The Ultimate Guide to Coworking Spaces

Coworking space is currently becoming a trend among workers and business owners due to rapid technological developments. It has the characteristic of being an arena and space for communities that are developing ideas and creativity. This room is fairly general and its users do not have a specific identity as a company or worker, so it is not surprising that at first it was identified with freelancers and entrepreneurs.

This space first appeared as a place for people who work without being bound by company regulations, meaning they can work anywhere and at any time without a definite place of work. This concept ultimately provides space for interaction with other parties outside the company.

The existence of these different perspectives results in the transfer of knowledge which has the potential to give birth to collaboration across institutions or companies.

However, of course, you are curious about why this concept is so popular. In this guide, we will explore everything related to it.

History of Coworking Spaces

The concept of coworking offices became generally accepted in 2005, but some people believe the concept of coworking has been around since 1995 in Berlin, Germany. This first happened when a group of computer engineers ‘hackerspace’ better known as C-Base. Then the term coworking was only officially introduced several years later.

Brad Neuberg, an entrepreneur and software engineer, in 2005 sought to create a work environment that allowed people to work independently, but still experience the benefits of a traditional office. He opened the first coworking space in the Spiral Muse Center, in San Francisco. Due to increasing demand, Neubreg moved to a larger location only 1 year after its first opening.

Since then, this concept has begun to be used throughout the world by developing Brad Neubreg’s ideas. Existing coworking offices are flexible workspaces to serve members, both independent professionals and large companies, by offering private or collaborative workspaces, meeting rooms, and break rooms designed to suit various work and business styles.

What is a Coworking Space?

A coworking space is a place to work outside the office with the identities of the users coming from various companies and different types of work. He is not tied to a particular company, organization, or field of work. This place also offers various services and facilities to support work activities, such as tables and chairs, a fast internet network, printers, and scanners.

Not only basic work needs facilities, this place also provides meeting rooms, break rooms, and on-site catering services. You could say, this place is a great place to interact and gain a network within the community while getting work done. This is better than having to work from home.

Even though there are many good things you can get when completing your work in this place, there are many things you have to consider, such as rental price, location, facilities, and working atmosphere. If you accidentally choose a place with a work environment that is too noisy, it may not be suitable for the type of work you have to complete.

Who Uses Coworking Spaces?

This space can be used by anyone who needs an office-like workspace. Some types of professions that often use this space are:

• Freelancers
• Startups
• Consultant
• Businessman
• Entrepreneur
• Researcher
• Employee
• Digital Nomad
• Students

Usually, they choose to use this space to get a conducive environment while completing their work. And this space is considered the right place.

What Does a Coworking Space Look Like?

Coworking space is generally designed to be similar to traditional offices with basic facilities such as lots of tables and chairs, space to work, and attractive room designs.

Apart from creating comfort and a conducive environment, an attractive room design is also used to build high interest so that people choose to work in this space rather than working at home or in a cafe. To give the real impression of being in an office (albeit with a more relaxed design), this space is usually designed like a business center.

They will arrange a workspace that looks comfortable, such as the appearance of a seating area, event room, presentation room, meeting room, and a place to rest such as a kitchen complete with logistics (tea, coffee, and snacks), gym facilities, and bathing facilities. Supporting a resting area can help you relax after working hard.

What are the Types of Coworking Spaces?

Based on function, these workplaces can be divided into several types, including:

1. Midsize & Big Community

This is the most common type of space. This place can be used by 40 workers who are not allocated to a particular company. This allows this space to be changed flexibly according to the required area, increasing capacity, or changing the room design.

2. Small Communities

Almost the same as a big community, only the capacity that can be provided is less, around 10 workplaces, thus creating a closer working atmosphere.

3. Corporate Powered

This type of space only provides a limited workplace for certain companies. The aim is as an additional place to develop the company in conducting research, creating innovation, improving the quality of work, and increasing company income. Access to this workplace is limited, they may only provide services to companies that collaborate with the workplace.

4. University Related

This is a workplace as a means of learning, developing, and applying knowledge for pupils and students. This place is used as a practice place based on the theoretical education that has been delivered. This type of space is usually established by educational institutions or universities, often even by the students themselves.

5. Pop-Up

Used by certain active communities temporarily. Often only used for permanent coworking space trials that will be built at a later date. In short, this space was only built for temporary use.

Are There Any Tips For Choosing A Coworking Space?

Working in this workspace can have its challenges, for example, interference from other people’s voices due to a busy environment or inadequate facilities. There are several tips that you can use to get a coworking space that supports your productivity while working.

1. Choose The Right Place

Choosing the right place for coworking is important to determine productivity while working. Choose a room that is safe, comfortable, quiet, and has complete and adequate facilities. We recommend Bali Bustle as coworking space for digital nomads which offers adequate facilities and a comfortable place.

2. Consider Location

It’s a good idea to choose a place that is located in a prestigious place to attract potential clients. Choose a strategic location, such as close to a bus stop, places to eat, parks to refresh your mind, and shopping places so that if you need an item you can buy it immediately.

3. Adjust The Distance And Budget Conditions

Not only based on preference, you also need to consider the distance between your home and the coworking location to minimize expenses for paying for transportation. Also make sure the subscription fee for a coworking space is adjusted to your budget, whether it’s a daily, weekly, or monthly rental.

4. Pay Attention To The Facilities Offered

Each place offers different facilities, in general, they have basic facilities such as tables, chairs, meeting rooms, a fast internet network, and electricity. However, some offer superior facilities, for example, scanners, printers, and catering which are placed in special rooms.

5. Pay Attention To The Design Of The Work Area

The design of the work area not only plays a role in beautifying the appearance of the room but also has a big influence on the working atmosphere that is created indirectly. A room that has an attractive design is certainly more comfortable to use as a workplace.

What To Do Before Work?

After getting the right place, there are several things you need to prepare before starting work.

• Prepare personal equipment, such as laptops, books, stationery, and cable reels.
• Bring personal eating and drinking utensils for health safety.
• Prepare a headset to maintain your focus if your work requires a high level of concentration.

After that, you just need to obey the rules while at work. Such as maintaining health protocols, not making noise, and socializing with other members. This is something you do to show your work ethic.

Pros and Cons of Coworking Space

Everything has pros and cons, including this workspace.

Pros:

• Have the opportunity to join a community for support and motivation
• Networking opportunities with professionals from various industry backgrounds
• Affordable costs because you can share with other members
• Decent facilities such as high-speed internet networks
• Flexible to choose the required work area

Cons:

• The open layout makes it easier to hear other people’s voices
• Lack of privacy due to open layout
• Competition for existing facilities, such as seating, tables, and meeting rooms
• Limited control over the work environment including lighting, room temperature, or work area design

Based on the main guide that we have discussed, it is hoped that this will provide an overview of coworking space and make it easier for you to choose the right place to complete your work.