A 'suite' deal

Fresh from a season in the company of Donald Trump on "The Apprentice" reality show, Frank Lombardi was looking to move his contracting business from his home. in the Bronx to an office in Westchester County.

Two months ago, the 28-year-old businessman, one of the TV show's final four contestants, opened a fourth-floor office at 600 Mamaroneck Ave. in Harrison. The owner of Lombardi Contracting and Franchise Contractors, a startup partnership with his brother-in-law, John Fiorino, he shares a receptionist, fax and photocopy machine, mail service, lounge, conference and relaxation rooms with about 50 other tenants at the 76-office, 24,000-square-foot Synergy Workplace center.

"You have marketing companies, you have lawyers, you have consultants," said Lombardi, describing some of the tenants he has met in the maze of offices and common rooms at his workplace. "You have networking here. It benefits your business."

"Technology, attorneys, psychologists, marketing, real estate, insurance, financial services," said Synergy's general manager, Tracey DiBrino, listing the varied businesses in Harrison that are clients in the growing international office-suite industry. "Some are oneman operations and some have up to 10 people."

SERVICES, STRESS-FREE

Synergy charges $395 per person monthly for a package that includes telephone equipment and services and up to 2,000 minutes in calls; Internet access; faxing and copying; mail and overnight services; two hours per month of individualized support services and eight hours of conference-room time.

Monthly rents for full-time offices start at $500 per month. The company also offers day office rentals at $10 an hour. "It's for outsiders who need an office to come in and meet with someone," DiBrino said.

"We don't base rents on...