Recent years have been a time of transformation in the area of work models, especially for people whose professional duties focus on online activities. The increasing popularity of hybrid and remote model of working forced employees to adapt to the new reality and face the challenge of reconciling private and professional life, which in many cases has moved to the home space.

Coworking turned out to be the alternative to working at home and the real support for maintaining the work-life balance. What is it, what benefits does it bring and for whom it will be the perfect solution? We have gathered answers to the frequently asked questions by entrepreneurs and created a comprehensive guide for all those who want to know the specifics of this service. We look forward to seeing you there!

What is coworking?

Coworking is a type of space that is shared between freelancers or employees and entrepreneurs from different companies. Coworking is a possibility of individual or joint work, at fully adapted, equipped space that provides a greater work comfort than at home.

Currently, coworking space can be divided into the so-called open space, in which a large number of desks are placed, and a separate room for groups adapted for coworking space for teams.

Among the distinguishing features of coworking, the most important are:

  1. dedicated workplaces

  2. access to comfortable chairs and desks

  3. the possibility of using the office equipment

  4. high speed internet access

  5. access to a fully equipped kitchen

  6. option to use additional services offered by the coworking office, such as training and conference rooms, a serviced office or a virtual assistant

HOW DOES COWORKING WORK?

Why is coworking a perfect option for entrepreneurs or freelancers who value their time? Because it is a simple solution, operating on clear, transparent principles and not requiring complicated administrative processes. You can use the space as soon as you contact the office. What’s important, the person who decides to use the service adjusts the rental time to their individual needs. A coworking office can be rented for several hours as well as for whole days or weeks.

The basis of the coworking service is to use a dedicated workstation reserved just for you, or for you and your team in the case of coworking for teams. Here you will meet people with passion, willing to establish contacts and networking, which will open up many business opportunities. In most places, including IdeaPlace, you can use office equipment and kitchen at the subscription price, and if you need to meet with customers or conduct training, you will be provided with a business room. You can also count on the support of a qualified administration team. Most coworking offices offer 24-hour access to space, which means that the availability of space is not a limitation.

WHAT ARE THE BEGINNINGS OF COWORKING?

The first initiatives of group meetings devoted to working together were created in the west in the early 1990s. Over time, such a model of performing duties gained popularity, and at the beginning of 2000s the first commercial coworking offices began to be established.  In Poland, coworking is still a relatively new phenomenon, and its beginnings date back to 2007, when informal groups who met to work together began to be formed. The first official coworking office was opened in 2008, and the first industry conference was held in 2010. Currently, coworking is not only a space for rent. People expect from this service an opportunity to join the community, a networking, an inspiration. Due to the flexibility, convenience and satisfaction of the need to maintain relationships with other people, the coworking is the future of office work.

Who is coworking addressed to?

Not so long ago, coworking spaces were associated mainly with freelancers from the IT industry looking for desks to work. At the moment, this service is so developed that it answears the needs of entrepreneurs from many different industries. Everyone, for whom the balance between professional and private life is important, comfort and hygiene at work, development through building relationships, as well as contact with an international, innovative environment, will find themselves here. Coworking is the perfect solution for:

  1. freelancers, for example programmers, graphic designers, copywriters, accountants, architects, translators, traders or marketing specialists

  2. small business owners and new entrepreneurs looking for savings, but also a professional headquarters

  3. people working remotely and looking for a place to work outside the home

  4. foreign employees employed by Polish companies

  5. digital nomads

  6. people practicing workation, i.e. holiday leave, during which the employee remotely performs his professional work,

coworking ideaplace

FOR WHAT ACTIVITIES COWORKING WILL BE THE BEST SOLUTION?

Thanks to its flexibility, clear operating rules and time and scope tailored to individual needs, the coworking office is a perfect option for freelancers. A freelancer who decides on an office in a coworking space, avoids the high cost of renting an independent space and gains the possibility to meet many experienced people from the industry.

Coworking is a service worth considering by micro-entrepreneurs who want to optimize the costs of maintaining the office, as well as employers employing people from abroad.

Coworking – the perfect place for start-ups and project teams

The growing popularity of coworking is influenced by, among others, the boom in start-ups and design work, which has been common in recent years.  The costs of running their own business are still not low, so people who start a business, including in the service sector, rarely decide to rent space for a long time at the very beginning of their business. Entrepreneurs who care about separating their private life from their professional life and ensuring a comfortable place to work appreciate the potential of the coworking. Working in a coworking office often also bring many benefits to project teams, whose motivation and efficiency increases during a joint work. Coworking for teams guarantees space for groups that need to meet live in comfortable conditions.

Why rent an office in a coworking space?

Working in a common coworking space means comfort, cost optimization and no worries or additional administrative work. After joining the coworking space, you can fully focus on the development of your skills and all professional duties. Networking and the possibility of establishing business contacts is not possible on such a large scale under any other conditions.

The possibility of using a comfortable, equipped office in a prestigious business meeting center, the option of using additional services and administrative support are only some of the benefits that work in coworking offices offers.

WHEN TO BET ON A COWORKING SPACE?

It is worth choosing to work in a coworking space when we notice that the costs of maintaining the entire office significantly exceed our budget. It is also a solution for those who feel that the balance between their private and professional life has been disturbed, the efficiency of work at home is much lower, and development without daily interpersonal contacts is not so dynamic.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF COWORKING

The most important distinguishing feature and advantage of coworking is the possibility of networking, i.e. establishing business contacts. Contact with other people, often revolving around the same industry, is an opportunity to exchange experiences, and often also to cooperate.

The coworking office is the perfect solution for those who want to avoid monotony and the negative effects of working completely remotely. The decision to use this service is a step towards maintaining a work-life balance. Access to the necessary equipment, a comfortable and specially designated place where you can perform your work duties, help to ensure occupational health. When considering the coworking service, it should be remembered that it may generate slightly higher costs than working at home. How much is a coworking space? The adapted space with full equipment, access to the kitchen and professional administrative support is the cost of several hundred zlotys per month. The disadvantage of coworking is also its limited availability. The inhabitants of large cities should have no problem finding a place to work, however, people from smaller towns must take into account the everyday drive.

WHERE DOES THE GROWING POPULARITY OF COWORKING COME FROM?

Hybrid work and remote work, which have gained much popularity in recent years and are now the norm for most industries operating on the Internet, have influenced changes in the needs and expectations of employees. A separate space outside the home, in which we can fully focus on the performance of business duties, and the possibility of establishing contact with other people, is of great value for people working fully remotely. Coworking solves problems which are typical for working at home, such as the presence of other household members, the lack of office equipment or an unstable connection to the Internet, and separating the zone in which we live from the one in which we work has a good impact on our psyche and life balance, increases the level of motivation and commitment.

Own office costs that are not generated by coworking

Coworking is undoubtedly a cheaper solution than comprehensive, long-term office maintenance. This solution is appreciated primarily by freelancers and employers who pay for the space of coworking or coworking for teams, for their employees.

When deciding to rent an entire office, we must take into account the costs of purchasing necessary equipment, such as desks, chairs, printers, scanners. You also need to take care of fast WiFi, kitchen assortment and cleaning products. There is also a need to employ another person as administrative assistance will probably be necessary.

Deciding on the coworking space, you get all the necessary things in the package. You only use the workplace when you or your team need it, you don’t have to worry about equipment or keeping the space clean, because the team working in the office takes care of everything. Most coworking spaces also provide additional services at a favorable price, available on demand. Coworking is an assurance that you will pay a predetermined fee for the space and thus avoid unforeseen expenses.

Coworking and hybrid work

Hybrid work, when you are half of the time performing duties in the office and the other half at home, requires good organization from teams. Coworking is a great support in this case, because:

  1. it can serve as a much cheaper alternative to long-term and permanent rental of the entire space – you only pay for the rental of real-time office use

  2. it is a place for meetings and joint work of teams, and thus, it helps the teammates feel that they belong to the organization

  3. it enables you to continuously establish and maintain relationships with others

  4. it is a workspace for those who do not want to or cannot work at home

WHEN IS IT WORTH TO REPLACE REMOTE WORK WITH COWORKING?

Thanks to its flexibility, coworking is able to respond to the diverse needs of many businesses and freelancers and neutralize all the disadvantages and inconveniences associated with remote work.

When should you consider giving up completely remote work to work in a coworking space? When you notice that home conditions do not meet our requirements, the space is not adapted to sitting for hours behind a desk or the environment disturbs the silence necessary to focus. Coworking is an option worth considering when we notice a decrease in motivation and efficiency. The role of an employer or leader is priceless as he constantly monitors the level of commitment and mental condition of employees, as well as supports the talents of his organization in maintaining work-life balance. The solution where the employer pays for the coworking office is becoming more and more popular, it creates conditions for employees to work comfortably.

POPULAR ALTERNATIVE TO REMOTE WORK – COWORKING

The growing interest in coworking as an alternative to full remote work results from the recognition and experience of defects in remote work, which are often visible only after many months of working in this model. Home is not always a good place to work, especially if we share the space with others.

Coworking isn’t just a desk. It helps those who are overwhelmed by work in a place where they live, who do not feel sufficiently comfortable, and where their motivation to work decreases. The coworking office is a place that ensures full professionalism while at the same time it brings comfort.

How do I rent a coworking space?

For most coworking offices, all you need to do to make a reservation is call or email. After deciding on the package, you can freely use the possibility of booking any desk at your convenience. A lot of places offer a free test day, during which you can verify how you feel in a given space.

HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR WORK IN THE COWORKING SPACE?

Starting working in a coworking space does not require much preparation. The office and kitchen facilities are fully equipped, the standards of cleanliness are maintained, and you get a fast Internet connection. All you need to get started is your own laptop.

When planning your work day, it is worth remembering that in the space dedicated to individual work, it is required to keep silence not to disturb anyone. It is recommended to conduct all conversations in a space dedicated to teamwork.

Coworking – working together for teams and freelancers

The main characteristic of coworking is the opportunity to meet people from different industries who do different types of business activity. The coworking is dedicated not only to freelancers who, apart from networking, are looking for a space where it will be possible to focus and work in silence, but also project teams for which special rooms are designated. Exchanging experience with people working in different modes, independently supervising activities and larger groups working together on tasks is a priceless dose of business knowledge.

WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTCS OF COWORKING OFFICES?

Coworking is a modern and innovative response to the expectations of the entrepreneurs of today. It is a space that meets all the conditions that are necessary for comfortable work, maintaining work-life balance, taking care of interpersonal contacts.

You get a possibility to start work without a financial burden and additional administrative or organizational tasks. Coworking is the only place to work where you can focus only on your professional duties.

Coworking office in Wrocław – modern equipped space

Wrocław, as an important centre of business meetings and a seat for many enterprises, has a rich coworking offer. Spaces in the capital of Lower Silesia are modern and fully equipped offices that bring together coworkers from all over the world.

IDEAPLACE – WITH US YOU WILL FIND SPACE DEDICATED TO WORKING TOGETHER

At IdeaPlace, we know to what extent working conditions affect efficiency and how they reflect on all areas of our lives. Our coworking spaces were created taking into account various needs. Plac Solny 15 is a meeting place for people from the international environment, ready for networking in a common space. We are here to ensure the best working conditions, comfort and development in an innovative environment. Don’t hesitate to contact us!

Monika