Do you know that 10% of the office space in India is shared office space? And this figure is set to rise to 25% in the next few years. The number of coworking office spaces across India is mushrooming at a rapid speed.
The coworking sector in India is in hot demand recently.
If you are sitting on the fence unable to decide whether to opt for a coworking space or not, then this article is for you. We will help you evaluate the need for a shared space and how to find a good one if needed.
A short history
Currently, 46% of the workforce in India are millennials. Millennials like to work in newly designed offices with all the amenities; shared office spaces were originally designed for them. But coworking spaces now target a wide array of professionals.
You must be aware that India is the third biggest hub for startups in the world. India also has one of the largest freelance workforces in the world. And coworking office spaces are efficiently addressing the needs of all these sectors.
But how to know if you need a shared office space?
4 signs you need a coworking office space
Many startups begin in one of the owners’ homes to save costs. Eventually, they find the dream of working at the kitchen table has limits. Here’s how you know it’s time to consider a coworking space:
- Your focus keeps wandering.
- You need a suitable space for client meetings.
- You have started talking to yourself.
- You are hiring.
After we look at each of these symptoms, we offer some tips on how to find a suitable shared work space.
Reasons to step out and work
Working from home is just a dream for many. But as good as it sounds, those who do it every day will tell you there are some drawbacks.
Photo: NeONBRAND on Unsplash
1- Your focus keeps wandering
While you might be enjoying working from home, and at the same time looking after your kids and old parents, it has its cons.
You need a quiet place to work, especially where no one disturbs you.
This is not always possible at home. Sometimes your kids’ friends or some unexpected guest will come over since they know you’re home. You will often be expected to attend to some urgent household work like picking up your kids from the school or dropping them at a friend’s house. This eats into the time you have to get work done.
2- You need a suitable space for client meetings
If you’re meeting with a client for the first time to make a sales pitch, then you definitely need an office space, even if it means it’s shared. And not just because a coffee shop or restaurant gives an unprofessional impression. You may also not be able to promote your business the way you could have done with a peaceful state of mind and no chaos around.
3- You have started talking to yourself
Do you know the water cooler effect? A name coined for all the gossip that happens near the office water coolers in the break time.
After the newness wears off, working alone from home can be lonely.
There have been studies that suggest that the watercooler effect may yield more than gossip — it may help improve the quality of our work. Why? People learn from each other. The sharing of knowledge, experiences and ideas can help them achieve the success that would have been unattainable otherwise.
That is what happens when people work together — such as what happens in a shared office space.
4- You are hiring
Business means wearing multiple hats at the same time. But in order to grow, you have to hand off certain tasks to focus on the most productive and important tasks yourself. That means you need staff. There is no better option than a shared office space then.
The best part is that when you work in a coworking space, you may find accounting, marketing and finance experts working next to you. Or you may ask your coworker friend to share resources and split the cost of a shared need. You get the best at an affordable cost.
How to find a good shared office space
1- Location
One of the biggest advantages of working from home is saving travelling time. If you have the liberty to choose the location of your office, you’ll definitely choose the one that is near to your house.
However, if you do regular client meetings, then you have to strike a balance between vicinity to your house and accessibility for your clients.
2- Infrastructure
This includes everything from the workspace design to the ambiance, availability of high-speed internet, coffee machine, printer — possibly even a small pantry. Be sure to ask if there is someone on-site to help during operating hours; you don’t want to get stuck without Wi-Fi when you have a deadline.
3- Community
Of course you don’t want to come out from lonely home space to a lonely coworking office space. Community is one of the biggest reasons to move into a coworking space.
Stop by any space you’re thinking of joining to see if the atmosphere is one you will enjoy.
4- Price
One thing that might be stopping you from renting a shared office space could be the price. But all coworking spaces give flexible pricing options.
You can pay on a daily basis if you don’t require an office space every day, else you can opt for the monthly plans (which are less costly). Either way, you won’t spend much as compared to a private dedicated office space.
Where to look for office space
There are many websites where you can look at shared office spaces. They list out the options according to your chosen city, requirements and budget. They also help you in taking the right decision by displaying reviews submitted by others.
Some of these sites are:
Explore a good number of shared office spaces near you with the help of these websites. Then spend three or four days making visits to find if you like the place before purchasing a monthly pass.
Some of the best-known coworking offices in India are 91springboard, WeWork, Innov8, Awfis, Plus Offices, Social Offline and many more.
If you live in a metro city you’ll definitely find one of these near your home.
It’s time to step out
If you’d like to break free from the monotony of working alone, try a shared office space and get the best of both the worlds.
You can enjoy the perks of working from an office when you need to and working from home the rest of the time.
It is definitely cheaper than renting a dedicated space for your office. So stop working from home, Starbucks or Cafe Coffee Day and give your business a more professional look.
Hope to see you in a coworking office space soon.
