A managed office in Cebu City for 300 workstations is a fitted private floor, run by an operator, for one client. The monthly bill is usually quoted per seat, so the first job is to find out what that seat price covers and what arrives as a separate line. This guide lists the items to check, with figures where we can source them. We do not publish a price range here because we have no dated, operator-confirmed rates to show.
A workstation is one seat with a desk, chair and computer setup. A managed office differs from a serviced office, which is shared or multi-client space on a single fee, and from a traditional lease, where you pay for fit-out and facilities yourself.
What operators commonly list as included
Inclusions differ by operator and building. As one example, BPOSeats.com's own listings for its Cebu sites state that electricity, computers, building security guards, a backup generator, and common-area cleaning are included in the per-seat price. The listings are undated, so confirm them with the operator. The same operator's 3 Jul 2025 blog post states that utilities, internet, air conditioning, maintenance and technical support are included. We have not compared other operators' published inclusions on this page, so apply the checklist below to every quote you receive.
| Item | What to confirm in writing |
|---|---|
| Private floor area | Seats per floor, and how many sqm your 300 seats get |
| Rent, building insurance and common use service area (CUSA) charges | Whether bundled into the seat price. In a traditional lease, CUSA is billed separately |
| Electricity and water | Whether included, and whether any monthly cap applies, especially for 24/7 operations |
| Internet | Bandwidth per seat or per floor, number of providers, and whether backup is on a separate line |
| Computers and peripherals | Specification, number of monitors, and the price of upgrades |
| Backup power | Generator and UPS coverage, and what it covers (lighting, air conditioning, workstations) |
| Cleaning | Your floor, common areas, or both |
| Security and access | Guards, CCTV, biometric access, and 24/7 entry for night shifts |
| IT support | On-site hours, response time, and whether it covers your own software |
| Pantry and shared amenities | Which are included and which are concessionaire-run |
What is usually billed on top
VAT. Rent is a VAT-able service in the Philippines when the lessor is VAT-registered, at 12%. Ask whether the quoted seat price includes VAT. Sources: respicio.ph commentary on lease taxes (published 2026, accessed 5 Oct 2026). Check with your accountant, because VAT and withholding treatment depend on how the contract is written and on the operator's registration.
Deposit and advance rent. BPOSeats.com's listings state one month deposit and one month rent paid upfront. Ask every operator for its deposit and advance terms.
Meeting rooms, extra hardware and software. Ask whether meeting or training room hours are included, what a second monitor or faster computer costs, and who provides dialer and CRM licenses.
Recruitment and Employer of Record (EOR) services. An EOR is a company that legally employs your staff in the Philippines and handles payroll and compliance. Some operators sell this alongside space. It is a separate service with its own fee and its own contract.
Exit and fit-out costs. Ask about early-exit charges, seat-reduction rights, and who owns the fit-out when the term ends.
What the arithmetic looks like for 300 seats
The rate below is hypothetical and is not a quote. It shows how VAT changes the monthly bill.
| Line | Formula | PHP per month |
|---|---|---|
| Seat fee (hypothetical) | 300 seats x PHP 10,000 | 3,000,000 |
| VAT at 12% | 3,000,000 x 0.12 | 360,000 |
| Total invoice | 3,000,000 + 360,000 | 3,360,000 |
If the quote already includes VAT, the base fee is the quoted total divided by 1.12, so ask which version you are reading.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Is the per-seat price VAT-inclusive or VAT-exclusive?
- Is there any charge not listed in the quote, such as electricity above a cap, or move-in or move-out fees?
- What is the minimum term, and what does it cost to reduce seats or exit?
- Who pays for the fit-out of a 300-seat floor, and who owns it at the end?
- What are the access hours and the lift wait at shift change?
- How many seats are available now, and on what date?
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