Are you an independent business professional looking for a space to rent outside of your home? If you’re looking for a office space, you have a couple of options before you. You could rent a small office or purchase a membership at a coworking space. You may find a coworking space fits your needs, or you may be more inclined to rent a traditional office. Here are some pros and cons to help you decide:
Pros
- More Networking Opportunities with Other Professionals – You’ll be immersed in a great networking culture with all kinds of business professionals. A coworking space is a great place to network.
- Most Coworking Spaces Sponsor Events – Coworking spaces tend to sponsor events, from networking events to business information events. These events are sometimes free to paying members.
- Coworking Spaces Help Boost Creativity – Coworking spaces are designed to promote and increase creativity in workers.
- Membership Fees – Membership fees are often less than what would cost you to rent an office. However, you do have to share the space with others.
- Additional Amenities – You may have the option of purchasing additional amenities for less than what it would cost you to buy or rent on your own, i.e. printer, mailbox, conference room, etc.
Cons
- You’re Unable to Control Noise Level – If you’re working in a relatively large, open space, your coworkers are likely to chat around you. While some people like the background noise of quiet conversations (something you’d find in a coffee shop), some people need total quiet to concentrate. Wearing headphones are always an option.
- Distractions – Other coworkers are more likely to start a conversation with you, ask you out to lunch, or have distracting conversations with others while you’re trying to get some work done.
- Conflicts – Whether it’s vying for a conference room time or using the printer, you’re likely to run into conflicts with other coworkers. Such is the nature of working in a shared space.
- Working with Competition – You may not be the only professional in your field working in the space. You may end up working with your competition occasionally, which can feel a bit intimidating when you’re trying to work.
- Privacy – When working in a open space, you’ll most likely have to sacrifice your privacy and risk losing total confidentiality with clients. Private conversations are more likely to be overheard.
