Many companies, after the pandemic, have set aside offices, mainly due to the expenses they generate. At the same time, remote work has gained space, dispensing with such large physical structures in companies . Given this scenario, coworking emerged as an option to help this type of business and professionals.
However, although this model is not new, many still do not know what a coworking space is, how it works or the benefits it can bring. As a result, they fail to take advantage of this opportunity to optimize their routine and take advantage of professional advantages.
What is coworking?
Coworking is a work environment shared by people and companies. This collaborative work model is focused on sharing space and resources . Thus, you can rent coworking offices to work, hold meetings and network with other professionals and entrepreneurs.
This is a relatively new model that is highly aligned with the future of work — which provides for greater flexibility in professional relationships. There is a tendency to search for a better quality of life and balance between personal life and career. In this scenario, remote work and flexible working hours are gaining preference among professionals.
Currently, coworking is understood as a workspace that can serve companies and professionals. The entire structure is designed to bring comfort, productivity, stimulate creativity and ensure collaboration. With this, it can bring a series of advantages to those who use the solution.
What is it like to work in a coworking space?
Working in a coworking space means having a professional space to carry out your activities. Therefore, the experience is usually quite positive, without problems with adaptation and other similar issues.
This is because all the details are planned considering the demand for professionals, including decoration, furniture, equipment, available spaces, costs , etc.
An interesting point is that coworking can also be of different styles or aimed at different audiences. Those looking for more relaxed environments can find several possibilities. Companies or professionals looking for a space that conveys more seriousness will also find options.
There are also options with different hiring plans, such as by the hour, day, week or month. That is, coworking work can be sporadic or frequent, depending on your needs.
Coworking suits for
Coworking is suitable for several companies and professionals , as it is quite versatile. Businesses that do not have a physical location or need to set up meetings outside their locality can benefit. This can be done in cases where negotiations are made with professionals from other cities and there is a focus on face-to-face meetings.
Large companies that adopt the remote or hybrid regime can also take advantage of coworking. In these cases, it is possible to seek partnerships to offer a space for employees, ensuring more benefits for the team.
Coworking spaces are also useful for professionals in general who can work remotely. After all, even if working from home is comfortable, there may be times when having a more professional space and contact with other workers becomes important.
Thus, professionals who work with a formal contract, work as self-employed or freelancers , can take advantage of several advantages when using these offices . In summary: any person or company that wants to work in a collaborative environment will find a great opportunity in coworking.
How much does a coworking space cost?
In general, it is possible to find spaces from $15 an hour for shared areas. However, booking a meeting room or a daily rate is more expensive.
Also, there is the possibility of making monthly contracts, with different time models — just one period, every day, on alternate days, etc. For this reason, there is no single price. The tip here is to research the alternatives close to your points of interest to make budgets. Overall, they offer great value for money.
What does coworking offer?
Coworking offers a complete structure for work. See the main amenities!
Structured physical space to work
Coworking offers a structured physical space for professionals or companies. For professionals, this can be an option to not be limited to the home office , working only at home. After all, it is often not possible to have really structured offices at home , which can cause discomfort or even difficulties in maintaining routine.
Thus, there is a way to have a physical space to work, without necessarily depending on the company working face-to-face or maintaining the commitment to show up every day.
For companies, this is a relevant differential to ensure that employees have access to more workspaces or have an environment to welcome customers. With so many companies operating in the digital model, this is the opportunity to have a physical space available with practicality.
Corporate events for professionals who attend the space
Several coworking spaces promote corporate events. The objective is to provide more knowledge for managers and other professionals who attend the space. Opportunities also help with networking by encouraging greater interaction among everyone.
This feature also allows your company to hold events on site. It is quite common for coworking spaces to provide this opening for their partners to hold events. In that case, more opportunities to publicize your business may arise, such as organizing lectures and workshops.
Flexible environment and hours
Another great convenience of coworking is flexibility. They may have different opening hours and work with different hiring plans. Still, there are several office options in cities . This all means you can use them whenever you want, including varying your work location from day to day.
Good quality internet
A quality internet is essential when talking about remote work. This is because it is common to share files online, use cloud systems or need to do videoconferences. This requires a fast and stable connection.
For this reason, coworking spaces usually hire a high-quality internet plan — usually with more than one provider, to ensure constant availability. Therefore, worries about the connection become less.
Reservation of private rooms for meetings
The focus of coworking is sharing, so it is common for it to have shared spaces and tables. However, if you need privacy, the spaces also usually offer private or meeting rooms, which can be booked as needed.
Thus, it is possible to receive customers or business partners and discuss all necessary issues with peace of mind. For those who prefer exclusive spaces to concentrate on work, the alternative is also quite interesting.
Other differentials
These are the most common amenities, but there are other differentials that may be present in these establishments. For example:
- Living rooms, aimed at the interaction of professionals,
- Shared kitchen and eating area,
- Meeting rooms for meetings with more people;
- Parking,
- Pet friendly spaces (to receive animals),
- Kids friendly structure — helping professionals who need to take their children to work,
- Call booth and studios,
- Coffee shops and restaurants
What are the advantages of coworking?
See what are the main advantages of using a coworking space to work:
1. Diversity of spaces to work
The first benefit is the great diversity of spaces to work. With the popularization of this collaborative office model, it is possible to find several locations in each region. So you can work in multiple locations and have environments focused on different styles and audiences.
For those who don’t like to always be in the same environment, work as a digital nomad or seek to know more spaces and people on a daily basis, this diversity is a great differentiator.
In addition, you will be free to rent other spaces and easily change your routine , unlike what happens when renting a commercial space, for example. Also know that it is possible to find coworking spaces specialized in different segments or professional profiles.
2. Greater flexibility in routine
Coworking has become quite popular with the growth of remote work due to greater flexibility. Although many spaces operate during business hours, there are those with extended hours and even 24-hour hours. So you organize the working day quite freely.
Another advantage related to flexibility is the possibility of having both shared and private spaces. There are also options with different hiring models, one-off or recurring . Therefore, it is easier to always find an alternative that meets your needs, which may or may not involve a commitment to longer terms.
3. Cost reduction with structure
The reduction of costs with structure is an advantage mainly for those who want to undertake . Renting a physical space and dealing with all the related bills, such as electricity, water, internet, taxes and others, requires a high monthly cost. It is also necessary to mobilize the entire space and purchase various equipment.
Consequently, you need to make a high investment to start your own business. Still, it will be necessary to maintain a higher working capital available. Coworking, on the other hand, manages to reduce costs.
Even if you contract for full-time monthly use, the total billed is lower than what would be needed to open and maintain the establishment . The savings obtained with the structure can be the differential to be able to develop the business faster and maintain higher profit margins.
As for self-employed professionals and freelancers, there is not always a space available at home to work. The lack of professionalism can be another problem, especially when welcoming clients. In that case, coworking brings a very attractive solution and at a lower cost than creating your own space, even in your property.
4. Networking promotion
Having a good network of contacts brings benefits to companies and professionals. That’s because, in both cases, they can help find good partnerships, generate referrals, help find talent or promote the exchange of experiences and knowledge.
When opting for a coworking space, it is possible to have contact with different people on a daily basis, increasing the chances of good networking . Also, as these spaces can promote events, there are even more moments to interact with other professionals. Then you will have chances to expand business opportunities or in the job market.
Even with professionals who are not in the same area, opportunities may arise. After all, your customers or you may need different services on a daily basis. Another possibility is to find potential customers interested in investing in your business. With a network formed by quality connections, you can have different benefits.
5. Increased productivity in an environment that encourages focus
A survey of professionals who use coworking spaces has shown that productivity increases in these spaces. In the study, 76.8% of respondents stated that their performance at work had improved . This is due to several reasons, such as the complete infrastructure and the environment set up to stimulate creativity, innovation and focus.
There are also other benefits provided by coworking spaces that can reflect in greater productivity, for example:
- Improvement in social life;
- Easier to separate personal and professional life;
- Opportunities to learn more and improve skills;
- More time for family or other pleasurable activities.
That is, coworking is beneficial for mental health and quality of life. When these factors are satisfactory, the tendency is for professionals to act with greater motivation and better performance.
How to choose a good coworking space?
Understand what to evaluate to choose a good coworking space to work with!
1. Define your needs
The starting point is to understand what you need with the space. Is the idea to work sporadically or to have a routine in the same place? Is the hiring for you, as a self-employed professional, or for the company? Is it necessary to have a private space, or are the shared areas sufficient?
Make a complete list of everything you are looking for, separating essential items from those that are desirable , but can be dispensed with. It will serve as a guide when searching for alternatives available for booking.
2. Consider the location
The location can influence your routine, as you will need to travel to the coworking space. Then think about the desired neighborhood, check what the surroundings are like and, if applicable, see if the location is served by public transport. It is also interesting to evaluate the nearby facilities, such as banks, restaurants and other spaces that you may need in your professional routine.
To ensure greater optimization, it is worth using applications such as Google Maps or Waze to understand the path to the location, traffic conditions and see the average travel time. Thus, you guarantee the best planning to work in coworking.
3. Assess the coworking infrastructure
The infrastructure involves all items guaranteed to professionals who use the spaces, such as furniture, equipment, environments and others. Many spaces have complete websites, with photos of the different areas available, facilitating the analysis.
However, if the idea is a longer contract, it is essential to pay a visit to evaluate in detail and not regret the choice . Another possibility is to reserve a separate hour for this analysis, before making a decision that involves a longer period. By doing this, you will have greater peace of mind to make the choice.
Now, if the idea is just to work sporadically, in addition to the published photos, you can research the opinion of other professionals. It is quite common for coworking spaces to have pages on social networks or spaces for evaluation, allowing you to check the experience of those who have already used the place.
4. Research prices and plans
Finally, do your research on prices and plans, especially if you have several options available that align with your needs. Especially when the focus is on having a space to start your business, this analysis can make all the difference to ensure the best cost-benefit and benefit your company’s finances.
Now you know more about what coworking is and how these shared offices work. Therefore, if you want to have flexible spaces to support your business or promote opportunities to work in different places, it is worth considering having this service.
8 Ways Coworking Spaces Can Benefit Your Mental Health
Coworking spaces are becoming increasingly popular as more people seek to escape the isolation of working from home or the distractions of a traditional office environment. However, coworking spaces offer more than just a change of scenery. Here are eight ways that coworking spaces can benefit your mental health:
Reduce feelings of isolation: Coworking spaces provide a community of like-minded individuals who can offer support, collaboration, and social interaction.
Increase motivation: Being surrounded by other professionals can inspire and motivate you to work harder and more productively.
Promote work-life balance: Coworking spaces often offer amenities such as yoga classes, meditation sessions, and social events that can help you achieve a better work-life balance.
Reduce stress: Coworking spaces are designed to be comfortable and welcoming, with amenities such as natural light, plants, and comfortable seating, which can help reduce stress.
Increase creativity: Coworking spaces provide an environment that fosters creativity and innovation, allowing you to brainstorm and collaborate with others.
Boost confidence: Working in a coworking space can help you develop new skills and knowledge, which can increase your confidence in your abilities.
Provide networking opportunities: Coworking spaces provide ample opportunities to meet new people, make connections, and expand your professional network.
Increase flexibility: Coworking spaces often offer flexible membership options and amenities, such as 24/7 access and hot desking, that can adapt to your changing work needs and schedules.
