5 Things to Look For in a Coworking Space

by: Brian Bassett 

5 Things to Look For in a Coworking Space

If you’re thinking about checking out a co-working space, here’s a quick five things that are helpful to finding if a space will be the right fit.

5) Conference Room Availability
Meeting potential partners or clients is important to any freelancer or small business and so meeting space can be very important.  Feel comfortable inviting a client to your home?  Lunch meetings are limited and can get expensive after time … you need a space you can offer that’s quiet and just for you and your appointment.  Becoming part of a coworking community could mean putting an end to meetings in loud and crowded coffee shops - espresso machines hissing away and blenders screaming. Be sure your co-working space offers a snappy looking conference room with closeable doors and enough room for any meetings you might need to host.

4) Multiple Workspace Availability
Are you jammed in elbow to elbow in one big room with no real separation of space?  Do you have to fight off the early risers for the “good desk”?  The best coworking spaces provide different places to work, with enough choices in the environment so that you’ll be able to be productive on any day and whatever time that you happen to show up.  Couches, tables, open desks, nooks, comfy chairs … there shouldn’t be a bad spot in the lot.

3) Flexible Membership Plans
Most people looking to escape the 9-5 are doing so because they feel trapped in that arbitrary schedule.  What’s the use of coworking if it isn’t flexible to fit into your life and your specific schedule? Look for coworking facilities that offer multiple types of membership.  This will let you get the most productivity and bang for the buck and be flexible enough to bend with your seasonal work needs.

2) Ambiance, Aesthetic, Comfort
Yes, yes .. .that’s THREE things, but they do go hand in hand … in hand. The worst thing about working in a traditional office is that they aren’t comfortable, inspirational, or well designed -- they’re designed to be cost-efficient and thus … are non-descript and uncomfortable. Bad lighting, old dirty counters,terrible anti-inspirational “inspirational” posters on the wall … is this a place that’s going to encourage you to work hard and to stay focused?  But is it also relaxed and casual enough to be social at the same time?

1) Cool Peeps!
It’s called COworking for a reason. Not every day will have the same hustle and bustle, but are there other people around you can talk with?  People you can bounce ideas off of?  What do the other people do for work and is there a synergy with yours?  Are these the sorts of people you’d want to grab a drink with after work?  Find out how large the membership is, what kind of work the other members do, and ask the space curator which days tend to be busy or empty. This can help you plan which days you want to come for the type of interaction that suits you best.

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