When you’re running a small business, the right premises can boost your image. A co-working space is a great way to look professional whilst balancing the books. Of course, any expenditure has to be justified, and this post will explain how co-working is great value plus so much more. (As your business grows, expenses are no less of a priority – just the challenge of communicating that to staff will be different. However, that’s in the future).
Read on to see how making the move to a co-working space is an investment into your business and how it’s been invaluable to the developmental growth of other enterprises.
Time to Leave Home.
If you happen to be working from home and starting to get a steady income stream from your business, then you may be wishing for something better. In a previous post, swapping the office in the kitchen or back room for somewhere a bit more professional has been discussed in detail.
When you’re starting a new company, finding time to work on developing the business is often the other biggest limiting factor. Have you ever used the phrase ‘There aren’t enough hours in the day’?
Vital issues like sorting out a problem with internet modem or chasing an error on the utility bill can easily take up half a day. As a young company, you may not have any staff to delegate these tasks to. So that’s half a day of being un-productive, as acknowledged in a Deskmag article on ‘The Fascination of Co-working’. The Deskmag feature offers an independent opinion which answers ‘yes’ to the question; Does Co-Working Work?
Better Use of Your Time
By choosing to work in a co-working space, handling many of the services which eat into your time is taken care of by the Centre Manager. Just consider how many more profitable hours (rather than drains on your time) there would be if;
- The Internet Service
… was continuous and reliable but if it’s down temporarily, someone else deals with it. You could use that time to catch up on your accounts, which don’t need wifi.
- The Kitchen and Toilet Areas
… were kept clean and functional by housekeeping staff, not you. Not to mention that you wouldn’t have to go out to buy bleach or washing up liquid.
- Electricity and other Utilities
…were included in the price of the co-working package, so you were spared the drag of hunting round for the best deal.
- Catering Facilities
… such as a catering van pulled up at lunch time, so buying a sandwich takes far less time than popping out to the local corner shop or preparing something yourself. Two different companies visit Carrwood Park daily, but if you’re looking at different locations, check whether a similar service has been organised there.
Stop Dreaming!
A comprehensive co-working package will include all the things in the wish list above and more. For a more detailed insight into what you should expect when you choose to co-work, download Carrwood Park’s Ultimate Guide to Co-working.
Terry Horne of Avalon Media Services finds co-working has helped him grow his business. He says “The working experience is more pleasurable. Seeing other people here, you don’t feel like you’re working alone. You treat co-workers like colleagues and productivity goes up. If I need to stay later I don’t mind, which helps me switch off when I’m at home.”
An Obvious Stepping Stone
Co-working differs from taking the leap into rented office space in that the open plan design affords opportunities for networking and collaboration. You can read the previous blog which explains the differences. Without going into all the details, suffice to say that co-working has many of the benefits of an enclosed office, without the monthly outlay.
Dip Your Toe into the Water
Co-working is a growing phenomenon. This article in Forbes online explains that co-working increases the output of ‘solopreneurs’ of all ages who have previously worked from home. If you’re still not convinced, ask us to arrange a taster week for you at Carrwood Park. It’s free of charge and there’s no obligation at end of the trial period.
