Coworking is one of the most interesting new tools in the business world. Coworking spaces allow people from all different positions, in all different industries to have a place to work, without forcing them to pay for entire office that they don’t need. If you’ve never tried using a coworking space, you might not be sure about the benefits they offer, or how they can affect your day to day workload and schedule. There are several aspects that you should be aware of, since coworking can actually improve you work life vastly, in ways you might not even realize.

Financial

For a long time, business owners who work remotely only had two main options when it came to location. They could either work from an office that they would need to pay rent for, or they could work from a non-conventional spot for free, such as their own home, or a cafe. Unfortunately, for most people, neither of these options was perfect. Working from home or a cafe can be distracting and difficult, while working from an office meant paying sometimes astronomical rent prices, especially for those of us in the Bay Area.

Coworking bridges the gap between those two options by providing a cost effective, but work centered space where remote workers can get things done. Using a coworking space can allow you to focus on the tasks at hand without having to worry about how you’ll pay rent this month, or whether or not you’re making the most of the space you pay for. For many business owners, they’re the only (or one of the only) members of their team, so an entire office suite is really just a waste of resources.

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One of the issues with working out of a non-conventional space such as a coffee shop is that there is almost guaranteed to be a time when you’ll need to meet with a colleague, employee, partner, investor or potential client. If you’re working out of Starbucks booth, this can present a huge problem when it comes to how you come across to others. Just think of it from their point of view. Would you get the impression that someone is serious about their business, if they didn’t have a designated space in which they handle daily projects? Renting a coworking space shows that you’re serious about your business, and in it for the long haul. Meeting with investors or potential clients will be much easier and more professional since you’ll have access to private conference rooms with AV equipment and all you’ll need to make a professional presentation.

Motivation

The second major issue with working from home or a cafe is that it can be hard to stay motivated there. With all the distractions of home, it can be difficult to get your mind into a “work mode”, and stay there for long periods of time. Cafes can be pretty loud and bustling, so it can be almost impossible to keep focus. Coworking spaces are divided into sections, a few of which are designated as quiet zones, where you’ll be able to easily get and stay focused.