One of the biggest expenses for a business is office space — and all the necessities that go with it.

Located in Federal Way, Hometown Office Suites and Services (HOSS) provides professional office services that cater small businesses. These subleased office spaces are commonly called executive suites.

HOSS offers a cost-saving and flexible home base for about 90 tenants. At HOSS, businesses can establish an official address by leasing a small office for one employee or a suite for more employees. Tenants have access to professional-caliber boardrooms and conference rooms. The price of leasing office space includes administrative services as well as phone, Internet, photocopy machines, mail, cleaning and reception services. Tenants also have 24-hour access to their office, which can be leased for as little as three months.

The clientele at the privately-owned HOSS includes attorneys, accountants, real estate agents, consultants and even a training company. At least one out-of-state business leases satellite office space at HOSS for its Federal Way-area employees.

“We’re helping businesses adapt to the market realities we have today,” said Bob Zollo, managing director of the Federal Way location.

“It’s an interesting approach to solving a very practical problem for businesses,” Zollo added. “They can have nicer meeting facility and save several thousand dollars per month in overall rent.”

When she wanted to grow her graphic design business in 2007, Federal Way resident Audrey Germanis hooked up with HOSS for affordable office space. She had been running the business out of her home and wanted to hire an employee.

Germanis said that through HOSS, she found a professional work environment that she otherwise could not have afforded as a small business.

“For us it was ideal when I got another employee. I didn’t want them coming to my home to work,” said Germanis, who sold her business in 2010. “It just sort of separated work and home.”

David Evans, an attorney based in Federal Way, said using HOSS as a virtual office has cut his fixed overhead costs by a significant margin. Before finding HOSS, Evans leased an 1,100-square-foot office that he really didn’t need.

“I receive mail there, I can drop off documents, people can leave messages. That is my office,” Evans said of HOSS, where he meets with clients regularly. “It could not possibly be any more convenient.”

Lots of attorneys operate virtual offices, Evans said.

“Most business these days is conducted over the phone and Internet. A small portion of business is conducted face to face,” said Evans, lauding HOSS for its professionalism and well-decorated facility. “The fact that I type on my computer somehwere else, it makes no difference.”

Learn more

Hometown Office Suites and Services (HOSS) is located at 33530 1st Way S., Suite 102, Federal Way. To learn more, call (253) 237-0700, email info@gohoss.com or visit www.gohoss.com.