How to Choose a Coworking Space That’s Right for You
A coworking space is a shared, flexible office environment where companies and individual entrepreneurs from different fields can work together. In this article, we summarize the key points you need to bear in mind when choosing a coworking space, so you make the best decision for yourself or your team.
- 24/7 Access
Suppose your company works with clients in different time zones. From time to time, you have to stay up late or start work early in the morning. A coworking space that’s only open during normal business hours won’t be of much use.
The good news is that most coworking spaces have RFID card or mobile app-based access and 24/7 security, so you can work whenever you’re most productive – even at night or in the weekend.
- Convenient Location
A coworking space should fit your lifestyle, not the other way around, so location should take priority. That said, don’t forget to check for transit links and parking. It’s best if there’s on-site parking, but if not, look for nearby alternatives online so you don’t waste precious time when you get there. Better yet, look for bike storage when browsing for coworking spaces, and you won’t have this problem.
Although many flex offices target downtown areas and business districts because of the convenience, there’s now an increasing number of suburban coworking spaces too, so if you’re lucky, you might even find one right across the street from your home.
- Professional Equipment
Again, the whole idea behind going to a coworking space is convenience and functionality, so nothing stops you from focusing on your work. Make sure you have a comfortable chair, an adjustable desk, good lighting, plenty of power outlets and meeting rooms with decent audio and video equipment for calls and remote meetings.
- Fast Internet
A fast and reliable connection is no longer a luxury, it’s a basic need for modern work. When choosing a coworking space, check for seamless Wi-Fi, so you can freely move around the workspace, but it also doesn’t hurt if you have wired connection too for mission-critical tasks, as it’s generally faster and more reliable.
You can also ask if they have dual-ISP connection for an extra bit of redundancy, so you can stay connected even if one of the service providers has interruptions.
- Plenty of Caffeine
Most coworking spaces have at least a shared kitchen where you can warm up your lunch, grab some refreshments, and some of them even offer complimentary coffee so your caffein needs are covered even for the busiest of days.
However, despite their practicality, these shared kitchens aren’t really suitable for client appointments or interviews, so if you want to discuss over coffee or lunch, it’s best to check if there’s also a nice coffee shop or a restaurant within walking distance.
- Additional Services for Business
All flex workspaces have solutions for most of your space-related needs, however some coworking spaces go beyond that and help you with other business needs too. For example, some coworking spaces have their own lawyers, accountants, and on-site package handling services. This way, if you ever need business advice or other annex services, you can turn to the management team, without wasting time looking for a third-party specialist. This is especially useful for beginning entrepreneurs who are not yet ready to keep their own accountants and lawyers on staff.
- Community and Business Events
Just gathering lots of interesting people into one place can do the trick sometimes, but many coworking spaces go the extra mile in order to ensure the community functions as you expect. They often organize workshops, networking events, game nights and other community events to attract new members and bring the community closer together — in other words, turn a simple office space into a place where people actually want to come, and not just to work.
