As telecommuting and freelancing become more common, coworking is turning into a viable alternative to working from home or a traditional office. While there are several advantages to coworking, including increased social interaction, access to conference rooms, and the ability to establish a better work-life balance, moving to a new office can be stressful.
One of the first decisions to make is what kind of space you want? Do you want a traditional office or a shared space that includes services and amenities? We will explore some of the trade-offs between a traditional office and a shared office.
Flexible Lease Options
One of the biggest differences between traditional office space and shared office space is the term of the lease. A traditional office lease is at least 3 years and usually more like 5 or 10 years while a shared office usually offers shorter-term agreements from 1 month to 1 year. Whether you are a freelancer looking for a drop-in space, or an established team seeking a dedicated desk or private office, coworking allows you to pay for only the space you need. Plus, flexible agreements mean you can scale at your own pace, without the pressure or rigidity of long-term traditional leases.
Furniture and Utilities
Unless you already own your desks and chairs, you will need to spend time and money shopping for your own workstations with a traditional office. A shared office space makes it a turn-key experience. The day your team moves in, you will be equipped with comfortable workstations and chairs. It can be also frustrating to set up and manage utilities such as internet, electricity, and cleaning. You do not need to worry about equipment costs and ongoing maintenance with a shared office space, which can be often unpredictable. You save time and energy and increase work productivity.
Work-near-home concept
Walk to work is becoming a trend and many people are willing to have their workspace nearby their residence. In metro cities, it saves a lot of time lost in traffic jams while commuting to work. Commuting also costs money. Cars come with maintenance, fuel, and parking fees. The stress of a dreadful commute weighs on more than just the mind. A stressful commute can cause anxiety, depression, and even affect your sleep patterns. But if your home is just a few blocks from the office, you’ll benefit from getting in a little exercise each day instead of sitting behind the wheel of car, hunched over and gripping the wheel. This is becoming a popular trend which also promotes the concept of co-working.
ZworkSpace offers affordable and flexible membership options and shared office spaces in Orange County. Check out our membership options at members.zworkspace.com or call today at (714) 253-7788 to schedule a tour.