The Cool Kids Club
The Cool Kids Club
As someone in the industry I am constantly being exposed to coworking, shared office, private office and virtual address information – I receive countless emails every week about news releases, webinars and industry news. It’s the hot new thing! All the cool kids are doing it!
As someone who used such services for the last nearly 30 years, I shake my head when people talk about or act as if coworking and shared spaces are some new concepts that were invented by Adam Neumann (there’s a movie about his rise and fall, look it up). And I’m even more baffled when I hear that in order to use such spaces it involves signing a lengthy and expensive membership agreement.
So let me clear up a few misconceptions.
Membership or One-Off Usage?
The reality is that most coworking / executive suites / shared space locations allow for both one-off or occasional use as well as longer-term membership arrangements.
Often, use of a day pass for coworking or shared space, use of a conference room and day offices (essentially a conference room-type usage but set up and decorated as a private office) are available for non-members of that location to use – whether for an hour, the day or some other agreed-upon duration without a long-term membership agreement.
We often have community members or business associates show up at our door unannounced and looking for a quiet place to work – sometimes in order to meet a client, but more commonly as a place to get some stuff done between appointments. And while we like a little advance notice so we can make sure we have space available, we can almost always figure something out so they can have some quality work time.
Usually if someone is going to a space on an ongoing basis it is more economical to sign up with a monthly membership plan than the daily rates – but personal choice rules and most operators will accommodate those preferences and needs.
So . . . . non-membership usage is almost always available. You might have to call a couple of providers, but keep searching, we are out there!
Membership Agreements
What are they, how long are they and are they worth it?
As I mentioned earlier, membership agreements can usually be more economical for the user if they are going to use a space fairly regularly. It doesn’t take very many day passes to equal what a monthly membership might be in a coworking area. And that becomes even more true when you start talking about conference or day office usages. Some providers (we do) have conference packages that significantly decrease the hourly rate for conference room and day office use.
Many providers have a monthly membership with a 30-day notice for cancellation. You can effectively buy your usage one month at a time and cancel at nearly any time. Vacationers needing the space for a couple of weeks will sometimes start and give notice for their membership the same day – locking in the lower rates for only the time they really need the space. Some providers do require significantly longer terms so read the fine print.
There are many, many providers out there and more coming on line all the time. Go visit, check it out and find a space that works for you – the culture, the working environment, the commitment required and the pricing. Coworking, shared spaces, virtual addresses and private offices are available and it doesn’t have to break the bank or commit you to a lifetime at a particular location for you to find a workspace that works for you.
At Office Evolution Phoenix, we provide virtual office, coworking, and flex office private office solutions at our shared office center. We offer meeting rooms, private offices, hot desking in a shared workspace coworking lounge, a shared reception, a business address, and virtual receptionist services. We have many options and price points, and all terms are flexible. Plus, you become part of a community of like-minded professionals.
Whether you live in Phoenix, Ahwatukee, Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Guadalupe, Mesa, Laveen, Maricopa or Casa Grande or other communities nearby in Maricopa County, OR you just arrived at Sky Harbor Airport and need a place to meet or work, choosing Office Evolution Phoenix will help you be more professional, productive, and profitable.