We’re the first to admit—Caddo Offices isn’t for everyone.
Whether it’s because of space needs, business type, or budget, some folks just aren’t a fit. That’s okay. Over time, we’ve seen clear patterns in who thrives at Caddo… and who doesn’t.
Here are 7 reasons someone might not want to use a Caddo Office—along with real alternatives that could serve you better.
1. You have a large team
We get requests (sometimes from brokers) for teams of 50-100 people. We just aren’t built for those kinds of requirements. Our offices range from 49 to 350sf. That large team office at 350 can only hold 7 people, max. We DO have many member that have 5-10 person teams, and we typically accommodate those using a combination of suite sizes – some private for 1 person and some teams for production. We also offer multi-suite discounts to make these options more affordable, especially with 4 or more suites. We do cap the number of suites we will lease to any one member at any one location – typically at 10, sometimes at 7. We love to see our members become so successful that they outgrow us!
INSTEAD: Most of the large brokerage shops (JLL, CBRE, Cushman, etc) have brokers who are focused on flexible space options and they especially like the larger teams. Locally in DFW, Lucid and varispace have some great team options.
2. You need water / ventilation / extra power in your suite
Some medical and beauty uses need sinks and special ventilation – we don’t have that. Also, some uses need extensive on-site servers or other equipment that uses more power and/or generate more heat than our suites can safely handle. We do have some chiropractors and massage therapists, but we don’t allow hair, nails, etc.
INSTEAD: There is a burgeoning industry for salon suites. One that we are familiar with is katty korner from our North Tarrant location and called NT Suites – a local operator and developer who does a great job focusing on the needs of the beauty industry. On the equipment side, there are co-location data centers who will rent a cage (like Flexential, near our Mapleshade location). If you have light manufacturing / repair or need to store inventory, a great option is FlexEtc, also near our Mapleshade location.
3. If your team includes a four-legged employee
We all love our cats and dogs – heck, Caddo is named after a dog! However, with the exception of ADA-defined service animals, we don’t allow pets. Each of our buildings is a community of members and our job is to maintain a high standard for both cleanliness and privacy for our members – our experience has been that office environments with dogs can challenge both.
INSTEAD: Given our suburban locations, we have many locations that are close to service providers that provide day care services for your pup. There are many one off operators (Wag Hotels, Yardstick Dog Hotel, who are very good, but, Pappy’s Pet Lodge and Dogtopia are convenient to many locales where Caddo is located. City Central is a DFW coworking operator that allows pets as does Industrious in the Dallas Farmers Market.
4. If customizing every square inch is a must
We at Caddo came from the traditional office landlord world. One of the worst things about it was how wasteful leasing space could be in that environment. We saw a lot of beautiful finishes, sheetrock, and cabinetry end up in construction dumpsters as a new tenant would come in and re-design their space layout and finishes. We are not saying there isn’t a place for that – but not for a small business owner whose space needs fluctuate with their business and team size. We create space for you, and you can decorate as you see fit, we just don’t move walls, add tile, etc. This allows us to keep our rental rates at a good value, avoid disturbing our members with constant construction, and be good stewards for the environment. We do upgrade spaces from time to time, especially common areas. We also offer some suites that are “business ready” fully furnished and decorated and ready for you to occupy. All you have to worry about is running your business.
INSTEAD: If you like swinging hammers, we have seen some members or prospects buy an office condominium. You can also sign up for a traditional 5–10-year lease with a landlord and they will often (depending on your credit) offer a tenant improvement allowance – the longer your term and the higher your rent, the more that allowance will be. To learn more, read this book from our friend and former member, Bob Gibbons. Bob and his team at Reata specialize in helping smaller businesses with lease decisions.
5. You literally want to live where you work
At Caddo, our motto is “work near home, not at home”, NOT “turn your office into your home” 😊 I am always surprised by how many searches are conducted where people ask, “can I live in a coworking space”. We don’t have showers, and our offices are not made to live in. We do have some folks that take advantage of their 24/7 access to accommodate customers in other time zones, put in the extra effort on a tough project, or work productively after the kids are asleep.
INSTEAD: If you are OK with communal living, there are places you can find that – one entrant is Coliving.com, offering lease by the room with flexible lease options. Also, many apartment operators are incorporating co-working elements and/or operations into their new properties, like the options listed here in Apartment Amigo.
6. You are in the kid business
We LOVE our kids. But, given that many members are looking to avoid the distractions of their home office, we are sensitive to any uses that bring large numbers of kids and/or younger children into the shared workspace. Our building managers can and do help enforce building rules, but, they are not professional kid wranglers.
INSTEAD: A traditional lease in a building with a private waiting room could be a good solution if your client base includes young children. Also, there are innovative operators that are beginning to offer integrated childcare, like Savanna in Frisco.
7. You want to pay $300 per month for a private office
The quality of our spaces, the locations we serve, and the professionalism of our staff all add up – we cannot provide the commodity office. We provide excellent value at a variety of price points that are affordable to many small business owners, especially those who have established a client base and are looking to grow. More about how we come up with our prices and what affects them here.
INSTEAD: If you can’t yet afford a private office at Caddo, consider our social membership for $299 per month. Not only do you get unlimited, 24/7 access to all 9 Caddo locations, you also get monthly credits to use our conference rooms and private furnished offices. Another option is to reach out to friends who may have an extra office or two in a traditional space. You can help them by paying a little rent and help yourself by saving a few $$. Also, if you are open to different locations outside of where Caddo is located, Boxer Properties is setup to lease by the office. While their locations may not be as convenient to your home or your clients, they offer functional offices at affordable rates.
Still not sure if Caddo is right for you?
We’re happy to give you the straight scoop. Our team can tell you in 5 minutes whether we’re a fit—or point you to someone who is.
👉 Contact us or find the location nearest you and call/e-mail our manager.
Either way, we’ll help you take the next best step for your business.