Flex is Fuel: How Brokers Can Close More Deals in Less Time
In today’s rapidly evolving commercial real estate market, flexibility isn’t merely a trend—it’s a powerful strategy driving measurable results. Brokers leveraging flexible workspace options like coworking spaces, serviced offices, and event venues are closing transactions significantly faster, increasing deal volume, and cementing stronger, long-lasting client relationships.
Accelerating Deal Timelines with Flexible Solutions
Traditional office leases often drag on for months due to negotiations, build-outs, and permitting. In stark contrast, flexible workspace deals are closing rapidly—often within days. Industry data underscores this: recent analyses show coworking and flexible office spaces grew by roughly 25% year-over-year through early 2025. Moreover, the average time to complete a flex deal is typically under one week, compared to 60-120 days or more for conventional leases.
JLL predicts that flexible workspace will represent approximately 30% of all office space by 2030—a remarkable shift from today’s roughly 2% global market share. This acceleration means brokers embracing flex can swiftly match clients to ready-to-use spaces, securing immediate occupancy and commissions.
Transforming Small Opportunities into Significant Revenue
Historically, brokers would dismiss small requirements as financially negligible. Yet, with national office vacancy rates approaching record highs (exceeding 20% in many major U.S. markets), brokers can no longer afford to pass up even modest deals. Flex solutions have transformed these previously overlooked opportunities into steady, profitable revenue streams. Brokers now regularly earn referral fees or commissions comparable (pro-rata) to traditional leases, even on deals as small as a few desks for a short-term commitment.
In fact, brokerage-generated leads now constitute over 50% of new tenant acquisitions for successful flex locations, such as Flex at Chesterbrook near Philadelphia, which achieved full occupancy and exceeded revenue projections in just nine months—half the projected stabilization period.
Boulder: A Case Study in Flex Success
Boulder, Colorado vividly illustrates the transformative power of flexible workspace strategies. With vacancy rates downtown skyrocketing from approximately 8% pre-pandemic to nearly 30% in late 2024, local brokers adapted swiftly, pivoting to flexible leasing solutions. Smaller, agile spaces have become highly attractive, reducing average lease terms from traditional 5–10 years down to an average of just 2–3 years.
Flex operators such as Kiln, which recently opened a 22,000 sq. ft. coworking hub in Boulder, and locally-established spaces like The Studio (Boulder)—which seamlessly blends coworking, private offices, and event venues—are thriving amid this shift. Local brokers increasingly facilitate deals involving turnkey flex suites, effectively converting vacant large floor plates into vibrant, smaller office communities. This adaptability has allowed brokers to maintain steady deal flow even amid broader market uncertainty.
Concierge-Style Services: The Broker’s Strategic Advantage
In competitive local markets like Boulder, concierge-style services offered by Ground Control provide brokers with a decisive edge. Ground Control’s white-label coworking management, comprehensive flex-space operations, and strategic lead generation simplify complex transactions. Brokers can confidently offer flexible solutions without being encumbered by operational complexities.
Clients, in turn, benefit from highly personalized experiences—furnished offices, professional onsite staff, streamlined digital booking platforms, and curated community events. This level of hospitality significantly boosts client satisfaction, driving repeat business and valuable referrals.
Real-World Results: Flex Strategies Driving Broker Success
Across the U.S., brokerage success stories underscore the value of flex solutions. A recent example from a global brokerage highlighted a remarkable assignment: securing over 400 flexible workspace locations globally for a single major corporate client, demonstrating flex solutions’ scalability and appeal to large enterprises.
Similarly, a suburban Philadelphia flex office center managed by JLL surpassed occupancy expectations, achieving stabilized occupancy and revenue benchmarks in just half of the anticipated time frame. Brokers contributed significantly, with referrals accounting for over half of the new tenants.
Future-Proofing Brokerage Success
Flexible workspace strategies aren’t just short-term solutions—they are long-term strategies for sustained success. By integrating flex options, brokers can:
- Accelerate deal cycles, closing transactions in days rather than months.
- Transform smaller deals into profitable, recurring revenue streams.
- Cultivate long-term client loyalty and referrals through superior, concierge-level service.
Ground Control empowers brokers to deliver these results effortlessly, managing the operational intricacies so brokers can focus on strategic relationships and growth.
In a market characterized by rapid change and uncertainty, flexibility is the essential fuel that propels brokers forward.
Ready to harness flexible workspace to supercharge your brokerage? Connect with Ground Control to explore how we can help you close more deals, faster.