Are you trying to decide between a traditional office space and a coworking space for your business? It can be a tough call, especially with the rise of remote work and unconventional workspaces in recent years. While we truly believe that coworking has nearly endless advantages for young and old professionals alike, it’s important to compare the two subjectively to help you decide.
In this article, we’re stacking coworking spaces vs office spaces up against eachother and by the end, you’ll have a firm answer about which is the right option for you.
Comparing the Costs
First things first, let’s talk money. Leasing a traditional office space is a big financial commitment. You’re on the hook for rent, utilities, furniture, equipment, everything. It’s all up to you to supply.
Even as a small business or startup, the costs add up quickly.
With coworking spaces at Urban Co-Works, we provide a flexible and affordable environment where you’re not responsible for anything besides a membership fee.
You get a workspace, plus a bunch of sweet amenities (more on that later). It’s much more affordable than renting and furnishing a full office, especially if you don’t need a lot of square footage. This allows you to reallocate the money towards building your business, expanding your team, and whatever else you need to do to grow.
Difference in Flexibility
Another big factor to consider is flexibility. With a traditional office, you’re usually locked into a lengthy lease. Want to expand or downsize? Too bad.
You’ll have to wait out the lease or break it and likely pay a fee to do so.
Coworking spaces are the opposite. We offer month-to-month memberships that you can scale up or down as you need. Best of all, you can choose between a bunch of different packages depending on how often you want to be in the office.
Did you know we also have office space for rent with the same perks of a coworking space?
You can pay month-to-month for an office so if you need to get some extra space for employees or you want to get out of the house for certain months of the year, you can do that.
All-in-all, the flexibility of a coworking space is part of what makes it so desirable for remote workers and small business owners. It puts more control back in your hands.
Networking and Collaboration
Here’s where coworking spaces really shine. When you’re in a shared workspace, you’re rubbing elbows with all sorts of professionals – freelancers, entrepreneurs, remote workers from different companies. It’s like a built-in networking event.
…and oh yeah, we have those at Urban Co-Works too! We host regular networking events where you can drum up new business and make connections with people from all over the area.
In a traditional office, you’re siloed off with your own coworkers. Which is fine, but it doesn’t lend itself to the same kind of organic collaboration and connection.
Amenities and Perks
Coworking spaces are known for offering great amenities like free coffee, comfy seating, private phone booths, and the occasional donuts and cookies.
Plus, you get the standards of high-speed internet, a business mailing address, computer screens, and more. All of this comes baked into your monthly membership so it’s convenient and simple.
Privacy
This is one area where traditional offices may have the advantage if you’re worried about this kind of thing. With your own space, you have way more control over your environment and who has access to it.
That’s why we offer private offices for those who want them at Urban Co-Works! But if you’re still looking for coworking – private phone booths, bluetooth entry, conference rooms, and even a zen room can find you some privacy and always ensure you’re safe at the coworking space.
Frequently Asked Questions About Coworking vs Offices
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we get when comparing a coworking space to office space.
What is the difference between shared office space and coworking space?
We actually do not have “shared private offices” in our offering. We have private offices that individual companies can rent. The coworking space has work stations that are available to members with coworking memberships. The coworking memberships include a lot of amenities to encourage a productive workday such as access to meeting rooms, privacy pods, etc.
What is a virtual office?
It’s a service that gives you a business address and mailbox, plus maybe meeting rooms or a receptionist. But there’s no physical workspace. It’s a good option if you work from home but want a professional address.
What is the difference between hot desking and coworking?
A hot desk and coworking are basically the same thing. Work stations are not dedicated to any member. This is different than dedicated desks which some coworking spaces offer members for an additional fee. If a member chooses a dedicated desk, they can leave items out in their work area and no other member is permitted to use it. We do not currently offer that as an option at Urban Co-Works.
Final Thoughts
So, which one is right for you? It really depends on your budget, your style, and what you’re looking for in a workspace.
If you’re a small team or solopreneur who thrives on flexibility and community, coworking could be the right choice for you.
Even as a larger company with multiple employees, we have private office rentals in Scranton at Urban Co-Works so there’s a home for you too.
The beauty is, you’re not stuck with one or the other forever. You can always switch it up after a month or two. If you find that coworking isn’t working out and you want to step up to an office for more privacy, you have that option at Urban Co-Works.