Frequently asked questions.
The three questions international founders ask us most often: why a coworking centre?, why Montpellier?, and why L'Espace Entreprise? Plain British English, sourced answers, updated for 2026.
FAQ
1. Why a coworking centre rather than your own office?
Isn't a coworking centre just a more expensive office?
The opposite, in fact. Once you add up the rent on a private lease (often 3+ year commitment), the broker fees, the security deposit, the furniture, the fibre installation, the cleaning contract, the welcome staff, the meeting rooms you'll use occasionally — a private office for a small team rapidly costs more than a coworking centre that includes all of the above. The crossover point is typically around 8–12 desks; below that, coworking wins on every line.
Don't I lose privacy in a coworking centre?
You're not in an open-plan room. Our coworking offer is private offices behind a closed door — your own desk, your own files, your own visitors received in your name at reception. The "coworking" name describes the shared resources around the offices (kitchen, meeting rooms, reception, internet, printer), not a shared workspace.
What about company culture if I'm growing a team here?
That's a fair concern, and it's the one reason teams eventually leave us — when culture-building requires more dedicated space than a coworking centre can provide. For the first 1–8 hires, however, being inside a wider community of founders generally helps culture rather than hurts it: new joiners meet other businesses every day at the coffee machine.
2. Why Montpellier rather than Paris, Lyon or Marseille?
Is Montpellier really a serious business hub or just a holiday city?
Serious. France's 7th-largest city, #10 French Tech ecosystem (Tech.eu 2024), home to Swile (€1.4B unicorn), Teads (IPO'd 2024), MedinCell (NASDAQ-listed), Qair (€600M+ raised), Sweep, and 75,000 students. The university has been training doctors since 1220 — it's the oldest medical school in the Western world.
What about the cost difference vs Paris?
Roughly 40% cheaper on operating costs, salaries and rent for comparable roles. A senior software engineer in Montpellier on €60k feels well-paid; the Paris equivalent expects €90k+. Office rent runs at €200–300/m²/year versus €600–800 in Paris CBD.
Is the talent pool deep enough for tech roles?
Montpellier has 75,000 students across two universities (Montpellier Université and Paul-Valéry) plus engineering schools (Polytech, IMT Mines Alès). Tech employers locally include Dell, IBM, Capgemini, Sopra Steria, Ubisoft, plus the unicorns above — meaning a working market exists. For senior hires you can either tap the relocators-to-the-Med pool (a real thing) or recruit from Paris with a quality-of-life pitch.
Can I get to Paris / London / Frankfurt easily?
Paris: 3h15 by TGV (direct), often more reliable than a flight. London: direct flights from MPL airport (Easyjet, BA seasonal), or via Paris. Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Brussels: direct seasonal. Barcelona: 3h by train, 2h30 by car.
3. Why L'Espace Entreprise specifically?
What are your credentials? Are you regulated?
We're an officially Préfecture-approved domiciliation centre (agréé préfectoral) — required by French law for legally hosting company registered offices. We've operated in Montpellier for over 15 years across two physical sites (Millénaire in Castelnau-le-Lez, and Garosud in Montpellier).
What's included in your domiciliation packs, in plain English?
Three tiers. Pack Light (postal address + mail reception, from €14.25 excl. VAT/month — the same rate for loi 1901 associations and SCIs). Pack Premium (address + dedicated phone number + fax + half-day office per week + storage, €150/month). Pack Light Optic / Pack Premium Optic (the same plus our fibre-optic teleservices stack: hosted phone, video-conference, fax-to-mail). You can layer extras — mailbox 24/7 for €9, mail forwarding for €10, scan-to-inbox, voice-to-mail.
What if I need to come in physically — do you have offices?
Yes. Office Spots are hourly rentals (12m² from €15/h, 20m² from €30/h). Office Rentals are monthly leases (12, 20 or 40m² from €390+VAT/month). Plus three named meeting rooms on site (Littoral 10-15p, Pic Saint-Loup 20-30p, Aigoual 30-50p), bookable by the hour.
Do you speak English?
Yes. The reception team is bilingual, contracts are available in English on request, and we work routinely with UK / US / Dutch / German founders. Pricing is shown in euros (you're invoicing in euros) but explanations stay in plain British English.
How do I get started?
Email contact@center-business.fr or call +33 4 99 13 63 36. We'll arrange a tour (in English), answer the questions specific to your situation, and quote within a working day. There's no setup fee.
Questions fréquentes
Why choose a coworking centre instead of renting your own office?
Once you total the rent on a private lease (often a 3+ year commitment), broker fees, the security deposit, furniture, fibre installation, a cleaning contract, welcome staff and the occasional meeting room, a private office for a small team quickly costs more than a coworking centre where all of that is included. The tipping point sits around 8–12 desks; below that, coworking wins on every line.
What makes Montpellier a better choice than Paris, Lyon or Marseille?
Montpellier ranks as France's 7th-largest city and its #10 French Tech ecosystem (Tech.eu 2024). It is roughly 40% cheaper than Paris on operating costs, salaries and rent, with major tech employers such as Swile, Teads, MedinCell, Qair and Sweep, 75,000 students, and direct links to Paris (3h15 by TGV) as well as London, Amsterdam and Frankfurt by air.
Why pick L'Espace Entreprise in particular?
It's an officially Préfecture-approved domiciliation centre — a legal requirement to host company registered offices in France — that has operated in Montpellier for 15+ years across two physical sites (Millénaire in Castelnau-le-Lez and Garosud in Montpellier). Reception is bilingual, English contracts are available on request, and the team routinely works with UK, US, Dutch and German founders. Email: contact@center-business.fr.
Can coffee breaks and catering be organised at Garosud?
Certainly. This covers welcome coffee in the room, breakfast with pastries, a biscuit tea-time break, lunch at the on-site restaurant with its terrace, meal trays served directly in the room, and buffet or cocktail dinner on quotation.
What is the restaurant's approach to cutting down on waste?
Ô Resto Garosud recovers its biowaste locally and has scrapped single-use products; the organic waste goes to six hens, sharply reducing how much waste is produced. Reusable tableware and anti-food-waste practices complete it.
Does the centre manage its waste through sorting and less plastic?
It does. Single-use plastic has been withdrawn (meeting rooms, drink machines, supplies), reusable tableware like mugs and eco-cups is in place, and paper and cardboard go through sorting and recycling.