Is Coworking a Good Fit for You? | Office Evolution Flowood (Jackson)
If you have been following workplace trends in recent years, you have likely heard of coworking—but do you know exactly what it is? Coworking is essentially a shared office space, where individuals pay for desk space and the perks of working in an office, without the sense of obligation to be there for 40 hours a week. As you can imagine, for most people, this is an ideal setup!
While coworking is not for everyone, after growing over 1,000% in the past decade, it is clear that a coworking setup is one that benefits many people. If you want to learn more about coworking and whether it might be beneficial for you, we have listed out some questions below to help you determine if it is the right choice.
Questions to Ask Yourself if You Have Been Considering Coworking
Do I work better in a dedicated environment? Many people love the flexibility that working from home offers, but even if you prefer a more relaxed working environment, being in your home all day may not be the ideal setup for you to reach top productivity. If you prefer to have a dedicated office space out of your house, or you like working from home but want the option to go to a workspace at times, then a coworking space may be for you.
Do I like having autonomy over my workday? Coworking is all about autonomy. While workers will pay for the space if they would like to use it, how they use it (and how often) is generally up to them. For example, at Office Evolution, we have a variety of work areas that are accessible to our members to use as they need throughout the day. Additionally, if you are the type of person that does not like to conform to the 9 to 5, knowing your coworking space is there when you want it but carries no obligation can be a great option.
Do I want to join a community? For many people who are entrepreneurs, freelancers or otherwise work in a way that may feel isolated, lacking a sense of community can be a major problem. Joining a coworking space is a great way to join a community—not only are you likely to make worthwhile networking connections with those in similar jobs to you, but you are also likely to encounter many different kinds of people working in a variety of roles.
Other Options to Consider, such as Business Address, Virtual Office, and Private Offices
Can I just open a Business Address? A PO Box is one way to hide the fact that you work from home, but honestly, it’s not a very good disguise. The Post Office or virtual mailbox company is obviously not where you do business. With a business address at Office Evolution, you can proudly share your location and know that it is helping to instill confidence in your business.
What is Considered a Virtual Office? That’s a great question. A Virtual Office can mean different things to different people.
Investopedia defines the term as, “A virtual office gives businesses a physical address and office-related services without the overhead of a long lease and administrative staff. With a virtual office, employees can work from anywhere but still have things like a mailing address, phone answering services, meeting rooms, and videoconferencing.
Office Evolution of Flowood-Jackson offers a virtual office presence for about the same monthly cost as many cell phone plans. When you sign up for one of these plans, your business address will be a defined suite number. You can register the suite number (which represents your private mailbox) with Google My Business and use it on your digital and print marketing materials.
Once registered with Google My Business, when your clients and prospects search for your business on Google, they will see a picture of our Class A, three-story, professional office building, giving you a prestigious appearance. This virtual office plan is available on a month-to-month basis, with no long-term commitment required.
What are the Advantages of a Virtual Office?
American Express published an article titled, “The 7 Key Benefits of Virtual Offices”, which listed the key benefits of using a Virtual Office as:
- No commute time.
- Employees are easily more active.
- Flexibility means using fewer vacation days.
- Access to worldwide talent.
- Less overhead.
- Save money on technology.
- Productivity increases.
To read the entire article, visit American Express Small Business.
How Much Does All of This Cost?
For as little as $99*/mo, you can become a member of a working community that provides you with:
- a professional, comfortable work space that’s available to you 24 hours a day and 7 days a week
- wifi and ethernet access
- the use of conference rooms and meeting spaces
- a community of professionals who are either in your shoes or who have been
- a cheery receptionist who greets and impresses your clients
- complimentary beverages, including tea and coffee
If it helps you and your business climb to the next level, $99* is a very smart and doable expense. Our Professional Plan, starting at $179*/mo, gives you everything listed above plus our business mailing address plan, so instead of your business address being in a residential neighborhood and exposing more about your personal life than you should, your business address at Office Evolution provides credibility and shows your business is conducted in a professional place. (*Prices vary by location and are subject to availability)
If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of coworking, we would love to chat! Contact us today for more information.