A company moving into new premises in Switzerland almost always runs into the same gap: the lease starts on the 1st of the month, staff arrive the following week, and the furniture that was ordered is quoted for two months' time. In between, everyone works on trestle tables.
This is not an organisational failure. It is simply how the Swiss market for professional furniture works, where lead times of four to ten weeks are the norm for quality ranges. On top of that come two constraints few finance departments anticipate: headcount that moves faster than the furniture, and a capitalised asset held for eight years when the lease runs for three.
Three moments when buying becomes a poor calculation
1. Moving in against a fixed date
Opening a subsidiary, relocating, end of lease: the date is set by the contract, not by the furniture supplier. Renting lets you be operational within days rather than months — and gives you time to order the permanent furniture calmly afterwards, if you still want to.
2. Headcount growth
You sign for twenty desks and have thirty eight months later. Buying forces a choice between over-specifying from day one — paying for empty desks — or buying in small batches, with the risk that the range is discontinued and your spaces end up mismatched. Renting absorbs that variation without turning it into a structural decision.
3. Temporary premises
Building works, a project office, a sales outpost opened to test a market: equipping a space you are not sure will exist in eighteen months. Buying means inheriting stock to resell, store or relocate.
What renting actually changes
| Buying | Renting | |
|---|---|---|
| Lead time | 4 to 10 weeks for professional ranges | A few days, subject to availability |
| Cash flow | One large outlay, paid upfront | A smoothed monthly cost |
| Variable headcount | Buying in batches, hard to keep consistent | Desks added or removed mid-contract |
| End of lease | Resale, storage or relocation to organise | Collected by the provider |
| Assembly | To be arranged, often billed separately | Included in the service |
How furniture rental payments are treated for accounting and tax purposes depends on your structure and on how the contract is drafted. Speak to your fiduciary before deciding on that basis alone — we do not provide tax advice.
What to equip, and in what order
The classic mistake is to order the desks first and deal with everything else "later". In practice it is the shared spaces that determine whether premises are pleasant to work in — and they are the ones that get forgotten.
- Workstations — desks, chairs, personal storage. The baseline, and the easiest part to size.
- Meeting rooms — large tables and seating. Plan at least two formats: one room for eight does not replace three spaces for four.
- Informal spaces — sofas, armchairs, coffee tables. Half the useful conversations happen here, and this is the line item most often sacrificed.
- Reception — your clients' first impression rests on three square metres. They deserve attention out of all proportion to their surface area.
- Shared storage — sideboards and storage units, usually missing from the first plan and requested within three weeks.
- The terrace, if you have one — outdoor furniture turns an unused space into a meeting area for six months of the year. We cover this in our article on outdoor furniture in Switzerland.
What about working from home?
Many Swiss companies now equip both their premises and their employees' homes. Renting fits that well: the furniture follows the employee for the duration of their contract, then comes back. Our guide to setting up a home office covers what to plan for at the desk itself.
What it costs
The monthly cost depends on the number of desks, the range and the duration. What matters more than the figure is what it includes: our service covers delivery, assembly, installation and collection at the end of the contract — all of which are billed separately, or absorbed by your own staff, when you buy.
We have set out our order-of-magnitude figures for private customers in this article on pricing. For a business project, quoting is done individually: tell us your floor area and headcount.
Where we operate
Our warehouse is in Gland, between Geneva and Lausanne. We equip offices across French- and German-speaking Switzerland — Geneva, Lausanne, Nyon, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Bern, Basel, Zug and Zurich.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum number of desks you work with?
There is no threshold. We equip a six-person project office as readily as a full floor. Describe what you need and we will tell you frankly whether our offer suits it.
Can we add desks mid-contract?
Yes — that is the main appeal of the format for a growing company. The terms are set when we put the proposal together, based on duration and volume.
What if we move before the lease ends?
We either collect the furniture or move it to your new premises, whichever suits you. It is a scenario we handle regularly.
Can we buy the furniture at the end?
Yes. The option to buy stays open on the pieces you want to keep, on the terms agreed at the outset.
Do you deliver and assemble yourselves?
Yes, with our own teams. We deliver, assemble and install, then collect at the end of the contract. Your staff have nothing to put together.
Let us talk about your premises
Send us your floor area, your headcount and your move-in date: we will come back with a costed proposal within 24 hours, with no obligation. See also our bespoke furniture rental page and our events and business offer.
Request a proposal →