10 Reasons Why Coworking Is Better Than A Rental Office

Okay, so the topic of coworking versus rental office has been a hot debate in the world of independent work. We’ve heard from freelancers, solo-entrepreneurs and location-independent businesses who’ve crossed the floor to work alongside their comrades, and are sharing their secrets after finding success with coworking.

If you’ve ever been trapped into the oppressive cubicle-farm or have had to scramble to get the best seat in a noisy coffee shop, this is old news. For those who are hardlined about their fantasy of the impervious office of solitude, here are some excellent reasons to consider trying out coworking, before signing that 100-year office lease.

#1: Grow your network faster

In a coworking space, networking is a constant activity, and a way of life. Regular interactions lead to building of trust and relationships; sharing knowledge, collaborating on projects, and even the random conversations over coffee can bring new and valuable connections.

#2: Find talented people to work with

Coworking spaces are a central hub for talent. Seriously.

With the rise of freelance and remote work over past years, we’re seeing an unprecedented rise in top talent relocating to coworking spaces. It’s a no-brainer that hiring a great designer or programmer would be easy with a desirable project opportunity.

#3: Immerse yourself in a creative environment

Humans are sensory creatures who feed off their environment. So, a dull office box or messy home office will simply not do. Not to mention the day-to-day interactions with other creative folks will surely amplify your creative and cognitive capabilities. Coworking spaces pay special attention to design and aesthetics; paint colour, decor, furniture and lighting are all essential in stimulating our minds and catalyzing a creative mindset.

#4: Improve your social life

One of the biggest drawbacks of segregating yourself in a private office is that you miss out on social interactions. Many who have worked a 9-to-5 job cement friendships over the water cooler; a place of employment provides us with a bountiful source of new friends, and once you leave your work this source is depleted. Joining a coworking place allows you to fill in the gaps and start friendships with likeminded people.

#5: Get and give mentorship

For entrepreneurs, having access to not only shared space but resources like mentors and peer-to-peer support is invaluable. You may choose to arrange regular mentorship meetings to talk through your business challenges, confront obstacles, and set attainable goals. Having someone to support you through your journey and to be accountable to, is one of the biggest benefits of being a member of a coworking space.

#6: Lower your costs

Coworking pricing is driven by value, whereas office space rentals are driven by profit and physical dimensions. Members of coworking spaces enjoy flexible pricing, while being provided with a huge array off incentives to make their experience more satisfying. Depending on the space, coworking plans can cost as little as $10 per day. Compare that to the cost an office lease and the choice is quite easy.

#7: A huge array of shared amenities

If a fully-equipped professional office space is important but you don’t want to take on the responsibility of a lease, a coworking space will provide a viable solution. Because you are working within a shared environment with shared resources and amenities, the costs will be far less than a private office.

#8: Develop good work habits

Coworking helps maintain a healthy work-life balance and sense of consistency, or rhythm within work. Being immersed in a coworking space with other driven workers, makes productivity prevalent, and creative thinking contagious. In stark contrast, the alienation of a private office doesn’t inspire any positive work traits, just loneliness.

#9: Flexibility and adaptability of use

Coworking spaces promote a culture of flexibility, openness and innovation, by their very nature. You are not tethered to a desk or a set schedule, allowing you to work how and when you want, with the freedom to react quickly to changing needs and conditions. The supporting functions of a coworking space offer an adaptable arrange of tools and resources to complement your growing business.

#10: Coworking gets better and better all the time

This is a fundamental truth of coworking. Due to the social nature of coworking, it changes, adapts and improves constantly to meet the needs of the communities they serve. Even in the recent years since the rise of coworking’s popularity, massive innovations and improvements have been made in how spaces support their members; while at the same time, rental offices have remained almost unchanged.

The wonderful thing about coworking is that it can be designed to complement many work styles; part time or full time, open or private, it can all happen in a coworking space. If you haven’t experienced coworking yet, it’s about time you visited your local space and tried it out!

For more information on coworking opportunities, available workspaces, meeting rooms and events facilities in Kelowna, visit Okanagan co+Lab memberships at okcolab.com