Back Office Account for Over 30% of Corporate Occupancy in São Paulo

Data from SiiLA shows that 4.26% of companies operating in São Paulo occupy more than one office, totaling 2.2 million square meters of Class A+, A, and B spaces. This means that this small group of companies accounts for 33.6% of the total occupied space in the city’s corporate market.

This significant volume reflects a movement known as back office – a secondary office beyond the company’s headquarters, dedicated to administrative and operational functions that do not require direct interaction with clients or the public.

In the real estate sector, back office spaces house departments such as financial management, market analysis, compliance, legal affairs, accounting, and internal operations. Companies including developers, real estate investment fund managers, property administrators, and consulting firms often adopt this model to optimize costs.

Unlike front office spaces, which require premium addresses for client-facing activities, back office offices are typically located in areas with lower rental costs per square meter. Some companies even opt for coworking spaces or mid-tier corporate buildings to accommodate these operations, further reducing operational expenses.