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Industry

January 15, 2021
0

El antídoto para adaptarse en el nuevo mercado

By | Business, Industry, Tips

Si bien la tecnología de la comunicación nos permite trabajar desde casa, existen dificultades que podrás experimentar al trabajar en casa y analizamos los beneficios que te brinda el mantener una correcta división entre tu trabajo y tu casa. Existen alternativas para poder trabajar de una manera eficiente, adecuada y por bajos costos como las oficinas compartidas, existe el alquiler de cubículos u oficinas y con ellos los beneficios de mantener tu empresa conectada con otras, permitiendo así la expansión en el mercado, mejorando tu carta de presentación ante tus clientes y mantener absoluto control sobre tus resultados, algo que están haciendo los empresarios profesionales con estrategias eficientes y dirigidas a la productividad, rentando espacios económicos que ayudan en la imagen de tu negocio, controlar tu agenda y múltiples beneficios extras.

  1. La balanza productiva.

Te habrás dado cuenta que trabajando desde casa, existe mayor comodidad y se reflejará en tus resultados. A esto se le conoce como la balanza productiva, cuando la distracción aumenta, el rendimiento disminuye y viceversa. Supongamos que te llaman a una junta urgente y sigues en pijama, o debes cerrar un trato con un cliente potencial y a tu alrededor se escucha mucho ruido o imagina presentar el reporte de fin de mes al dueño de la empresa, mientras tus hijos corren por la casa.

Es aquí donde separar tu hogar de la oficina cobra sentido, respetar los espacios es clave para el correcto desarrollo de tu organización, recordemos que el propósito de todo negocio es avanzar al siguiente nivel. No importa a que industria perteneces, todas las empresas buscan aumentar su cartera de clientes, expandir su mercado, incrementar su capacidad de producción y con ello formar equipos de trabajo competentes, numerosos y estables. Siguiendo con esta visión, tu valor en el mercado también se beneficiará, creando una red de contactos más sólida y por ende las recomendaciones profesionales.

  1. En la unión está la fuerza.

Si eres del tipo de persona a la que le gusta trabajar solo y con métodos específicos, amarás el trabajar aislado desde casa, pero debemos recordar el proverbio africano que dice “Si quieres ir rápido camina solo, si quieres llegar lejos ve acompañado”, mismo que siguen las empresas reconocidas a nivel internacional. Sabemos que en el mercado actual es más fuerte la competencia, por tal motivo es importante transmitir confianza al cliente, tu corporativo debe proyectar experiencia, seguridad y profesionalismo.

Si apenas estás comenzando, te recomiendo buscar una oficina compartida, te incluye diversos servicios como internet, servicio postal, recepcionista, cafetería, entre otros más por el mismo precio. Además de esta gran ventaja, el alquilar un espacio de coworking te permite estar en contacto con otros profesionales, encontrar inspiración, perspectivas, hacer relaciones laborales y obtener recomendaciones. Es muy común que un cliente nuevo o antiguo de la persona que se aloja en el cubículo de enseguida necesita del servicio que provees y de manera directa llegan a ti, sin necesidad de buscarlos.

  1. El ahorro intangible

Por supuesto, no podemos dejar a un lado la economía, quizá piensas en el ahorro que representa trabajar desde casa como en transporte, la comida rápida o incluso en vestimenta. Pero seamos realistas, no hablamos de un gasto masivo y se puede comparar con la energía eléctrica que antes no usabas en tus horas fuera, notarás que el garrafón del agua se termina más rápido que antes, gastarás en café, etc. Es cierto que el gasto no es algo grande, pero tenlo en cuenta: para trabajar en casa necesitarás más que una computadora, una mesa y un sofá

Cuando trabajas mucho tiempo sentado, es importante tener un mueble diseñado para trabajar en una posición cómoda, misma que un espacio de trabajo te brinda. Además, según sea el ramo en el que te desarrolles, es posible que necesites impresora, escáner o muebles para archivar información importante. Por otro lado, si tienes una vivienda pequeña, ten en cuenta que tener una oficina en casa afectará el espacio de todos, lo que afectará no solo tu comodidad, sino también la de ellos.

 

 

 

December 4, 2020
0

4 Things to Look For When Booking A Meeting Room

By | Business, Industry, Tips

It is all about The Room Where It Happens, just ask Alexander Hamilton. Meeting rooms are where things get done. decisions, deals, hiring, firings and more- they all happen in a meeting room. When you make these potential business-altering decisions, you need to be in an environment that amplifies your confidence and your brand rather than diminishes it.

Sugar Land is one of the fastest growing areas in the country, and it is buzzing with small business and entrepreneurial activity. Working from home is a popular and cost-efficient way to start out your company, but not always a great place to meet clients or host meetings. That is why many locations in the Sugar Land area have started offering meeting rooms for rent by the hour or the day. It gives your small business a more professional appearance at an affordable price.

I identified the 4 main qualities that you need to look for when booking a room for your next meeting:

  • Accessibility – How easy is it to book the room? Sometimes you need to book a room in a hurry on short notice. Many meeting rooms will require you to book a day or two in advance and charge cancellation fees. The best meeting rooms are ones that let you book on a first-come-first-served basis and on the same day. This will give you maximum flexibility, because we all know things rarely go according to plan when it comes to small business.
  • Appearance – Nobody wants to be in a stuffy, plain-looking room; it saps your energy and affects the image you are putting forward to your clients. Always look to find meeting rooms with windows and natural light when possible. Look for bright colors and stylish furniture that will make people feel creative and motivated.
  • Functionality – A meeting room is of no use if it cannot do what you need it to. This means having the right furniture, technology, layout, and amenities. Be sure to look for photos of the space to make sure it has the chairs, TVs, and tables to meet your needs. Giving a big presentation? Look for rooms with a large and high-quality screen. Hosting a round table discussion? Try to find spaces with customizable layouts to arrange accordingly.
  • Location – When meeting with clients, you always need to put their needs first. Do not make them have to drive across town, and don’t make them have to pay or spend time trying to find parking. Having a good variety of restaurants nearby is always a plus in case you want to transition your meeting into a lunch. Also consider the surrounding environment of the meeting space, choose something that fits the personality of who you are meeting with. Some people like busy areas with lots of activity, while others prefer something more private and quieter.

Business E Suites a beautiful and easy to use website, simply go to ‘Meeting Rooms’ under the ‘Workspaces’ tab and click Book Now. All their rooms are first come first serve and can be booked same day right up until the time of your meetings. This is great for impromptu or last-minute meetings you need to plan in a hurry. Once you have chosen and booked your room, you pay through their online portal via card or ACH and then just show up for your meeting- it is that easy!

All of Business E Suites is designed around an Aviation theme which ties in with the Sugar Land Airport located right down the street. Each of their rooms is named after a different private aircraft and with various Aviation pictures and bright colors on each of the walls. They have some lovely custom-made conference tables that give it a very classy look. Lots of large windows and natural light give each of their rooms a bright and energetic atmosphere.

Each of the meeting rooms at Business E Suites comes equipped with a Large LCD TV and a full-size whiteboard. They also offer very secure high-speed Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections in each room. So, whether you are hammering out a new business plan, giving a detailed sales presentation, or crafting new digital media- you will have everything you need. An Added perk is that they offer complementary coffee, tea, and water to all their guests. Perfect for an early morning or late afternoon burst of caffeine!

Business E Suites is located a bit further down Highway 6 from the downtown Sugar Land area. Just past the Skeeters’ Stadium and Sugar Land Regional Airport, it offers an alternative location when meeting clients coming from the West side of Houston. The surrounding area is much more quiet than downtown area, but still offers a variety of quality dining locations and has plenty of parking for larger parties.

Visit BusinessESuites.com or Call 281-862-3150

November 17, 2020
0

Making the most out of your coworking space

By | Business, Industry

Having a co-working space can increase overall productivity; you get to work with like minded individuals that have the same
goals or outlooks that you do. Not to mention having a co-working space can decrease your costs of maintaining a big
office space, we provide all the office essentials needed to get your start-up/small business going. This is an
important factor that many business owners tend to overlook and overtime rack up office expenses that they were not
expecting to have. There is also the plus of working in a positive environment where business owners like yourself are
looking to get ahead while having the same goals or challenges that you currently face and it is a great way to keep
motivated when you work in a professional workspace where everyone pushes each other in a positive way.

There is also an upside of getting to network with many other business owners that could end up being potential
clients or you could come across people that can give you great references. Sometimes when you try to grow your business
you can hit plateaus, but when you are able to network with other business owners, you are able to come out of that
challenge even stronger. With co-working spaces we take care of everything, all you need to do is focus on your business
while we provide you with everything you need at an affordable rate.

November 9, 2020
0

Axxiar USA Feature

By | Industry

We hate to see them go, but we knew this would happen.

Axxiar came to us with a unique problem that needed to be solved. Their NEW place in Alvin, where they moved to, was not available/ready to occupy. SO they needed an affordable short-term solution.

That’s where we come in! Axxiar needed office space for four employees and warehouse space. First, they looked at our Office Warehouse units, but they required more space for their machinery & inventory. So, they decided to rent one of our large warehouse unit 12’ x 40’ PLUS a Private Office for 4, upstairs in Business E Suites.

When I interviewed them for this blog, they confided that they would have preferred to be here had known before about how excellent our property and service was. I loved hearing that!

I noticed the first day they arrived; by mid-day, all four workstations were up and running. Benjamin Chevalier says the internet is FAST, and our Community Manager, Colin, was a big help because he knows how all the tech works together.  

They also mentioned the pleasant atmosphere and amenities we have, including our network printer, all the coffee they could drink, and separate meeting rooms to use for Zoom calls and such. Today they had a webinar on our property to showcase a new tool – over 35 attendees, and it went off without a hitch.

We are going to miss them. I forgot to mention, they were French, and we enjoyed sharing our American traditions with them.

Of course, we want them to stay, but we know our customers are on the move! That’s why we offer short-term options and services that are scalable to your business needs. In this economy, flexibility is required! Our business model is based on that – we know as businesses grow, so do their needs.

I met some great people for Axxiar, and it’s satisfying to know that we had a part in keeping their business functional during a transition that could have been costly.

https://www.axxair.com/en-us/en-us/

AXXAIR designs, manufactures and distributes its orbital tube working machines ever since the company’s foundation in 1997. Our business focuses on the global tube working process: orbital cutting, beveling, squaring and welding. With now over twenty years of experience under its belt, the group has become an international reference on the market of tube processing.

October 6, 2020
0

Thriving in the middle of a pandemic

By | Business, Industry, Tips

How to Stand Out
During a Pandemic.

The business community has changed as we know it – due to COVID-19.  This change has been chaotic for some businesses but beneficial for some others.  How to thrive in the middle of a pandemic is what we’ll be talking about here today.  The pandemic has created a simple recipe to run a business, it is now running from home, it is now via video calls, it is now standardized to get work done virtually from anywhere.  As business owners, we came to realize a lot of the processes and a lot of the structure of the business was unnecessary and the endless expenses were not even needed.

Now, we came to realize that your business can be run from anywhere but we still need to keep a business professional, we still need to focus and we still need to be productive to thrive in the industry.  There are several marketing readjustments a business has to do in the middle of the pandemic, there are things that a business owner must re-route their strategy to but overall, there needs to be an affordable professional environment where it can be flexible and suitable for your business.

Business E Suites offers private, shared and co-working spaces to help your business thrive in a professional environment starting for FREE and moving forward with pricing as low as $199/month.  The ideal place to help your business thrive starts where you run it and that matters the most because once you have your mind in the right place, the productivity in its ideal stage, everything else will fall in place.  The big advantage of a working environment like Business E Suites is that you are joining a community that will benefit your business from a networking standpoint to a marketing strategy and so on.  Let’s get productive, let’s restart your business.

Start a Tour with Business E Suites
July 7, 2020
1

Why Business Professionals Want to Go Back to the Office?

By | Business, Industry

Being in the local business community you get to hear a lot of the current experiences other business owners are going through, what it’s like to work from home and run their business from what once was a comfortable, relaxing, end of your day spot.  I got to speak to a handful of business owners in the local Sugar Land community, one of them particularly is an accountant and I ask her, what it was to work from home and how did she feel about taking her professional life back to the office?  She came up with 2 challenges that I myself and some other business owners, all agreed were the same kind of struggles they were facing.

  1. Working from home is really a nightmare – the main reason to this statement was the amount of anxiety individuals face when working from home, we tend to play two or more roles in our lives and some of these roles can’t mix at all, sure we can be wives and husbands alongside being mothers and fathers but we cannot be a loving mother or father and at the same time a ruthless businessman or woman – although ruthless might be a little out of hand, you get my point.  This feeling of not being able to mix both roles in the same environment creates enormous anxiety among our family and colleagues – if you add as well the beautiful fact that our little angels are actually not little angels and we realize how assertive were the teachers – we were in denial the entire time!!!  Now we get to struggle with the not so little angels and the day-to-day professional challenges all in one place.  Sure we get to perhaps walk around in our pajamas for a little bit longer but is it worth all the other nightmares we are facing while playing mom or dad PLUS director of operations?
  2. The business’ capabilities are forcibly and significantly reduced – the second reason to why professionals can’t wait to get back to the office is to bring their business back to normal, having to take your business to a still-mode and taking your entire operations remotely not only creates a new way to adapt you and your employees but also your customer intake.  Many businesses get their business from actual customers visiting their office, socializing, and networking with these potential customers are the key to growing their business.  Plus, the collaboration between the team is crucial to growing the business as well, and let’s face it so little can be done behind a webcam.

I highly recommend checking out the workspaces at Business E Suites – they aren’t only affordable but accommodating to any business platform and the best part, you take it as you go, so if things go south again with the pandemic, you can always reduce your space intake and go month to month without long term agreements.

 

May 13, 2020
0

¿Trabajas desde casa? 7 Motivos para enrolarte a Coworking

By | Industry, Tips

¿Tienes un espacio dedicado en tu casa para trabajar pero aun así tienes muchas distracciones? ¿Te gustaría ser más productivo? ¿Quieres tener un lugar para reunirte con tus clientes pero sin pagar costos altos de oficina? Entonces este articulo te puede interesar.

Si trabajas desde tu casa entonces sabes los beneficios pero sobretodos los problemas que esto te puede ocasionar, como distracciones, falta de espacio, aislamiento, falta de profesionalismo para recibir tus clientes, etc. Por otro lado si has tenido tu propia oficina sabes los gastos que esto genera: renta, servicios, gasolina, entre otros. Si eres un negocio pequeño estos gastos pueden ser significativos y pueden complicar tu operación y reducir tus ganancias.

El coworking nació para mejorar las condiciones de trabajadores independientes o pequeñas empresas, de forma que comparten un mismo espacio de trabajo diversos profesionales. Tanto si eres un profesional independiente como si estás pensando en montar una pequeña startup, esta opción de trabajo puede ser muy interesante para ti.

Cada vez hay muchos más espacios preparados para este tipo de actividad que ofrecen soluciones muy interesantes con precios realmente ajustados. Además de las ventajas que explicaremos a continuación, hay espacios que ofrecen servicios adicionales como recepción de llamadas, asesoría profesional… que pueden ser muy interesantes.

Permite ahorrar costos.

Este es uno de los aspectos mas importantes. Los estudios cifran el ahorro del coworking en hasta un 60% de los costos fijos de mantener una oficina propia. En una sola cuota tienes tu parte de gastos en cuanto a alquiler, luz, mantenimiento. El ahorro es el principal atractivo del coworking respecto a una oficina para ti solo, pero además no supone un costo muy elevado si estás trabajando en tu casa. Desde $150-$300 puedes encontrar opciones muy interesantes.

Mejora tu imagen profesional.

Si tienes un trabajo que te exige reuniones con clientes o partners, seguramente recibirlos en tu casa no es una opción, y alquilar una sala para la ocasión resulta muy caro. Por lo tanto tener un espacio profesional donde celebrar tus reuniones te da ese plus de imagen profesional. Además puedes establecer la dirección del espacio como tu dirección de la empresa, con lo que también mejoras de pasar de una dirección particular a un espacio de oficinas.

Ayuda a marcar horarios de trabajo.

Los que trabajamos en casa o somos muy disciplinados o tendemos a mezclar ocio y trabajo de forma que a lo mejor estamos descansado a las 11 de la mañana y trabajando a las 12 de la noche. La flexibilidad que permite el hogar puede ser interesante para algunos, pero la disciplina de un horario bien definido te ayuda a garantizar los periodos de descanso y a tener una vida más ordenada, con lo que mejora tu calidad de vida. Siempre puedes acabar trabajando más al volver a casa…

Elimina distracciones.

Trabajando en casa la distracción sobrevuela en todo momento sobre tu cabeza. Es muy fácil ir un momento a la cocina a picar algo, ponerte a leer una revista, tener la cabeza ocupada con preocupaciones del hogar… Además si tienes hijos sabrás que es imposible trabajar cuando ellos quieren pelea. Trabajar en una oficina no es que elimine todas las distracciones, pero el entorno profesional invita a la concentración y evita muchas de las distracciones típicas de una casa.

Mejora tu networking.

En un espacio profesional plagado de otros profesionales independientes como tú o incluso pequeñas empresas es mucho más fácil hacer networking y conocer gente que en algún momento puede ser una figura clave como partner.

Crea sinergias.

Los profesionales que pueblan estos espacios de coworking suelen ser de sectores tecnológicos o creativos, por lo que puede ser que haciendo networking conozcas a alguien con el que puedas desarrollar un proyecto conjunto o que puedes subcontratar parte de tus proyecto o el de los suyos. En general se da un ambiente positivo para el intercambio de ideas.

Permiten colaborar de forma más cómoda.

Si trabajas en proyectos que requieran de más personas existe la opción de trabajar todos juntos en un mismo espacio de coworking. Es cierto que Internet ha eliminado muchísimas barreras para trabajar con gente de todo el mundo de forma online de manera que no sea necesaria una presencia física, pero muchas veces todo funciona mucho más fluido si los integrantes de un proyecto trabajan en un mismo espacio.

 

Como hemos visto el coworking es una alternativa muy válida tanto a trabajar desde casa como a tener una oficina para ti solo. No es para todos ni deja de tener aspectos negativos pero todo lo positivo que conlleva como mínimo requiere de un profundo análisis para saber si se puede adaptar a nosotros.

April 17, 2020
1
Coworking Sugar Land Texas - Business E Suites

The Evolution of CoWorking

By | Industry

Co-Working has revolutionized the way professionals work, it is not only a trend but a practical way to get the job done.

As we know, the term was first used back in 99′ by Bernie Dekoven but it was really put to use in 05′ by Brad Neuberg when he first stated the Hat Factory in California as a work and live loft setting.  Others picked up on the trend and by 07′ there was more than 70 co-working spaces around the country.  It became a phenomenon particularly in cities like San Francisco, New York, Austin, Toronto, Seattle.  2008 was really when co-working environments were revolutionized into something we know big corporation have but entrepreneurs like you and me could not take advantage of; and so Cubes & Crayons was born, this co-working setting offered the first ever co-working space that included child care, so the on-the-go-parent, entrepreneur, freelancer, startup, small business type of person could not have their kids right next door without all the fuzz and distractions.  By 2011, the co-working concept had reached its maximum momentum and over 1,000 communities were part of this movement by the end of that year; causing this phenomenon to simply spike up from there to a worldwide level.

Today, the biggest co-working spaces certainly dominate the global market but the small businesses like yours and ours are quickly scaling to cater the small-local business segment with a local-community sense in mind.  Co-working is simply practical, it’s affordable, it’s professional, it’s versatile and flexible.  It is giving every aspiring professional the opportunity to scale their business to a whole other level, to an unimaginable level that would normally take years to situate and get it started because traditional working space is so unconventional, unaffordable and complicated.

The co-working story has been written and it continues to go on, it’s a movement that will not stop.  What’s your story? What’s your movement?

April 13, 2020
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Coworking Sugar Land Texas - Business E Suites

I decided to leave my own office and move to coworking. Here is Why

By | Business, Industry, Other, Tips
I’ve been a business owner for almost 10 years, I had 2 different offices and I am now in a coworking environment. This is what I learned!

I opened my first company when I was 24 years old, following the traditional line of any other person I started working in my house, designated a special area to be my work desk and of course I visited clients at their offices as they had a pretty busy schedule to meet in my office, and yes! that was the best idea at that time. Some times when I had new prospects that wanted to meet in person, I invited them to drink a coffee and we will meet any of my multiple locations around the city, you may know them as Starbucks. 

Later on, I had my first private office that included a reception area, conference room, and 3 private offices. After 2 years I decided to move to a better location and change the structure of my office for something modern, so I upgraded to a larger reception area, a great looking conference room and an open area to help as the bullpen plus 2 private offices. 

After 3 years in that amazing space, I decided it was time to change, so I packed my bags and moved into a co-working environment.

Here is what I have learned so far:

Don’t be afraid.

One of the many reasons I kept my private office for so long was because of social pressure. I used to tell myself “People are going to think I can’t afford my own office?” “What are my clients going to say?” “My competitors have an office” “It doesn’t look professional”. The fear of people making opinions was the main reason to stop me from moving forward, but, after a while I realized I didn’t care what people think, I care about my clients, that’s why I give them the result they expect and for that, my office had no benefit. My clients are with me because of the value I bring into their business, not because of the looks of my office, and if that’s your case, there are plenty of options of nice-looking coworking spaces available. So if I can give you and advice: Don’t feel bad and don’t be afraid, your business is more important than a private office.

 

Cost-Effective.

In the coworking environment you pay for what you use. I realized that in my old office I only had 20 meetings in one year and from those meetings only 10 required the use of the conference room, the other 50% were held at my personal office as a one-one meeting. You may see the problem now. I paid 12 months for a 12×15 space that I used only 20 hours a year and definitely without that space, I could save $200/month around $2,400/year. I can also mention the cost of the receptionist, and with this, I am not trying to say you should let go of yours, but if all you need is someone to greet clients and answer phone calls, it’s an idea that may help you reduce some cost. 

Productivity.

Each business is different, but most of them have something in common “they want to have the best productivity” and for that, the office space and environment play a big role. In my company, I used to think that having my own space was the best thing and that it increased the productivity of my employees. But after a while I learn that it was not like that. My employees cared more about having high-speed fiber optic internet, which was not available at any of my previous offices. They cared more about unlimited free coffee and beverages at the break room other than preparing their own pot of coffee or run to the nearby Starbucks twice a day. They cared about having a nice balcony where they could go and take some air or having unlimited tonner and printing service rather than getting frustrated because they ran out of ink. 

 

Single Bill. 

As a small business owner you pay attention to every penny you spend, but when you have a private office can be complicated as you get many different bills, rent, internet, cleaning, electricity, preference parking, phone and some others depending on the building. When working in a co-working space you only get one bill, everything in one payment with details on all the charges. 

 

Networking Events.

You may want to attend some of the networking events you get invited, but you prefer not to go just by thinking about the 20-25 miles you have to drive, plus the traffic time. If you are the type of person that prefer to stay out of networking events because of these reasons, then co-working may be a better choice. Most of the buildings offers networking events, like lunch and learn or conferences, where they may invite you to talk about your business. Coworking spaces invest a lot of money on building a community and by renting with them, you are also part of that community.

You should not keep an office just because of social pressure or because it’s the “way to go”. Times change and with the new technologies the options for people to work remotely helps startups and small businesses. Having an all-inclusive coworking space that allows you to work in a friendly environment, with fresh air, high-speed internet, unlimited coffee and many more amenities may be the best for your business.

Take a look to your business model and find the balance between what you need to have and what you want to have in your office space, that will help you find the perfect space for you and your team. 

March 5, 2020
1

5 Reasons a Coworking Space Makes Sense for Your Startup

By | Business, Industry, Tips

If you don’t mind sharing a few office amenities with other startups and entrepreneurs, a coworking space could be a solid option for your business.

Article published by Gemma Church (https://articles.bplans.com/5-reasons-a-coworking-space-makes-sense-for-your-startup/)

 

About half of U.S. startups choose to run their business from home, but your home office may not be a suitable environment if your startup is growing and you want to bring more people on board or meet with clients. It can also be difficult to separate home and work life, which actually increases your risk of burnout.

When I first set up as a freelance writer, my home office worked out pretty well. But, as my business grew, I started to stagnate at home. It was too quiet. I missed real human contact and I needed a space where I could meet my clients that looked a little more professional.

Trouble was, I didn’t have the cash to pay for a dedicated office space—and my local coffee shop was too noisy to take calls and really focus on more complicated pieces of work.

Then, I found a better way: coworking.

A coworking space brings together remote workers, small business owners and staff, and freelancers in a shared work environment. Big names such as Indiegogo, Instagram, Timehop, Uber, and Wanderfly have even used them.

The key benefit to coworking spaces is flexibility. Each coworking space has a different layout, like an open office with lines of desks and breakout areas, or a more enclosed setup (with private offices and meeting rooms).

You can choose to “hot desk,” (use whatever desk is available) or pay a little more for your own desk. You can also reserve meeting rooms or use a coworking space as a virtual office. Whatever the setup, you will be sharing office amenities and communal areas (such as the kitchen) with your fellow coworkers. It’s important to find a coworking space that’s a match for your startup both in terms of your business requirements and ethos.

Coworking spaces are flexible in their pricing structure and commitment level. The majority will let you rent a space on a monthly, weekly, or even daily basis.

You can also seek out a coworking community that’s been carefully cultivated to boost your chances of success. For example, some coworking spaces are run alongside incubators (where you are provided with a variety of resources and services to accelerate your business development)—but you may have to apply to work in such spaces. Other spaces target specific industries, like technology or creative pursuits. However, the majority of coworking spaces will accept anyone and everyone.

Of course, there are plenty of pros and cons for startups using coworking spaces. For example, if your startup needs privacy or you would like to design and change your own office layout at will, a traditional office space may be a better option.

But if you don’t mind sharing a few office amenities with other startups and entrepreneurs, a coworking space could be a solid option for your business.

Here are five key reasons to consider coworking:

1. Improved facilities over your local coffee shop or home office

Let’s face it, a coffee shop or your home office can present some challenges to professionalism—namely noise and non-business interruptions.

Coworking spaces come with everything you need to get your work done. An abundance of power sockets, functional furniture, plenty of desk space, and high-speed Wi-Fi connections come standard in most facilities
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Dossey Richards, CEO at dev-shop Lotus Technologies, runs his business from the NYC-based The Farm Coworking. He said: “The decision to move from my local coffee shop and work inside a coworking space has been a decision that has dramatically changed my life as well as my quality of living. I’d recommend it to all freelancers, employees, and entrepreneurs looking for a new work experience.”

You also have more control over your work environment compared to a coffee shop. You can choose to plug in your laptop and work in a shared environment if you prefer to work surrounded by like-minded souls, or use a private office space if you need some peace and quiet. Many facilities also rent out meeting rooms for when you need to talk to your clients, and some also have additional areas (such as nap pods or breakout areas) to give you access to a wide variety of working spaces.

Plus, free tea, coffee, and snacks are often thrown into the deal at a coworking space, which could be the final nail in the coffin for working at your local coffee shop.

2. Coworking gives you a flexible and cost-effective solution

A traditional office space rental can be the solution your startup needs, but they generally require a long-term financial commitment.

However, coworking frees your startup to be nimble as it grows and changes.

You can use the space as and when you need to on a day-to-day or month-to-month basis. You can rent meeting rooms as and when you need to. You will not be tied into paying rent for months at a time.

Coworking is also generally a cheaper option than an office rental. For example, if you wanted to work in the Manhattan area of New York, you could rent a shared desk for just $25/day or $250/month; or a dedicated desk is $400/month at a coworking space. Office rents come in at least $1,000/month (depending on the size of office and amenities you need) and come with fixed terms of at least six months in the same area.

3. You will network on a whole new level

Coworking spaces are used by a community of freelancers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses, so there are plenty of networking opportunities with people who are also trying to build a business.

Dossey said: “What I love about coworking is the access to all the experiences other companies are having. Being an entrepreneur is a learning curve and the speed of your success is limited to the speed you can learn about starting and running a successful venture. Having access to other people to communicate my day-to-day challenges with has been vital to our growth.”

Coworking spaces often encourage inter-community relationships where chats over the water cooler can quickly turn into work exchanges or budding partnerships. If, for example, you’re a tech startup and need someone to help you write a killer press release, you’ll probably find a writer at a coworking space who’ll fit the bill.

“The Farm [coworking space] has and always will be a life changing-experience for me,” says Dossey. “Being in the space with all the other entrepreneurs has given me a level of exposure and insight that would have normally taken years to develop. Through my conversations with other members about topics like sales strategies and hiring, I have been able to grow my company into a profitable and rapidly-growing venture.”

Some coworking spaces double up as event venues and offer their communities a range of ways to meet fellow coworkers and the wider business community. Whether it’s a few free beers on a Friday, a yoga class, a simple lunch and learn session, a high-profile product launch, or a symposium offering training on a new range of skills for your business, you may get the chance to learn something new and meet new people.

Many spaces also encourage their members to host events to showcase skills and market their business. Such events are often promoted by the space, and in some cases, you’ll have experienced community managers on hand to help you with everything you’ll need to run a successful event.

4. There’s plenty of business-based advice available

A coworking space can present a perfect opportunity to get advice on your startup. First, you have access to a community of coworkers with varied experiences and skills that can help you frame a particularly tricky problem. Second, many spaces are run by a team of enthusiastic managers who can point you in the right direction, offer some advice, or help you think through logistics.

Some coworking spaces are also set up as accelerators and incubators; an incubator specializes in growing new and early-stage business and an accelerator offers rapid-growth tools for more established businesses. Both can be resources for information on how to grow your business, depending on your startup’s development stage and needs—whether it’s applying for funding or finding a mentor.

5. A coworking space will grow as your business grows

Another benefit of the flexibility of a coworking space is that you can scale up as and when you need to.

Whether you suddenly need more facilities to match a peak in demand or to employ more staff to help you during busy times, it’s likely that a coworking space can be more nimble and flexible than a traditional office rental situation.

Plus, your employees will thrive in a coworking environment. Research reveals that coworkers feel they have more control over their work, that their work is more meaningful, and they value the community element of coworking.