If you’re a small business owner, coworking can be an exciting option. But if you’re not sure if it’s right for your business, let’s look at some pros and cons of coworking so that you can figure out what would be best for your company.
Are you a small business owner wondering whether or not coworking is right for your business?
You’re a small business owner, and you’re trying to decide whether or not coworking is right for your business. You may be thinking:
- Anyone can go coworking! It’s not just for freelancers and remote workers.
- Coworking spaces are a great option for those looking for a change in their work environment—whether that means going from working at home alone with no one around to interact with, or moving from an office where everyone knows each other well and spends most of their day talking shop. In fact, many people who cowork come from traditional offices because they want something more collaborative than what they have now (and often end up loving it!).
Well, we can help you figure it out!
Coworking is a great way to get out of your home office. It gives you access to community, professional development and other resources that help you build your business.
Coworking spaces are affordable—most charge between $100 and $300 per month (and some even less). They also offer great amenities like conference rooms, high-speed internet, printing services and more.
Coworking spaces attract a diverse pool of talent so it’s easy to network with other freelancers in the same industry as well as those in different industries that may have connections or resources you don’t yet know about.
If you’re not ready for coworking just yet but still want an alternative office solution, check out our list of coworking alternatives here!
We’re going to go over the pros and cons of coworking so you can decide if it’s right for you.
Coworking is a great way to get out of the house and be productive. You can use your coworking space as an office, but you’ll also meet other professionals who are there for the same reason: to network and work on projects in a collaborative environment. Coworking spaces are also a great way to meet new people and learn new skills.
Let’s get started!
Coworking is a shared workspace that caters to independent workers and entrepreneurs. You can work from a coworking space for a few hours, or it can be your permanent home office. The idea is that you’ll share a physical workspace with other people who are there for the same reasons as you: they want to be around other creative professionals and entrepreneurs, but don’t want the burden of running their own company full-time. Coworking spaces typically have an open floor plan where everyone can sit together in one room, with nooks and crannies set aside so individuals can come together when needed (for example, when collaborating on projects). All this sounds pretty cool—and it is! But before you commit yourself to such an arrangement (or decide not to), let’s take some time understanding what coworking actually means…
Pros of Coworking
Coworking is great for many reasons, but the main one is that it gives you access to a community of like-minded freelancers who can help you out. Here are some other benefits:
- You get to work with other people. Coworking spaces have a network of professionals who are willing to lend a hand when you need it, whether that’s through working on projects together or sharing resources.
- You can learn from other people. Coworkers come from different industries and have diverse experiences, meaning they have lots of knowledge that can benefit your business!
- You can bounce ideas off of other people. If you’re stuck on an idea for something new or struggling with an old project, coworking lets you brainstorm with others who may offer fresh perspectives on how best to proceed forward with your goals (or give them up altogether).
You’re always on the clock.
When you work from home, you’re always on the clock. There’s no slowing down or taking a break from it all—even when you’re relaxing or spending time with your family. You can’t just let your mind wander and hope for inspiration to strike. Instead, if there’s something that needs doing for your business—or even just an idea—it’s likely flowing through your mind at all times.
Aside from keeping up with everything else in life, working from home also keeps us constantly thinking about our job and how we can do better at it. This means we’re never able to relax or have fun because our minds are always racing with ideas and tasks that must be completed soon (or already have been, but need some tweaking).
Keep up with the latest trends in your field.
Coworking offers the opportunity to connect with other professionals who are interested in your industry, and vice versa. You can learn more about what’s going on in their field, and they can learn about yours too. This is a great way to keep up with the latest trends and developments in your industry.
In addition to learning from others, being around like-minded people can also inspire you: if you get an idea while at work (or even just see someone else doing something cool), it may be worth trying out yourself!
There is a diverse pool of talent to choose from.
Coworking spaces are a great way to get connected with diverse and talented people. You can learn from other people in the space, like those who work in different industries or those who are from different backgrounds. Plus, you may have the opportunity to meet someone who works on a similar project as yours but will give you advice about how they approach their work differently than how you do. Coworking offers new opportunities for learning every day!
Work somewhere new every day.
Coworking is a great way to work in new environments every day. Work in different locations, work in different spaces and work with people who are just as interested in working on the go as you are. For example:
- Work at the beach while taking notes with a fountain pen on handmade paper that smells like lavender.
- Or take your laptop to an outdoor café and dream up ideas while sipping your favorite drink.
You get my point! Coworking will keep you on your toes and help you stay creative when it comes to finding new places to do what you love doing most—working hard!
The energy of your coworkers can keep you driven.
- Coworkers can also provide a dose of inspiration. The energy of your coworkers can help keep you driven and motivated, especially if they are passionate about what they do and excited about their work.
- Coworkers can help you stay focused on your tasks by creating a sense of accountability among co-workers who know each other outside the office as well. They will be more likely to hold each other accountable for meeting deadlines, finishing projects on time, etc., than someone who works independently from home all day long.
Save time & money commuting to and from work every day.
- Save time & money commuting to and from work every day.
- Reduce your carbon footprint by not driving to a separate office every day.
- Reduce your commuting costs.
- Increase your productivity.
- Reduce stress levels – working from home saves time spent on travel, and allows you to unwind when you get home at the end of the day instead of feeling like an extension of work 24/7.
- Make more time for family and friends – working from home means that you can spend more quality time with the people who matter most in your life instead of being stuck in traffic or on public transportation all day long!
Cons of Coworking
On the other hand, coworking has its downsides. You might find it difficult to focus on your own tasks when you’re surrounded by so much activity and interaction; after all, the average office worker is used to working in relative silence. Coworking spaces can also be less private than you’d expect—you may not have any control over who sits next to you (or even right next to you). And remember that if your coworking space has a kitchen area, people may be chatting away over coffee while they’re using it and not paying attention to what they’re doing.
There are more distractions than you may be used to.
Coworking spaces are designed to be an open and collaborative environment. This means that there are a lot of distractions. It’s not uncommon for your coworkers to walk around, talk loudly on the phone or eat lunch in front of you in the space. You may even find yourself distracted by other people’s conversations.
The best way to deal with this is to make sure that you’re comfortable working where you are before taking on too much work at once or trying something new. If this doesn’t work for you, try setting up some boundaries with yourself (e.g., only work from 8am-9am) and then focus on your task until it’s done before moving onto something else.
If you find yourself having to make an important decision about whether or not workspace sharing is right for your business, then make sure you refer back to this list and remember everything we discussed today!
If you are a small business owner who is looking for more collaborative opportunities, coworking might be right for you. Coworking spaces provide an accessible and professional environment that can help business owners grow their businesses while providing them with the opportunity to meet new people.
If you are still on the fence about whether or not coworking is right for your business, here are some things to consider:
- Is it something that will benefit my company?
- Do I have enough money in my budget?
- How much space do I need at this point in my growth trajectory?
Conclusion
In the end, coworking is a great way to get your business started. It’s affordable and gives you access to a diverse pool of talent in one place. It also gives you freedom from office space rental costs and plenty of other benefits we mentioned here today!