Sometimes all a business owner needs is a desk, wi-fi and a steady supply of coffee to get their business chores done.

But with Bermuda’s high rents, such a simple set-up can be hard to find.

With that in mind, siblings, Natasha and Oliver Tucker, and mother Linda Tucker, opened The House last October, a co-working members space in Hamilton.

“Predominantly, it’s for anyone looking to have a professional office set-up in Hamilton without having to commit to high overheads and long leases,” Ms Tucker said.

She said the high cost of commercial rent could be a “massive factor” for business owners in Bermuda.

“If that kind of cost can be reduced and mitigated, no matter what stage of the business you are in, so much the better, and it’s more money you have to go elsewhere,” she said.

She and her brother started talking about founding such a business a few years ago when they were both working overseas, she as a brand specialist in London, and he as a photographer and videographer in London and New York.

We were seeing the rise of flexible co-working spaces in London,” she said. “We were seeing a market for that type of work set-up in Bermuda.”

They’d managed real estate as a family in the past and were looking for a new innovative family project.

Ms Tucker felt a little nervous when they opened their doors in October.

“But we had some people who had already registered and signed up,” she said, “so that felt comforting. We’d been meeting with people to discuss the idea, so we felt cautiously optimistic that there was an appetite for the idea.”

The House, on the first floor of Wessex House at 45 Reid Street, offers 24-hour access to a number of amenities such as work desks, lockers, kitchen space, communal space, printing and scanning.

There’s a board room, a smaller meeting room and booths for private telephone conversations.

“We take care of the management side of all those things and we have tech support,” Ms Tucker said.

So far they have 14 members with a mix of needs, and have space for up to 40.

“They are mostly individuals at this point looking for a desk on a month by month basis,” Ms Tucker said.

But The House also rents office space to slightly larger businesses with one or two employees, on a quarterly basis.

“Like any venture, this is about trialling things and testing them,” Ms Tucker said. “I have been pleasantly surprised that everyone who comes into the space thinks the design and layout is great and is generally on board with the concept even if it is not entirely for them at this moment.”

She felt there has been a shift away from secrecy and competition towards more collaboration, particularly among small businesses.

“It’s important to have the support of others in complementary industries,” she said.

Ms Tucker said they aren’t the only company offering a co-working space on the island, but they hope their approach is a little different.

“I would hope that would mean that there is more choice out there to ultimately find what works,” she said.

The space was designed by the cTx Design Group.

“It is open and airy but quite industrial,” Ms Tucker said. “We wanted it to have a feeling of an urban workspace. Obviously along with the co-working ethos it is very open plan.”

Ms Tucker handles The House marketing, communications and business development, Mr Tucker manages the office on a daily basis and their mother is the director.

“To be able to create this next iteration of family business together has been a powerful and unique exertion,” Ms Tucker said.

But she added The House is not just about real estate for them.

“It’s about building a brand and a sense of community and a business network so people that use the space can equally benefit from it,” she said. “This really resonates with people.”

It costs $575 a month if a member is happy to sit anywhere, and $675 a month if a member wishes dedicated workspace, a locker and storage.

• For more information see thehousebermuda.com