Desk on demand: the ideal solution for freelancers and remote workers

There was a time when working meant settling into a fixed office, five days a week, in the same place, at the same hours. Those days are gone!

Today, work has changed, as has the way it is organized. Freelancers, consultants, self-employed workers, teleworkers, and nomadic professionals now create their own schedules according to their needs, activities, and pace. This evolution has given rise to a new way of thinking about workspaces: à la carte offices, also known as à la carte coworking.

More flexible, more liberating, and designed for adaptability, this model is an obvious choice for those seeking a flexible working environment without the constraints of a long-term lease, while still enjoying a professional, friendly setting conveniently located in the city center or close to home.

In this article, we take a look at everything you need to know about à la carte offices: how they work, their advantages, their uses... and why they are attracting more and more freelancers, self-employed people, and nomadic workers.

What exactly is an à la carte office?

The principle is simple: you only use an office when you need it.

No long-term lease, no binding commitment, no designated workstation for the whole year.

You reserve a space for a few hours, a day, or more, depending on your schedule.

This can take several forms:

• a coworking space to work on your projects,
• a closed office to isolate yourself or meet with a client,
• a meeting room for an appointment or workshop,
• or even a temporary space between two trips.

The à la carte office is ultimately the idea of being able to work where you want, when you want, in good conditions, without complicating your life.

How does the coworking service work?

The coworking service is deliberately simple and intuitive. The idea is to allow anyone to use an office on demand, in just a few steps.

It all starts with the reservation. Online, simply choose the location, the type of space you want (coworking station, private office, or meeting room), and then the duration of use. Once the reservation is confirmed, access to the location is easy on the day, with no unnecessary formalities.

Everything is already set up on site. You settle in, connect, and can immediately use the coworking service in ideal conditions: Wi-Fi, common areas, meeting rooms, coffee... everything you need to work peacefully is included.

This flexible approach allows you to adapt your schedule over the weeks: come occasionally, several days in a row, or more regularly. The à la carte office adapts to each person's actual rhythm.

It is this ease of use — from booking to accessing the spaces — that makes coworking such a practical solution for freelancers, independent contractors, and teams on the move.

Why is this model so appealing to freelancers and remote workers?

Because it provides a very practical solution to their everyday constraints.

Working from home can be a stopgap solution, but its limitations quickly become apparent: lack of concentration, isolation, difficulty separating work and personal life, complicated phone calls, less-than-ideal posture, etc.

Conversely, renting a traditional office often doesn't make much sense when you're not using it full-time.

The à la carte office is the perfect middle ground.

It allows you to:

• find a real working environment,
• remain flexible,
• control your budget,
• and adapt to your actual pace.

It is this flexibility that explains its growing success, particularly among freelancers and mobile professionals.

The real advantages of à la carte coworking

Total freedom

With à la carte office space, everything is designed to suit your pace.

You come when you need to, for a day, a week, or on a more occasional basis. This flexibility allows you to create a flexible working environment that fits in with your professional and personal commitments.

Whether you need a workstation to make progress on a project or a quiet place between appointments, à la carte coworking adapts to your schedule (and not the other way around!).

A professional and stimulating work environment

Unlike working from home or in cafés, the à la carte office offers a genuine coworking space designed for concentration and productivity.

It offers:

• a calm atmosphere,
• comfortable furniture,
• a reliable internet connection,
• a friendly environment that is conducive to interaction without being intrusive.

Everything you need to work efficiently in a professional setting that promotes both concentration and well-being.

An economical solution

No binding lease, no fixed costs, no unnecessary commitments. À la carte coworking allows you to pay only for what you actually use, while benefiting from a high-quality space.

It is a particularly relevant alternative for freelancers, independent contractors, and hybrid teams seeking both freedom and cost control.

A more human experience

Beyond the practical aspect, the à la carte office also offers a real bonus: social connection.

In a coworking space, you meet other professionals, exchange ideas, and share, without obligation, but with the possibility of breaking the isolation of working alone.

An ideal balance between autonomy and collective dynamics.

What types of offices can be reserved à la carte?

One of the great advantages of à la carte offices is their ability to adapt to all uses. Here, there is no single model: everyone can design their workspace according to their current needs.

For a typical workday, many opt for an open-plan workspace. You settle in, log on, and work on your projects in a studious but never stuffy atmosphere. It's the ideal option for those who like to work in a friendly environment while staying focused.

When you need some quiet, or when you have important calls to make, private offices take over. Fully equipped and designed for comfort and confidentiality, these offices allow you to work peacefully, alone or with others, without being disturbed.

And for key moments, such as team meetings, client appointments, or workshops, meeting rooms are a natural part of the à la carte office offering. These functional, well-designed spaces allow you to meet in a professional setting without having to rent an office for the whole year.

It is this variety of office types, combined with freedom of use, that is the strength of à la carte coworking: a flexible, adaptable model that adjusts to the reality of today's work rather than imposing itself on it.

What services are included with an à la carte office?

That's another advantage of à la carte offices: everything is ready when you arrive. No need to worry about logistics or equipment. Just set up your computer and you can start working.

In most spaces, the services included cover the essentials and often much more:

• fast and reliable Wi-Fi,
• comfortable and well-designed furniture,
• pleasant common areas,
• coffee and hot drinks available,
• access to the kitchen for breaks or quick lunches,
• fully equipped meeting rooms,
• on-site reception,
• cleaning and maintenance included.

In places like those offered by Deskeo, the experience goes even further. The spaces are designed down to the smallest detail, both functional and aesthetic, to offer real comfort on a daily basis. Everything is designed to make you feel good, without having to think twice.

You arrive, settle in, connect to the Wi-Fi, grab a coffee... and get to work.

Simple, smooth, efficient: exactly what you expect from an à la carte office.

How do I reserve an office à la carte?

Reservations usually take just a few minutes.

All you have to do is:

1. choose the location,
2. select the type of space,
3. indicate the desired duration,
4. and reserve online.

On the day, all you have to do is show up and get to work. No complicated contracts, no endless paperwork. And it's this simplicity that makes all the difference.

How much does an à la carte office cost?

The good news is that à la carte offices remain an affordable solution, especially when compared to traditional office rentals. There are no fixed costs or long-term commitments: you simply pay for what you use.

Prices vary depending on the city, the type of space, and the level of services, but the idea remains the same: to offer flexible rates that are in line with new ways of working.

As a rough guide, you can generally expect to pay:

• coworking stations for around €20 to €30 per day,
• private offices between €40 and €70, depending on location,
• meeting rooms that can be booked by the hour or half-day,
• and, for those who come regularly, coworking packages designed to reduce the cost.

This is where the à la carte office really comes into its own: excellent value for money. A flexible, practical solution, perfectly suited to those who want a professional environment without the constraints of a traditional lease.

Where can you find à la carte offices?

Today, they can be found in most major cities, particularly in central neighborhoods with good transport links.

In Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Marseille, many spaces offer this type of solution, with environments designed for new ways of working.

Companies such as Deskeo are developing spaces that can accommodate both freelancers and teams, with modular spaces that are well located and easy to access.

The à la carte office: a very concrete response to new ways of working

The à la carte office is not a passing trend. It is a logical response to the evolution of work.

Less rigid, more agile, and more human, this way of working allows for a balance between freedom and a professional framework.

For many freelancers and remote workers, it has become a real anchor point: a place where they can come to concentrate, make progress, and meet people, without unnecessary constraints. And that is undoubtedly what makes it so powerful!

Spaces designed for a different way of working, with Deskeo

With Hopper Coworking, Deskeo has devised a very practical approach to à la carte office space: spaces designed for those who need a flexible, accessible, and unrestricted place to work.

Here, there are no unnecessary promises or complex procedures. The idea is simple: to be able to reserve an office or workstation when you need it, for a few hours, a day or more, in a professional setting that is well located and ready to use.

With locations in Paris, Lyon, and the Ile-de-France region, Hopper Coworking is primarily aimed at freelancers, independent contractors, teleworkers, and visiting teams looking for:

• an easily accessible coworking space,
• an à la carte office with no commitment,
• a reliable solution for working between appointments or away from home,
• essential services included (Wi-Fi, common areas, meeting rooms, coffee, etc.).

It's a very pragmatic approach to coworking: you book, you arrive, you work.

It's a simple and effective way to use the office as a service, at your own pace and according to your needs. In our experience, this is exactly what nomadic workers and hybrid profiles are looking for today. Contact us to find out more!