The Advantages of a shared co working space for Startups

by Startacus Admin

Peter Ames of Office Genie makes a case for why your startup could benefit from a leap into the world of shared offices... 

Life as a home-based startup owner can be difficult: there are a myriad of potential distractions in the home. Distinctions between work and personal lives may begin to blur. You may start wondering if life might be better in a more focused environment. This is where a shared office can be of huge benefit to the ambitious startup owner.

One factor that may deter a new business from office life is the cost. However, there is no need to fear this when sharing a desk. With businesses looking to make extra money in difficult economic times, renting a desk can be extremely economical, and the benefits of an office share could well make it worth the cost. On Office Genie, the cheapest examples can be snapped up for as little as £60 per month, even in London!

Make admin a thing of the past
Life in a shared office gives you the chance to escape the distractions of the home without having to grapple with the administration required when renting your own office. This is where the ‘one-bill’ payment method of a shared office is a real bonus. Facilities such as utilities, broadband, and maybe even meeting rooms could all be included in one simple monthly fee. You are left to put all of your energy into driving your business forward.

Work flexibly, on your own terms
Shared facilities are also hugely flexible, and you can get a desk almost immediately. Furthermore, if your business really begins to reap the benefits of all that can be achieved in an office environment; you may well want to welcome new staff members who will need a workspace of their own. With a shared office you will often find you are not tied to a long lease, and can look to move into a different workplace with more free desks. You can take your startup wherever the market leads you; an exciting thought! If you simply cannot bear to leave your business’ new home, the host business may even have extra desks for your new employees.

Enjoy the unique buzz of the office world
These environments also offer the chance to work in a stimulating workplace with other like-minded business-people. This gives you the opportunity to develop lasting relationships as well as useful business contacts. You may have the qualities the business you are sharing with requires, and they might even ask you to lend your skills to their cause; something that has happened right here at Genie HQ.

The downsides
If you are the sort of startup owner with very specific requirements for your business, then a shared office might not be for you. Your business will be subject to the facilities of the company that rents the building. This means you would have little control over things such as security, broadband, decoration, and even your workmates. If you do have specific requirements for such facilities, or if you simply want a quiet environment in which to work, these cannot be guaranteed in a shared office.

Even if these issues may be a concern, a shared office may still be worth any risks that you see. Flexible month-to-month contracts mean you can leave almost as quickly as you arrived if you decide the environment is not for you. There are also alternative office options that might still suit your business. Why not consider co-working or hot-desking? These allow you to pay for shared desk space as you use it, if you do not plan to be at the desk from nine to five.

There is a wealth of shared office options available to the budding business-person, and they are only a click away. For the startup owner who is willing to make that leap, it could be the best business decision they have ever made.

Peter Ames writes on behalf of Office Genie, an online marketplace for office space and desk rental in the UK

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Published on: 25th October 2012