Private Coworking Offices vs. Traditional Offices: Three Things that Should Play a Role in Your Decision
We are lucky to live in an era of choice. We have a plethora of options for almost every major decision that we make, and this gives us the chance to tailor our experiences and elevate our lives. Whether it’s a big choice (like what college to go to or what company to work for, who to marry or where to travel) or a smaller one (like what coffee to drink or what to make for dinner, what movie to watch or which pictures to post), we are immersed in a culture that encourages our unique decision-making.
Regardless of if you’re a small business owner, a self-made starter, or an employee of a larger corporation, you’re also a choice-maker. So: how do you choose where you want to work?
Choosing between a traditional office space and a private coworking office can seem daunting, but it’s a decision that you need to make. Here are the three things that you need to consider when it comes time to decide:
Room/Space
Traditional Offices:
Some businesses require a lot of physical space in order to function. If you’ve got a large team of people who all need to work together in the same space day in and day out, then a traditional office is probably the right choice for you.
Traditional offices often allow users to repurpose spaces and make renovations to property. By nature, some companies simply couldn’t function in a smaller or shared office because their product takes up a lot of physical room. Businesses who meet with a constant stream of customers may prefer a traditional office with a private waiting room and plenty of ensured parking, while those with particularly sensitive functions may choose a traditional office for its ability to give clientele their privacy (more on that later).
Coworking Offices:
Coworking spaces are great for people who are able to conduct business in a relatively smaller area. Some may choose to rent an office within a coworking space so that they can have access to community perks and amenities like a reception desk, a kitchen, and a conference room without having to manage an entire space on their own. Those who conduct a great deal of their business online enjoy coworking spaces where they can sometimes choose a desk and chair and sometimes a high bar-top or couch, always outfitted with nearby outlets to wherever they’re working.
The benefit of a coworking office is that it allows its users to be business owners and employees without having to worry about the responsibilities that come along with a traditional office. If a random pipe breaks in your coworking space, you’re not the one who has to wait for the maintenance repair team to come fix it.
Moreover, coworking spaces typically aren’t tiny places; many can accommodate you with an office just as large as (or even larger than) you’d have in a company-owned building. When you could still have access to a 180 square foot conference room for client meetings, do you really need to rent out 500+ square feet of space for just your desk and some couches?
Privacy
Traditional Offices:
Whether you’re working with a team of people or just on your own, privacy is a big deal in every business. Some companies operate with a great deal of confidential or encrypted information, functioning best in places where no one is worried about breaches of data.
There’s a reason that government officials don’t meet in crowded coffee shops and medical information isn’t delivered to you via messenger while you’re grocery shopping – some things are too private to risk accidental broadcast.
Coworking Offices:
There’s a common misconception that coworking space = public space. This isn’t at all the case. Sure, some businesses require a great deal of privacy and don’t want to risk non-employees hearing confidential information, but most of us don’t need guards in the lobby to ensure that our business stays our business.
Modern coworking spaces provide a plethora of options to accommodate the privacy of their tenants, including private four-walled office spaces, firewalls, desks with dividers, and various other quiet areas decked out with comfortable chairs and outlets.
Just because you’re working in the vicinity of other people doesn’t mean you’re working in public. What’s more, coworking spaces are just as safe as traditional offices, as many of them require check-in at the front desk before anyone is allowed entry.
Cost
Traditional Offices:
Let’s say you find a traditional office that meets all of your company’s needs. Most people will rent their office spaces rather than purchasing them outright, but regardless of what you choose, there are costs associated with your decision that you need to consider before making it.
Let’s say you’re looking for office space in a relatively inexpensive part of town. If your rent is $500 per month, you may feel like you’re getting a good deal for your money, but there are hidden costs that can hike that number up in no time.
Maybe you’re planning on hiring a receptionist: depending on their experience, you’d likely pay them between $12 and $18 per hour, costing your company over $30,000 a year before health care and other benefits. Maybe you’ve got to pay the landlord for parking spaces, or will need to renovate a conference room or other area. Maintaining a kitchen can also be expensive depending on how old the appliances are, not to mention the cost of keeping it stocked with coffee, tea, and water for employees and visiting clients.
Coworking Offices:
In a coworking office, you know exactly what you’re getting for your money and you know exactly what dollar amount you’ll owe each month.
You can rent a private coworking office space for as low as $350 per month. That includes time in the meeting rooms, a discount on conference rooms and day offices wherever you are in the U.S., and access to a network of shared spaces nationwide, as well. You’ll get a business address and a live answering plan, and you’ll get to enjoy the perks of a well-maintained kitchen and high speed internet.
If you decide you’d like to work in a shared coworking workspace, the price drops even further: for as low as $99 per month, you’ll get to enjoy all of the perks of a coworking space with none of the responsibility of maintaining or managing it yourself.
Regardless of which option best fits your business, make sure to keep these three factors in mind when you make your workspace decision. Tailor your business experience to whichever suits your unique needs. Let’s get to work!