Gone are the days when being an entrepreneur means you have to rent a 500-square-foot office space with a private door. Coworking offers the flexibility of working remotely while also enjoying community and networking opportunities that come as part of membership at your local coop or collaborative workspace. But finding the perfect coworking environment is not easy, which makes this list all too important for any would-be entrepreneurs looking to find their next place!
10 Questions To Ask When Visiting Your New Potential Workspace:
1. WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR SEATING?
- Do they offer lounge seating?
- Are there desks and chairs available for those who need to focus intensely on their work?
A key feature of any coworking space is the seating arrangements. What type of seats will you be able to use when working in this environment? Do they have comfortable couches where you can take a break from your computer or tablet, or are all tables designed with ergonomic furniture that encourages movement, so creatives don't sit too long at one spot before switching things up? It's important to know what kind of setup you'll find inside the building before signing an annual contract! If you want more flexibility than just sitting behind a desk, ask about whether it might be possible to reserve time for different work settings.
2. WHAT DO I GET IN ADDITION TO MY DESK?
In a nutshell, coworking spaces offer free Wi-Fi and complimentary coffee. Some even have conference rooms for your events or private phone booths to take important calls away from distractions at home. But if these things don’t sound like something you want, in the long run, consider working out of an office instead where it is all on you!
3. WHO ARE THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GROUP?
Chances are when you enter a coworking space, the first people to greet you will be other members. This is because in general, coworkers don’t work alone but have each others' backs! They also know that some days we just need to take an hour for ourselves and walk away from our desks without worrying about interruptions or distractions. In this spirit of community, it's important to find out what kind of group dynamics exist among your potential colleagues before signing on the dotted line (or clicking "send").
4. WILL I USE THE SPACE ON A REGULAR BASIS?
If you're always on the go, find out if this coworking space has locations in other cities and whether or not they have existing relationships with similar spaces across different countries. If that's your case, ask about their discount for cross-country travelers!
5.WHAT IS THE ENERGY LEVEL?
"Every coworking space has a different vibe, its own personality," says Fornasiero. Take your time to visit different spaces and look for one that suits your brand and personal style."
6. WHAT TYPES OF EVENTS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE SPACE?
Many coworking spaces offer free or paid events, workshops, networking gatherings, and happy hours for their members. Ask to see a calendar of events and find out what's available that will be helpful in your work. Is the space too focused on socializing? This may become distracting from your work goals when you're trying to focus on some important projects
7. DO YOU PROVIDE A TEST PERIOD?
New potential members of coworking spaces are often offered a trial period before committing to membership. Some operators will offer up to one week, while others may only provide the standard 1-day free pass.
8. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE WI-FI CONNECTION?
Free Wi-Fi is a must in any workspace and most, if not all, coworking spaces have free unlimited WI-FI. Some spaces like Ace Coworking go the extra mile to ensure their members are always connected as they switch over when one provider goes down with more than one internet provider available at the space and keep everyone working. Be sure to ask how much bandwidth each of these connections will provide before signing up for your membership or you risk frustration waiting on downloads.
9. WHAT KIND OF COFFEE DO YOU GET?
For many entrepreneurs, coffee can be the difference between a productive day and an unproductive one. Coworking spaces provide free java to their members but if you're particular about your drink then it might be worth getting yourself caffeinated on-site before settling in for work. If that's not enough caffeine or too much of a hassle there are some co-working spaces that will allow you to bring your own beans, French press, and other accessories so make sure to ask first!
10. WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE COMMUNITY?
Community is the most important part of a coworking space, according to Brenninkmeyer. "Too many" spaces just put people in seats and hope for the best when it comes to bringing together like-minded individuals with an opportunity or two. A sense of community can be developed through simple things such as social events that happen at least once every few weeks (depending on how active each individual might want their network) along with physical design features that encourage collaboration over competition, such as open-concept workspace layouts where you are constantly seeing everyone around you working hard too - whether they're sitting next to someone else or not!
It may take you some time to find your ideal coworking space. But remember, the space you choose to work in is an extension of your business, so take the time to find the one that will suit you.
Are You Ready to Find Your New Coworking Space?
Victory Workspace has been serving professionals in the Walnut Creek, California area for over ten years, and even after the Covid 19 Shelter in Place is over we will be here for you. We offer a large variety of coworking spaces, short-term office rentals, meeting rooms, and welcoming event space with plenty of free parking for you or your guests. All that while providing our clients with daily opportunities to network with other business-minded professionals just like you! To learn more, set up your free tour, or inquire about which one of the services might be right for you, reach out to one of our amazing Community Guides at Victory Workspace for more information.
