In recent years, the number of freelancers and contractors has been on the rise. A number of factors are the reason behind this increase, but the availability of technologies and alternative workspaces has made owning a business or even becoming self-employed accessible to many who would not be able to afford to do so. One of the most popular workspace solutions is the coworking space.
The coworking space has become more than a trend with more and more offices showing up in major cities in the US. The coworking plan is shared space but provides a platform for businesses to network while getting work completed. The spaces are flexible, inexpensive plans that can actually do much of the work of raising your business’s visibility.
Continue reading to learn why coworking is becoming more than just a trendy fad in the US.
Networking Platform
One of the central reasons that the coworking space has become a favourite of the American businessperson is because this office plan makes the space work for your business. Many of the offices are designed with all types of professionals in mind, so if you do not necessarily want to work in the more social hot desks, in many cases, there are dedicated desks and private office to rent as well. Then, many of the spaces have an open floor plan, which is then broken up into break areas and collaborating areas, and if this is not available, conference and meeting rooms are available to use.
This office spaces promote social interaction simply be removing the barriers (in this office walls) that usually separate professionals. Furthermore, with the diverse array of professionals that work in the area, they have more than enough opportunities to engage each other in the course of a day. Then, add in the community events calendar, which also creates opportunities for businesses to interact outside of normal business hours.
Community-Minded Workspace
One of the unique characteristics of the coworking space is that each space defines itself and creates its own culture. This community that is created can become a support network for helping establish a business. With countless industries working in one space and many opportunities to establish relationships, those choosing the coworking plan can easily develop a network of support in the space. Plus, this community atmosphere engenders a sense of caring for fellow workers in an office environment that typically would be characterised as very competitive.
Inexpensive Workspace
The coworking platform is probably one of the cheapest, if not the least expensive, to lease. The plan is an all-inclusive one that pays for all of the office-related amenities and the monthly amount needed to rent desk space. Many spaces offer additional lifestyle amenities that make working in the space much easier, but the standard space focuses a lot on providing office space and providing an avenue from which to network. For smaller businesses that need to keep costs low, the coworking space can place your business in some of the better business districts in the city.
Access To Resources
In terms of human potential and information, the coworking space functions as a resource to community members. Again, most general spaces contain professionals from a variety of industries, and so as opposed to having to track information down, businesses these professionals are a resource. As opposed to having to do a lot of guesswork on your own, networking is the best way to access the information and the necessary people.
Providing Access To Start-Ups
If looking to start a business but not quite sure of how to establish yourself, the coworking office can be a great way to connect with the business community. Through coworking, it is possible to build relationships and find mentors who can be a resource within the space. For the reasons above and many more, the coworking space has become a favourite of the small business.