The author of Co-working was Brad Newberg. He was the first to implement the idea of renting out not a building or office, but individual workplaces. Pragmatic Americans responded vividly to this proposal. The first experience in 2005 became widespread. Since demand breeds supply, today there are more than three hundred such centers only in large cities and capitals.
A new format on the rental market
It is not always convenient to work on a project at home. It is distracted by the housemates, and the atmosphere of relaxation and familiar coziness gets in the way. But it is very expensive to rent an office. The solution begs itself – to apply to the co-working center. There is sure to be free space that could be reserved for work – Юровский.
The fundamental difference between a co-working center and a classical office is the relaxed atmosphere and the overall democratic spirit. Anyone can rent space and use it as they see fit.
Everyone present has equal rights. One thing that binds them together is the need to “do business” but not to be dependent on a routine that is imposed by management. And there is no management as such. It is not for nothing that this service is popular among freelancers, who are known to be “their own bosses.
In all co-working spaces a pleasant bonus to the workplace itself is offered a number of related services. First of all, such rooms always have Internet access. Otherwise there is no point in renting.
Work areas are equipped with everything you need:
- a desktop computer or laptop computer;
- office equipment (printer, scanner, photocopier, fax);
- office supplies;
- projectors;
- whiteboards.
There is no mandatory list of services. The owners of the center form it according to their capabilities and at their discretion. Each additional item adds to the amenities. But at the same time it requires special funding.
Additional features include:
- 24-hour access;
- A locker room with issued keys;
- Access to the gym.
Depending on which center you choose, you can even count on lunches or coffee breaks. It is also possible to rent a parking space.
Often users are united by their interests or social status. In America, for example, “themed” co-working rooms are popular, bringing people together with a single business idea. Here you can find support and methodical help for starting your own business.
What to choose
Compared to an ordinary office, all of this looks attractive. However, the benefits of a co-working space outweigh the stability of working in a secure building with a permanent workplace.
Pros and cons of co-working
Pros:
Socialization (expanding the circle of partnerships). The address of the co-working space is often listed as the office address on their website, which is good for their reputation. The ability to work at a convenient time of day. The absence of strict control from the management. Free self-education (during their stay in the co-working space people often attend specialized webinars and online courses). Freedom from household duties.
Cons:
Lack of personal space. Lack of privacy and the ability to focus. High probability of information leakage. No guarantee of safety of things due to the lack of storage lockers (if they are, they are for a fee). Noise pollution. Impossibility to fix one and the same workplace. Necessity to book a meeting room or a conference room in advance.
Conditions of rent
Low cost. Penalty system for non-compliance with co-working room rules. Flexible approach to deadlines (as little as a week or even less). Possibility to reserve a workplace for just two or even one person (no minimum or maximum limit).
Pros and cons of the office
Pros:
Comfortable working conditions. Absence of background noise. Availability of other rooms (for negotiations, conference room, etc.) Parking, reception area for visitors. Security (security checkpoints, guards, checkrooms). Guaranteed confidentiality of information while working with the software. Productivity. Everything in the office is focused on professional tasks. Employees are not distracted by outsiders and their problems.
Cons:
Staff being tied to place and time. The need for adherence to regimen and discipline. Lots of housekeeping problems related to repairs, heating, water, etc.
Rental terms and conditions
High cost. No penalty system. At the time of signing the contract takes into account the number of staff (the office is always rented to the team).
Recall that in that very first Co-working, Newberg actively offered residents meditation sessions during breaks and even joint outings into nature. The American experience suggests that this idea is universal. It can be developed in any direction, expanding or narrowing the range of services.
Who owns the future
So the American initiative demonstrates a number of advantages. But the question of who the future belongs to, co-working spaces or offices, is not unequivocal. The most unbiased science – statistics – states that the share of co-working outlets in the capital is only one percent of all offers of office outlets. Perhaps as the number of co-working increases, the situation on the rental market will be more balanced.
In addition, the apparent imbalance may well be due to the fact that Co-working spaces are now located in extremely poor locations. And the answer to the question of consumers, what is better, an office or a co-working space, directly depends on the transport accessibility. Proven market players – owners of business centers – have taken all the winning positions. They are located near municipal public transport routes or in close proximity to subway stations. Intra-block location or its remoteness from the center is fraught with economic inefficiency.
In favor of classical offices also speaks very little experience in organizing work in co-working centers. The minimum set of services, as a rule, is expanding. And this inevitably entails a change in the very contractual mechanism of the organization of the lease.
As for the lack of confidentiality, this is also an undeniable disadvantage of co-working. And all attempts to strengthen the privacy factor lead, according to analysts, to a convergence with the classical format.
Thus, there are reasons to believe that at the rental market the traditional and innovative segments will develop in parallel and possibly complement each other.
