Tired of Working From Home? Why Coworking Is Such a Popular Option for Freelancers

Coworking is one of the most tangible, disruptive concepts shaping today’s working environment. Not only has the term become part of our everyday business language but coworking spaces are part of life for millions of people.

The spread of the coworking idea is a reflection of several dynamic trends that are changing the way we work today. Digitalization has disrupted whole professions and industries, making it easier for many people to work away from a traditional office. And always-on availability—a constant stream of data and communication—requires everyone to figure out an optimal balance between their work and their private lives.

One group that has a tough time avoiding this challenge are freelancers, and many have found that coworking spaces offer an effective way to structure their business lives: In its 2017 Global Coworking Survey, Deskmag found that about 4 in 10 coworkers are, in fact, working as freelancers.

Office Club Coworking, Berlin

One major factor is flexibility

Coworking spaces don’t just accommodate flexible schedules with 24/7 access, they typically offer flexible pricing.

Some coworking spaces allow users to come work for single days, while most offer memberships on a monthly basis. This helps ease financial pressure and helps enable freelancers to respond to short-term fluctuations or private projects if needed.

An office that’s ready to go from Day One

Moving into an office space can come with a number of challenges for a small business. There are the fixed costs of a new office, such as rent and insurance, as well as high initial investments in basic office infrastructure, such as furnishings and technical equipment. Then there’s the time and construction that might be needed to set up shop.

Coworking spaces, by contrast, let you start working productively right away: The infrastructure is already in place and ready to be used on demand, with costs shared by the whole community. This makes coworking not just convenient but also cost-effective.

Apart from the usual office gear (i.e. printers, scanners, copy machines), most spaces provide conference rooms and lounge areas—amenities that wouldn’t make much sense for the average freelancer to maintain. Many coworking spaces also offer basic services, such as mail handling. And some target specific industries or professions and lure them with special features such as high-performance computers, 3D printers, or fully equipped manufacturing workshops.

Office Club Coworking, Berlin

Close, but not too close

Nearly half of all coworkers worked at home before they joined a coworking community. And coworking spaces often offer a way to get out of a home office without adding a long commute: Deskmag found that coworkers prefer to stay close to home, with most spending 20 minutes or less to get to their coworking space.

Coworking spaces offer community

The social factor is an important factor for many people who join a coworking space. It’s a platform for both private and professional exchanges, where you might meet like-minded people to socialize, transfer knowledge, collaborate and learn with others, or cooperate on a professional level. Working among other freelancers can also help give your productivity a boost!

Is it old fashioned to put so much emphasize on intentionally separating your private and professional lives when you can work from anywhere? Surveys have found that many workers are ditching the 9-to-5 because they want the flexibility to work when and how they want. Coworking can offer a structure and a clear distinction between different aspects of life while you set a schedule that helps you work and live better.

This story was submitted by Ben Roth and does not constitute the views or opinions of Upwork.

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