What is it Like to Work in Coworking?

Working for yourself is a dream for many individuals.  Getting started always involves a leap of faith and a hope that you will be able to grow your business.  For many this journey starts by working from your home or apartment.  This is a cost-effective way to get your tasks accomplished and not incur high costs for office rental space, furniture and office machines;  but for many it can be isolating and does not foster creativity and imagination.  It is also hard to meet with a client at your kitchen table.

Enter: The Coworking Concept

To balance the challenges of working from home a new concept has arisen.  It is called Coworking Office Space.  The definition of coworking is simple: “coworking” is a generic word that’s generally used to describe any situation in which two or more people are working in the same place together, but not for the same company.

What is it Like to Work in a Coworking Environment?

Coworking spaces are often set up as collaborative shared spaces that foster individuals who are like minded and looking for an inspiring space that will foster their creativity.  A sense of community is evident in these locations as participants can network, share lunch and bounce ideas off one another very easily.   Some coworking models are set up as open work benches and some have a more traditional office look.  Many have a balance of both of these elements.  Benefits of shared spaces, beyond the collaboration and networking, involve the use of shared wi-fi, high tech office machines, shared café and lounge areas and a business mailing address.  This increases your productivity and the shared costs of these amenities are cheaper than you having to supply them all yourself.

Challenges in Coworking

The first thing to remember is that these spaces are not free.  They are, however, much cheaper than going it alone in a traditional office rental.  There are many styles and levels of services that you can choose in these settings that can help you to get just what you need and keep your costs down.  For instance, if you never will need a large conference room with video capabilities choose a shared office that does not require you to pay for this.

Another challenge is that if you are the type of person who gets easily distracted by the noise from others and working with less privacy (just like at any other office setting) then you may need to choose a setting that will help you to mitigate these obstacles.  For the most part the savings in rental price will far outweigh the inconveniences.  Look for situations where month to month leasing of shared space is an option.  This may work better for you if you know that you only need the space for certain times of the year.  Before you decide to work in this kind of space consider your work habits and style carefully.

Manchester, NH’s Newest and Coolest Coworking Center

Red Oak Coworking Offices are all the buzz in Manchester, NH.  These new work spaces are located on Hanover Street close to banks, restaurants and the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.  This 4,700 square-foot coworking space in the Daily Mirror Building at 66 Hanover Street is designed for professionals who desire to work outside of a traditional corporate environment.  The space includes dedicated work stations as well as executive office suites and private offices.   This space supports and encourages the development of young entrepreneurs.