Coworking spaces are popping up all over every major city. They’re becoming increasingly popular for both freelancers and startups, but it can be hard to find the right spot for you. Here are some tips for you to hep in finding a coworking space that fits your needs.
Find the location that is right for you
When considering the benefits of coworking spaces, it’s important to consider how much time you spend in the office. If you’re only going to be working from home occasionally or have specific needs that require a certain type of workspace, then it makes sense to find coworking spaces that meet those needs. But if you plan on spending most of your time at the office and taking advantage of all its amenities (like kitchens and meeting rooms), then location should be your top priority.
Many factors go into deciding where you want to work—for some people, proximity is key; for others, the cost is more important than convenience.
Only rent what you need
Renting a small space is cheaper than renting a bigger space. However, if you find yourself needing more room in the future, it’s easy to upgrade to a larger space. In general, the more people who share your coworking office space with you, the less expensive it will be per person.
Choose flexible memberships
To make the most of your coworking experience, choose a flexible membership plan. If a startup is growing steadily but doesn’t need space yet, then it might not be worth their money to commit to having an office all day every day. Likewise, freelancers who only occasionally need the space may not want a long-term commitment either. Flexible memberships are great for remote workers who have multiple locations and need to be mobile at times too.
These plans allow you to pay per month on an annual basis and scale down or increase your utilization as needed throughout the year without any additional fees or penalties. This is unlike traditional leases where you are locked into a fixed rate per month for the space you are renting regardless of how often you actually use it.
Get an office tour before making your final decision
If you’re not sure what kind of coworking space will be a good fit for your particular needs and goals, it can help to take a look at the spaces before signing up for membership. The best way to do this is with an office tour. The tour is also a good time to ask questions about the amenities offered by the workspace, including conference rooms and event spaces as well as private offices where you might want to work quietly away from others.
You may even want to get a feel for how other members interact with each other by meeting them during your visit—and if that sounds appealing, then this particular coworking space might be perfect for you.
Find a community of people with whom you relate to
Coworking spaces provide the perfect opportunity to be yourself. If you’re a quiet person and need some time alone to get work done, coworking is a great way to do so in an environment conducive to your productivity. If you want to network with other entrepreneurs, there’s plenty of opportunity for that as well. Find a community of people with whom you relate and who are around your age group; this will give you more opportunities for collaboration and the exchange of ideas.
