environment impacts brand perception. If your business relies on trust, credibility, and high-value partnerships, being housed in a premier Grade A serviced shared office gives you enterprise-level standing from day one without committing millions to capital expenditure.
Find out more about Compass Offices and its serviced workspaces and business centres in Hong Kong at compassoffices.com.
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