Whether you’re an established freelancer, an entrepreneur looking for your first office space, or a member of a distributed team that needs some work space you might be surprised by the benefits a shared office space can provide. Co-working spaces can offer the flexibility necessary to benefit a wide range of businesses and the ability to adapt as businesses grow and change.
First time lessees and sole proprietors can feel intimidated by long lease terms or the initial overhead involved in setting up a traditional office. Becoming a member of a co-working space can provide the flexibility needed by allowing you to switch between hot desks, private offices, and private suites as your needs change all within a flexible membership that doesn’t tie you to a particular space for years if it no longer works for you.
Co-working spaces eliminate many barriers to office space access that you may experience. That means in addition to a month to month membership, rather than a lease term of several years, much of the overhead costs of set-up are already taken care of: the space has already been built out to suit office users, fully furnished, utilities are set-up, and telecommunication networks have been established. Even though you may occupy a single desk you can still have access to all the amenities offered to the co-working tenants, many of which you may not have been able to include in your space if you had pursued leasing a traditional office space. Conference rooms, learning spaces, kitchens, and event spaces are used only occasionally, but must be paid for monthly in a traditional lease, however in a co-working space you are able to have access to these spaces and pay for them only when you really need them.
Having the right space for the right task helps ensure you get the most out of your working hours. While the flexibility to work from home has been a great benefit for entrepreneurs and employees alike, for many people, working from home may not be the ideal environment. Living and working in the same space can create pressure to work a greater number of hours and cause an unhealthy work/life balance, as well as create a sense of isolation. Utilizing a neighborhood co-working space can help define the work and home areas of your life and provide a space for work that is free from distractions, while also providing a sense of community.
One of the biggest benefits to joining a co-working space is the other people you’ll interact with while working there. Networking and referral opportunities between businesses occupying the same co-working space can be a huge bonus for both companies. The collaboration with your co-working coworkers can also be a great place to work through problems that perhaps other entrepreneurs have already solved in their company, create emotional support as organizations grow and change, and help foster positive peer pressure as you build your business.
Perhaps the greatest benefit to a co-working space is: if you think it may work for you, give it a try - utilize everything it has to offer and if it doesn’t suit your business, take advantage of all the flexibility it offers and make a change. Many co-working spaces, like Venture Office, even offer a free month membership to give you the opportunity to see if it’s the right fit. Click here to learn more about, schedule a tour, and get your free month membership at Venture Office.
Venture Office is here to provide the tools and guidance you need to find the ideal office space for your business. If you would like to learn more about the tools we provide, and our ideal space guarantee, then click here to speak with one of our experienced specialists. We look forward to hearing from you!