Aditya Sutomo

Co-working

turncliff:

If you’re in the early stages of a brainstorming a startup, small business, or sole proprietorship you’re likely working out of your home. Maybe you’re lucky enough to have a home office, but more likely you’re stuck working out of your living room or dining table or your local Starbucks.

But if you’re in a big enough city, you should also consider co-working spaces.

Many small business owners feel lonely and isolated when starting their new ventures. Co-working facilities provide cubicle or office space, a mailing address, phone services, meeting rooms as needed, but also help to fill the social needs people have as well — either informally (by simply bringing together a group of people with similar interests) or formally (through networking events, holiday parties, summer barbeques and even kickball leagues).

Before you rent a co-working space, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Every space is different. Some co-working facilities offer open work spaces where you sit side-by-side with other people, others offer offices with doors that close, both types sometime offer conference rooms suitable for small or large meetings, and some also have couches and other informal workspaces.
2. You can rent by the day, or even by the hour. It might make sense for you to rent one conference room for a meeting one day this week, but then to rent a cubicle in another space the next day. Or you might want to rent a space for an entire month. In any case, know that you can keep your options open.
3. Fees vary. You might pay just $30 - $50 a day, or more like $300 to rent a shared working space for an entire month. Some companies renting out their underused office space sometimes give discounts to consultants or other people they are interested in working with.
4. Ameneties vary. Most co-working space offer a desk, a chair, high-speed wireless internet connections, coffee, water and restrooms. Higher-end spaces also may make office supplies, copy machines, printers and a kitchen available, but you’ll want to ask ahead of time and be prepared to bring anything else you need with you.

Reading to find co-working facility near you? Here are some resources to help you:

• ActivSpace: affordable space for artists, hobbyists, and businesses in Seattle, Portland, and the Bay Area.
• CubeSpace: an innovative workspace community in Portland that provides work stations, meeting rooms, and big office amenities to people who would otherwise be working from their homes, coffee shops, or wherever they can set up their laptops or use their cell phones; services are available on a monthly membership basis, or at hourly or daily rates.
• Desktime: pairs people with shared spaces, empty desks, conference rooms, or entire offices by the day, week, or month in Chicago, New York, and Austin.
• LiquidSpace: location-based mobile application that lets you find the workspace you need, when you need it, wherever you are (though currently only in San Francisco); you can book space in high-end business centers, hip startup co-working spaces, or hotel conference rooms.
• LooseCubes: nationwide service that connects members with an empty desk, studio or sofa with other members who need a productive and inspiring place to work.
• The Network Hub: calm inspiring work space in Vancouver where entrepreneurs can connect, create and collaborate on new and exciting opportunities.
• Office Online: paid workspace in Santa Monica created expressly for writers and other professionals seeking an inspirational work environment, free from the distractions of home and office.
• OpenDesks: nationwide service that matches people looking for a spot to work with co-working facilities or companies that rent out unoccupied desks, offices or conference rooms by the day or month. Think of it as airbnb for co-working spaces.
• ThinkTank: provides shared office and business incubator space in Pittsburgh for writers,  programmers, consultants and entrepreneurs of all kinds who require an affordable,  professional place to work away from the distractions of daily life.