Top 10 Tips for Finding the Best Coworking Space

Top 10 Tips for Finding the Best Coworking Space

Coworking spaces have exploded over the past few years. But finding one that fits your business model can be tough.

A coworking space is where people can work together in a relaxed environment. Many people are moving away from cubicles and becoming independent workers because they enjoy the flexibility, social interaction, and access to resources that a coworking space provides. 

Working in a shared space has become popular recently, but finding the right one can be challenging. I’m here to help you find the best coworking space and give you some helpful hints.

Have you considered joining a coworking space? Whether you’re a freelancer, a startup, or a larger enterprise, coworking spaces are popping up around the globe and have become popular places to work.

1 – Find the Best Coworking Spaces in Your Area

While this is still relatively new, coworking spaces are already gaining popularity in the United States and worldwide. According to the U.S. Census Bureau data, there are currently around 5,000 coworking spaces across the country and 20,000 worldwide. 

Like many types of office spaces, Coworking spaces offer different features depending on the type of business that utilises it. However, they all generally offer a shared workspace where members can meet with clients and colleagues, collaborate online, and share resources like office supplies and equipment.

While coworking spaces have their advantages, there are also some drawbacks. The first is cost. Second, it can be tough to figure out precisely what you’re getting. But coworking can be a great opportunity if you’re looking to start a new venture, expand your current business or get together with some friends and work side-by-side.

Make Sure It Has the Right Environment

“The environment you’re in when you’re trying to sell and do your best is critical,” says Mark Tully, vice president of business development at R/GA. “You need to feel comfortable.”

There are many reasons to work from a coworking space, and you should research to ensure you’re getting the best environment for your needs. 

• Is the space clean? 
• Does it have easy access to food and coffee? 
• Will the space offer free Wi-Fi? 
• Is it accessible by public transportation? 
• And finally, what are other people there doing?

Be Flexible – Don’t Put Limits on Where You Can Go

Your coworking space doesn’t have to be on the fifth floor of an office building. I have had clients set up shop in the back room of their kitchen or garage. Just don’t limit yourself. If you work in a place with ample space but need more, move somewhere else! There are several coworking spaces in the city where you can take advantage of their amenities and still work from home, so there is no reason you can’t switch spaces.

Coworking spaces aren’t just limited to Silicon Valley or major cities. They’re sprouting up all over the country and the globe. But the biggest challenge for any entrepreneur who wants to take advantage of this trend is finding a suitable space that fits their needs. When looking for a coworking space, it’s essential to consider its physical location, proximity to public transit, ease of parking, and whether there are good coffee options nearby. If you don’t find a suitable space within a short radius of your workplace, it may be worth trying out a temporary setup.

Go for a “Welcoming” Atmosphere

I’m not a huge fan of corporate culture, but I believe in creating an inviting environment at work. Coworking spaces can be a place for creativity and collaboration. It doesn’t have to be a sterile place like an office. It can be a friendly place where people feel comfortable taking breaks and completing their work. There are many ways to make your coworking space feel more inviting.

For coworking to take off, there needs to be a friendly atmosphere in the spaces where people meet up to work. Being friendly, kind, and helpful with your guests is essential to ensure they feel welcomed and comfortable while working there. 

Think of how you’d like to be treated in a coworking space. Would you want to hang out there? Would you want to bring clients? The atmosphere and ambience you provide will impact everyone who works in the space. So, how do you ensure that your coworkers, clients, and potential customers feel welcome?

2 – Consider Your Personality

It may be tempting to avoid talking to people when you’re working from home, but you should consider whether you’re a social or a solo person before finding a workspace that will work for you. Many people who work remotely and can’t get along with others find coworking spaces ideal because everyone has a common interest. The office environment can help people feel more comfortable getting to know each other.

People come to coworking spaces for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes people go to coworking because it allows them to stay productive while meeting new people and connecting to their community. Other people need a workplace and don’t care about the community or anything else. The truth is that every coworking space is unique. 

They have different personalities. Some have open areas where you can socialise with your coworkers, while others don’t have any social areas. Every coworking space is different and has different personalities. To find the best coworking space for you, you should consider your personality, whether or not you want to socialise, and what kind of community you want to join.

Determine What You Want from the Experience

The best coworking spaces are those where people want to spend time. If a coworking space isn’t providing value, you won’t want to spend time there. The next step is determining exactly what you want from your coworking space. Are you looking for flexibility? Quiet? Something else?

You’re going to spend time in the coworking space, and you need to understand what you want and why you want it. You’ll want to be surrounded by people you enjoy working with, so you need to know who will be there. You need a space that offers plenty of privacy, so you need to know that you won’t be bothering anyone. 

The space needs to have the right equipment to get the job done. It needs to be convenient to your daily routine and offer amenities to make your life more pleasant. You need a space that is easy to pay for and use. This last point is crucial if you don’t have a regular income or a large budget for coworking.

3 – Pick the Right Coworking Space

Coworking spaces are perfect for entrepreneurs to test the waters. If you’ve been working solo or with others on the side, you know how quickly it can become a very isolating process. Being surrounded by others working on their business is the perfect antidote to that isolation. It lets people learn from one another, bounce ideas off each other, and even find new collaborators if they’re looking for new ideas and ways to help grow their company.

Coworking spaces offer the chance to collaborate with others and even to socialise. But to succeed, you need to choose a place that fits your needs and your team. Ask yourself a few questions: 

• Will you use this space if it’s in the wrong location? 
• Are there any distractions? 
• Is it too big for you or your team? 
• Is it worth having access to the coworking space 24/7, or is that just a perk you don’t need?

Look at the Workplace Culture

Do you love being surrounded by passionate people about what they do? Then coworking may be right for you. Coworking spaces offer their members opportunities to get to know people from all walks of life, and they provide a place for freelancers to meet, mingle, network and share ideas. It’s also where workers can take a break from their desks and explore new ways of working.

A workplace culture survey was conducted by the coworking firm Spacesite. It included responses from more than 3,000 freelancers, remote workers and other independent professionals who work remotely, in coworking spaces or both. The most common reasons for working in coworking spaces are that they are cheaper than traditional offices, offer flexibility and convenience, and offer social networking opportunities. 

According to the results, 42% of respondents said coworking was their preferred working arrangement over traditional office spaces. They most commonly used coworking spaces for working while travelling (50 per cent), followed by freelancing (28 per cent) and working while on a break from a traditional office (27 per cent).

Choose Between Individual Rooms and a Shared Workspace

It may seem like the obvious choice to have your entire business in one location, but there are a couple of reasons why this isn’t a great idea. First, it’s more expensive to rent one space than to have several smaller offices in various parts of the world. Secondly, when your business is a little more established, having a shared workspace can help people feel more comfortable approaching you about your company. 

It shows them that you’re not just a startup with a big idea; you’re a real business with actual employees. Having a shared workspace also means spending less time cleaning up after yourself and saving money on office supplies.

Find a Space with Plenty of Light

Light matters. When the sun is shining, employees are more productive, and morale is high. But you don’t want a warehouse or office full of fluorescent lights. Natural light gives people energy and makes them happier. So choose a workspace that provides ample natural light. You can also add plants to give off oxygen and create a natural environment for employees to unwind.

To get to a place that feels like home, you need to find a comfortable, welcoming space that allows you to focus without being interrupted. At the very least, you want a well-lit workspace with plenty of natural light and quiet. This environment will help you focus and avoid distractions. If you find yourself distracted, the next step is finding ways to block out the noise and focus on the task at hand.

4 – Network, Network, Network

While coworking spaces offer amenities like Wi-Fi, power outlets, printers, and sometimes even kitchens and lounges, the most valuable part of coworking is the human connection. Coworking isn’t just about access to resources and equipment; it’s also about human contact. Coworking spaces are designed to facilitate communication and collaboration among coworkers, so make sure you network, make new connections and build your network as much as possible.

Meet the Team – Learn What Makes Them Tick

While the office itself is a beautiful space, its people make it unique. Their passion, dedication, and commitment make their coworking space different. Their dedication and love for what they do, make it easy for everyone who walks through their doors to feel comfortable and welcome. 

The team comprises founders, owners and staff members committed to delivering the highest quality service to their clients. They’re always open to hearing your ideas and are always up for helping new community members who want to join their movement.

5 – Go Beyond the Internet for Reviews

There are plenty of options out there for coworking space, but if you’re considering switching to a new space, you need to take the time to research all the options to make sure it’s the right fit for you and your business. The problem with online reviews is that they can often be biased. Coworking space reviews can be especially tricky because they tend to be biased towards spaces that provide a lot of free perks, such as printing or coffee.

It’s possible to go beyond the internet to discover coworking spaces. In some cases, local directories are an ideal resource. Find a free directory that lists coworking spaces and companies that provide support and resources to members. It’s a valuable tool for finding coworking spaces in a particular city or town.

Understand What You Are Buying

If you’re looking for a coworking space, you need to understand what coworking is, why it matters, and what coworking space means for you. Most people who join coworking spaces are professionals in a specific industry (tech, design, creative, etc.) and want to get together with peers to help build each other’s businesses. 

Many coworking spaces are membership organisations, and some have a membership fee. A membership fee may be required to access the community’s shared amenities, such as conference rooms, printing, and internet access. If you’re looking to cowork to network with other professionals in your industry, your best bet is to search online for local coworking spaces.

6 – Look for Coworking Spaces with the Most Social Proof

Social proof is a psychological influence where the actions of others can have a significant effect on your decisions. When people have more people acting similarly to them, they tend to follow those behaviours. 

For example, if a person sees three other people leaving the office at 5 p.m. and not working from home, they’re more likely to leave.

While coworking spaces are great if you don’t need an entire office environment, they aren’t always the best choice. That’s because a lot of the value of a coworking space comes from having others around you. 

Coworking spaces are like gyms, except the focus is on getting work done rather than pumping iron. While a coffee shop or bar can sometimes be conducive to this kind of atmosphere, many other coworking environments are available that better support the social aspect.

Be Cautious About Expensive Offers

One of the reasons why coworking spaces can seem like a good deal is that they are usually only offered for a limited amount of time. That means that many people take advantage of coworking space deals. 

However, there are also a lot of unscrupulous coworking space owners who take advantage of the fact that no one knows precisely what coworking space costs and therefore aren’t offering the same quality of coworking spaces for the same price as their competitors.

7 – Consider Your Needs

What kind of workspace does your company need? Do you need open floor plans? Private offices? Is flexibility key to your company?

I used to think coworking spaces were meant for people with big ideas and lots of energy to spare. That’s one of the things I always hear about when people mention coworking: It’s great because it makes you feel productive. 

But coworking isn’t only for people who need to get a ton of work done. For example, coworkers often want to be around their colleagues instead of sitting alone at home. There’s also a group of people who are in between jobs. These people have more time than they know what to do with but don’t have any leads to fall back on. They want something to do until they find a new gig.

Find A Space That Fits Your Budget

Finding an affordable coworking space is no small feat, but it is possible. There are plenty of options that are a fraction of the cost of traditional office space.

Many coworking spaces across the world cater to different budgets. There are coworking spaces for people who don’t need the space to meet clients and coworkers. There are coworking spaces for people who need a private office and can afford to pay more than $400 a month. Then there are coworking spaces for people who need the space but can’t afford to pay even close to that amount. The choice is up to you and your needs, as there are coworking spaces in any budget range.

Make Sure There Is a Kitchen

You may be surprised to hear that the kitchen at some coworking spaces is essential to what makes the space unique. It provides the opportunity to meet new people and network, but it’s also a great place to get work done and prepare meals. 

We’ve seen a trend of coworking spaces that offer kitchenettes in their lobbies and meeting rooms. While this trend may grow, coworking spaces should still include a kitchen for all members. Even if you’re the kind who doesn’t like to eat lunch with coworkers, a kitchen offers many benefits, such as convenience and cleanup.

8 – Take Advantage of the Coworking Environment

When you take advantage of the coworking environment, you can work smarter rather than longer. 

According to a new study conducted by Harvard Business Review, employees are more productive in the office than at home. This is because of the “social” aspects of office work. These elements include shared ideas and knowledge, collaboration, social interactions, and professional advancement opportunities.

Today’s entrepreneurs often collaborate in person. They meet in coffee shops, coworking spaces, or even coworking homes, where fellow entrepreneurs and their ideas join them are shared. 

People tend to listen more carefully to others than in a traditional office setting in a collaborative working environment, building more robust networks and relationships. Collaborative environments also encourage greater creativity and collaboration because of the open nature of the space.

Learn from Others

A lot of us are guilty of being too self-centred. We can be our own worst enemies when it comes to business success. One of the most important things we can do for ourselves is to learn from others who’ve been successful. 

There is something magical about people who’ve achieved their dreams. They often share their advice with others looking to follow in their footsteps.

There are plenty of resources online to help you with the basics. It is, however, a rare occasion that people share lessons they’ve learned when running a business, especially in the coworking community. So, it pays to learn from their successes and failures if you want to avoid making the same mistakes other coworking entrepreneurs have made.

9 – Join Local Groups on LinkedIn

LinkedIn has a few groups focusing on people and companies involved in the coworking movement. Most of these groups are focused on the coworking community in Europe and North America. But some groups are focused on the coworking community in other parts of the world, such as Australia, Brazil, and Spain. To find these groups, search for “coworking” in the search bar on your LinkedIn homepage.

While working from home is a great way to build your freelance business, there are also many advantages to joining local groups on LinkedIn and actively participating in conversations related to your field of expertise. Whether it’s about starting a local meetup group or simply attending events where there’s a mix of local freelancers, you’ll find much value in being part of an active community of like-minded professionals. After all, we’re all in this together.

10 – Get Connected with Potential Coworkers

People often forget that networking is more than just finding potential clients; it’s also about building connections with others. 

According to the book Getting Connected, the number one reason people don’t join professional organisations is that they feel they don’t have any reason to belong to an organisation or they’re not interested in the activities they’ll have to participate in. According to the book, the key to getting connected is to remember that you’ll always have more in common with the people you meet. Once you start meeting people, you’ll have more reasons to stay connected.

It would help if you considered social media channels as a tool that can help you connect with new people you want to meet. To do that effectively, it’s crucial to have a strategy and a plan for how you’ll use it.

The Importance of Community

Community is essential to any coworking space. It’s one of the most undervalued aspects of coworking. A coworking community comprises people who enjoy each other’s company, want to help each other, and are looking for new opportunities. Coworking communities constantly foster growth and productivity by offering all of these opportunities. This can’t be underestimated when thinking about coworking spaces.

Make Sure Your Coworkers Have What You Need

While many of the other tips above deal with you as an individual, your coworkers should know your needs and what you’re willing to put up with. If they don’t have something you need, you may need to find another space. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions. Let them know precisely what you’re looking for. They don’t want to seem unsupportive. They want to make sure you’re happy.

Conclusion

I hope these top 10 tips help you find the best coworking space. Each coworking space has different amenities and benefits. You’ll need to decide which features are important to you and if a particular feature will enhance your productivity. Also, you’ll need to consider the other individuals who might share your office space. Will you get along with your neighbours? If you’re going to be on the road a lot, you may want to choose a space that offers access to local transportation.

Let us know what you think in the comments.