Are you running a startup business? Have you reached the point at which it’s time to move out of your house or basement or garage and into a dedicated office space? If so, congratulations on reaching this critical milestone! You could lease an office, but more and more startups are finding that using a co-working space is a more viable solution. Here are some of the reasons why:
- It’s an atmosphere of productivity
Traditional offices are notorious for divided spaces, walls, and partitions, which keep workers separated from each other, isolated in individual offices and cubicles. Contrast this with the tone of a co-working space. Everyone working there, regardless of what company they work for or the nature of their business, is there for the same reason: to get their work done. These spaces tend to carry a buzz of excitement and togetherness, even when occupied by people working on different projects or in different fields.
- Less commitment
When you rent your own office space, you can expect to commit to a lease of at least a year, though in commercial real estate, leases of 3 to 5 years are even more common. Not so with a co-working space. Most are rented on a month-to-month basis, which makes it much easier for you to upgrade or make a move to your own space when the need justifies it.
- Lower overhead and startup costs
Moving into your own office is a big expense! You’ve got to furnish the place with office equipment, desks, phone, networking, and more, even before you move in and start paying rent and a host of other monthly expenses. Or, you could move into a co-working space, where it’s all there and ready for you to use. This leaves your capital free to invest in other aspects of your business.
- You might even get some free consulting
At a co-working space, the person at the desk next to you may work for another company, and could be doing a completely different type of work. But sometimes that’s beneficial for everyone involved. For example, do you need to make some changes to one of the pages on your website? The web designer a few desks down make have some valuable input. Of course, for this to work properly, you’ll need to reciprocate by making your expertise available as needed, but that seems natural in the environment of a co-working space.
- People enjoy going to co-working spaces
Traditional offices are a remnant of the old-school workplace. You know the one I’m talking about. The one that’s a drag to go to every day, where workers burn out and watch their dreams fade away. Co-working spaces, on the other hand, are vital, filled with vibrant energy. It’s a shared atmosphere of creativity, where a diverse group of people work to make their dreams come to life.
