Lock-in Periods: The Clause That Decides What Your Office Really Costs
Lock-in and notice are two different numbers, and confusing them is how a six month commitment turns into eight. What is normal, what to ask for, and what you can actually negotiate.
Two numbers in every workspace agreement decide how trapped you are, and founders regularly read them as one.
Lock-in is the minimum you pay for, even if you walk out in week two. Notice is the warning you owe before leaving, and it usually starts only after the lock-in ends.
Six months lock-in with two months notice is an eight month commitment. That is the sentence to remember.
What is normal in India
| What you take | Usual lock-in | Usual notice |
|---|---|---|
| Day pass | None | None |
| Hot desk, monthly | 1 month or none | 1 month |
| Dedicated desks, small team | 3 to 6 months | 1 to 2 months |
| Private cabin | 6 to 12 months | 2 months |
| Managed office | 12 to 36 months | 3 months |
| Conventional lease | 12 months inside a 3 year term | 3 months |
What it is really costing you
Take eight seats at ₹8,499. A six month lock-in with two months notice means that on the day you sign, you have committed ₹5.4 lakh. Not ₹68,000 a month with the freedom to leave. ₹5.4 lakh.
That is not an argument against signing. It is an argument for knowing the figure before you do, because it belongs in your runway calculation, not in a folder.
What operators will actually move on
More than founders expect, and less on price than on terms. In our experience the order of what you can win is roughly this:
- A shorter lock-in. Easiest ask, especially in a centre that is not full. Three months instead of six is a very common outcome.
- Free months. Operators protect the headline rate but will often give the first month free rather than cut it.
- Meeting room credits. Costs them little, worth a lot to you at ₹1,800 an hour.
- An expansion clause. The right to add seats at today's rate. Free to give, valuable to hold.
- The rate itself. Hardest, and only really moves at six seats or more on a longer term.
- No brokerage
- Free visits
- We negotiate
Four things to read before you sign
When does notice begin? During the lock-in or after it. This single sentence changes the total commitment by months.
What happens if you shrink? Growing is easy. Ask what it takes to give back three seats, and get the answer in writing.
Can they end it early? Many agreements let the operator terminate on short notice while you are locked in for six months. If the clause is one sided, say so and ask for it to be matched.
Who is the agreement with? Sometimes the brand on the door is not the entity holding your deposit.
When a long lock-in is the right trade
If you are certain of your headcount and your city, a twelve month commitment is worth real money: the discount is usually 5% to 15%, plus better terms on everything else.
Certainty is the thing you are selling them. If you have it, charge for it. If you do not, pay the premium for flexibility and do not pretend otherwise.
Tell us what you need. We take it from there, wherever in India you are looking.
Find my office →- ✓No brokerage
- ✓We shortlist
- ✓We book visits
- ✓We negotiate
- ✓We do the paperwork