Find Your Perfect Workspace: 5 Things to Look for When Choosing a Coworking Space

Whether you’re a remote worker, a solopreneur or a freelancer, finding your ideal workspace that balances productivity and comfort can be challenging. And, while home offices or cafes can be a good start, nothing beats a space specifically designed to meet your needs. This is where coworking spaces come into play by offering a great environment for your professional success.

Plus, the growing popularity of flex spaces has led to a diverse range of options, thereby allowing you to find a location tailored to your needs. If you’re considering opting for a coworking space, this article may help you out.

Let’s dive into some of the main factors to consider when hunting down your ideal work setting:

1. Location

The position of your office can save commuting time and any costs associated with it. However, make sure to factor this in based on your exact work needs. First, if you’d like a convenient solution to separate your personal and professional time, consider a place nearby. Then, with commuting out of the equation, you can use the extra time to do something you love and catch up on those hours of sleep you sacrificed each morning.

On the other hand, if your daily routine requires a different location due to errands, picking up the kids, or other responsibilities, prioritize a location that’s easily accessible by car or public transportation to make the commute easier. Granted, this does require more research on crowdedness; accessibility; and restaurant options or entertainment venues. Ultimately, the location of your coworking space can be a true asset for your daily life, so it’s important to invest in researching the best coordinates for you.

2. Cost

The additional expenditure to your daily costs can make you rethink the necessity of another membership. So, when in doubt, an informed decision is always the best strategy. The first step should be setting up a budget you’d be comfortable with. This will help you navigate the numerous options you have at your disposal.

Then, you can search by multiple metrics when comparing different coworking spaces. In particular, explore their membership plans. Depending on your needs, you may prefer part-time, day passes or full-time. You can also inquire about the costs of meeting rooms or the special events that coworking spaces usually hold. Second, consider the value for money in terms of networking opportunities, amenities and productivity. Specifically, give some thought to potential costs, like parking fees. Also, keep in mind that coworking spaces are an excellent solution for flexibility as you can access a day pass without committing to a full month or a year. In this way, you use your space based on your necessities and wishes, keeping it truly dynamic.

3. Amenities

This category may be one of the first motivators for choosing a coworking space as you examine the needs of your daily work and the difficulties that you encounter. Although the plethora of amenities available nowadays can be overwhelming, they can essentially be categorized as “essential,” “bonus” and “niche.” Essential amenities are high-speed internet, comfortable seating, meeting rooms, printing facilities and kitchen areas. For comparison, the “bonus” class may include free coffee or recreational areas — such as game rooms, nap rooms or rooftop gardens — that can improve your overall well-being and productivity.

Lastly, the rising popularity of coworking has also led to niche coworking spaces. These help you combine different aspects of your life to balance the responsibilities you hold. Niche amenities can include gyms, nursery spaces or art rooms, just to name a few. Whatever you’re looking for, you can find diverse options tailored to help you throughout the day.

4. Community

Coworking spaces are not only great for your productivity, but also for networking and all of the professional and personal benefits that come with it. With this in mind, consider asking what type of professionals and industries create the community of a certain space and see how they align with your interests.

The next step is to engage in social interactions, which may be difficult at times, especially after long periods of time working in solitude. Even so, there are a few things that can help to ease your way into a conversation. Primarily, be considerate of office etiquette. This includes being quiet in working zones, not disturbing other workers while they’re at their desk and not intruding in another discussion. Instead, it’s always better to start a conversation in a common area, like the kitchen or game room.

You can also find opportunities to launch a conversation during the events that a coworking space often hosts. Eventually, you’ll find it easier to start a discussion, so embrace the unsteady feeling that you may experience initially. Because it’s usually intimidating to open up to someone new, it’s important to acknowledge that relationships and opportunities usually bring many benefits — for both your career and your mental health.

5. Flexibility

The flexibility of a coworking space is important to consider, especially when thinking about present urgencies and how they may change in the future.

For example, in the case of startups, it may take years for the business to become successful. Keeping that in mind will help you determine whether a long lease is the best option as coworking spaces are ideal for short-term solutions and provide support for the business when scaling up or down. As such, the main factors to look for are the ability to scale up or down, as well as a flexible membership.

Many members access the coworking space daily, weekly or monthly, depending on the options available. Alternatively, you can often utilize a membership that tailors to an hourly format, which could be part-time, full-time and so on. These factors are especially important for entrepreneurs who need their office to support the changes in their business.

While it may seem time-consuming to research a coworking space, these efforts will ensure that you have the best experience with a new environment. If you consider the tips presented above and implement those you find essential, you’ll set yourself up for success on this journey.