Why You Should Choose a Coworking Space for Your Enterprise Team
Coworking is not just for startups anymore.
While it may be tempting to let employees work permanently from home and save money on real estate, the truth is that your employees might benefit from–and actually prefer–working in an office setting. Conversely, it doesn’t make much financial sense to keep paying for large offices that often come attached to long term leases. But how can you offer some of your employees office space while keeping costs low? The answer, simply, is coworking.
In order for a coworking space to work for larger companies or corporate teams, the space should already include seven integral features. But once those requirements are met, our experience is that employee satisfaction, productivity, and creativity increase exponentially. Keep reading for the seven things you should look for in a coworking space for your enterprise team.
Size
In this case, size does matter. If the coworking space is too small, your options might become limited if you want to include more employees, but if it’s too large, you’ll end up feeling like you’re in a standard office. Due to health concerns surrounding COVID-19, many large companies are looking to de-densify their campuses. In order to do that, finding a large space will give your team more options while still social distancing. Your coworking space should allow you to grow, while still feeling like you’re a part of a larger community. Whether you want to rent private offices or desks, your team should have ample space to work safely and efficiently.
2. Fexibility
Instead of getting locked into expensive long-term leases for large office buildings, find a coworking space that offers month-to-month memberships and the opportunity to scale up and down as needed. You don’t want to be stuck in another long-term commitment, unless there’s a significant benefit that comes with it, such as a hefty discount.
3. All-inclusive model
One of the best things about coworking spaces is that you won’t have to pay for operational costs like stocking break rooms with food and drinks or making sure the utilities are dealt with every month. At your coworking space, you should be charged for monthly rent and conference room hours, but everything else should be offered free of charge. Beware of coworking spaces with low rent prices, because fees for snacks, drinks, printing, WiFi, and parking are all things that can add up quickly. Make sure that your membership fee covers all these things already, so you don’t have to worry about surprise charges or limiting your team’s access to the basics.
4. Customer service minded front desk staff
You want your employees to feel at home, welcome, and taken care of when they’re at the office, and a friendly and customer-focused front desk staff goes a long way in keeping your employees happy. Capable, friendly, and responsive staff is imperative, as they should be able to solve any operations issues that might hinder your employees’ workflow.
5. Keep (and grow) your brand identity
While it’s great to be part of something bigger, you want to ensure that the coworking space you choose lets you keep your brand identity and allows you to promote it within the space. This helps other companies and startups at your space get acquainted with your business, and might open the doors to networking and collaboration. If you have a private office, you should be able to display your brand on the window or door. If you have a desk or a pod of desks, you should have the option to add your brand name and icon on name placards. Having your company logo on your coworking space’s website will also add more visibility to your company. When you meet clients at your coworking space, your unique brand should be clearly communicated.
6. A local hub
Many large companies headquartered in busy, traffic-laden cities use coworking spaces as satellite offices where local employees can easily access and utilize office space without the hassle of commuting. Having a local workspace option will help ease employee stress, and allow more time spent dedicated to doing work instead of driving to work. Remote workers can have a nearby space to escape the distractions of their homes, collaborate with teammates, and meet clients or customers in a professional environment. Give your employees the flexibility they’ve gotten used to during COVID-19 by offering them workspace at a local business hub.
7. Creativity boost
Unlike traditional offices, most shared workspaces offer many uniquely designed areas to lounge and conduct formal or informal meetings. A coworking space is a great place to conduct team meetings, workshops, and team building. Open, light-filled spaces are conducive to creativity, and the larger your space is, the more options you have to get a change of scenery–and a creative refresher.
