Coworking space, not home office, is the future of small business

A shared conference room is often one of the amenities offered in coworking space.

A shared conference room is often one of the amenities offered in coworking space.

By Zoe Clark

Cowork offices are not a new idea. The concept of sharing work environment with professionals outside one’s industry first appeared over a decade ago, but since those shy beginnings, coworking has evolved into a hot trend across the world. A cost-efficient workplace solution for freelancers and solopreneurs trying to make a name for themselves, a rented spot in a shared office can help take your small business from level ground to rapid growth. Here are a few reasons why moving your line of work from home to a shared work space can prove worth every cent invested.

1. It is both work and play

All work and no interaction makes Jack and Jill dull human beings, and that is one of the biggest reasons why young professionals across the globe have taken an intense liking to the concept of coworking. Sharing space with peers who are not necessarily your team members is a bonus for small business owners who prefer the casual interaction of a traditional office to the isolation of an at-home workplace. If you like to mingle on work breaks, a coworking office is a real blessing, as it allows you to work independently from others and still be surrounded by people.

2. Less expensive than a home office

Home offices are great, granted you already have one that fits your bill. If you are just starting your career as a solopreneur, however, office equipment procurement can be extremely costly and time-consuming, which is why a seat in a ready-furnished coworking space is a real lifeboat. According to JP office workstations, many shared workplaces nowadays feature ergonomic furniture and convenient amenities that would be either impossible or expensive to add to a home office.

When choosing cowork environment, research is all the hassle you have to endure, and the price of an out-of-home workstation is usually lower compare to maintaining home-bound corporate headquarters. Still not convinced? Note down the cost of all the gear you will need for a home office, and take into account long-term upkeep, repairs, and updates to get a realistic sense of all the expenses involved in an in-house workplace.

3. Growing a network of professional contacts

Coworking space is also an excellent lever to expand your network of professional contacts and meet likeminded professionals. Many a lucrative project began in a shared office, to say nothing of partnerships and cross-industry collaborations. You never know where you might meet your next client or business partner – and even if nobody from your cowork office solicits your service, they may still recommend you to the people on their contact list who may be in need of professional assistance you can provide.

4. No collisions between professional and private life

Working from home does have its perks, but it can lead to a head-on collision between your private and professional life. If you live with your family, partner, or roommate, interruptions and distractions during work hours are a given. Even if you live alone, your work will seldom end at the end of the day and you can wind up literally living inside your home office or having your professional life overflow to the rest of the house in the form of business documents, files, and receipts. Cowork space, on the other hand, allows you to focus on your job for as long as you want to, and check out when you want to, no questions asked and no take-home work involved.

Coworking offices are growing extremely popular among small business owners and freelancers, and the advantages of sharing a workplace outside your immediate living area beat by far the list of home office perks. If you are still working from home, it is high time to reconsider your options. By moving your business away from your home, you can only win, not lose, higher profit.

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Zoe Clark is an interior designer who loves sparking creativity in people and giving them ideas for their own spaces. Office space design has always been one of her favorites. You can find her on Twitter.

 

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