If you work from home or operate your small business without an official “office,” you could improve your business with the benefits of coworking. Coworking is a growing trend wherein business owners who usually work at home, in a coffee shop, or on the road can gather together in one location to share office space, technology, and even companionship.
Growing Numbers of Self-Employed Professionals
With the high number of layoffs in the last few years and the national unemployment rate at 10%, unemployed professionals are taking their careers in their own hands by going solo and starting their own home business. However, many at-home workers find that there are many disadvantages to working at home, including isolation, lack of an ability to brainstorm with others, and minimal access to important technology.
But most at-home workers do not yet have the capital or sales revenue to hire employees or rent an office space. The solution? Coworking.
Why Coworking Was Invented
Thanks to savvy individuals who were tired of working at coffees shops, coworking spaces were developed. At-home professionals can meet and work with other people who share similar work values, as well as find a space where they could still work independently and even meet with clients in a professional, state-of-the-art meeting or presentation room.
Coworking spaces started around 1999. Since then, a number of new coworking community spaces have developed around the country.
The Coworking Environment
A good example of a successful coworking space is Citizen Space in San Francisco. This is a 3,500 square foot office space in downtown San Francisco, where solo business people can get together for free during regular business hours or pay a small monthly fee to become a “resident” and have 24 hour access to the space.
Citizen Space has 20 resident desks available, and it includes WiFi, office supplies, couches, snacks, color printer, mini-cam computer, reference books, and a conference room. The office is decorated with stylish furniture from Ikea, and it is even eligible for “green” business status.
Citizen Space allows people who work from home to simply drop in for free, or if they become a regular at the office, they can buy different levels of “resident” status. A full resident ($425 per month) has full access to a desk and all equipment, as well as first rights to reserving the conference room or scheduling events.
Benefits of Coworking
How can the benefits of coworking help your bottom line?
- Collaborate with others – Share ideas and help one another work more efficiently.
- Networking – Use your new network of friends to help expand your business.
- Technology – You can have access to technology you may not otherwise be able to afford on your own.
- Professional space – Be able to meet with clients in a professional meeting space that is not your home or a public café.
The benefits of coworking can help you run your business more efficiently, as well as help you avoid the loneliness many at-home professionals experience. If you spend most of your time working from your home, take a look at coworking spaces in your area and see if you might be a good fit.
