Coworking
Working from home, or from a space set up to meet every requirement of office work, has been possible around the world for several years. The concept is called coworking, which simply means a shared workspace. It has also taken shape in Romania, especially since the pandemic, when flexibility became one of its key advantages. Below you will find the most important reasons to choose a coworking space, and who this service is for.
1. Why choose coworking: who it is for and how it works
In the United States the term coworking appeared in the early 2000s; in Europe the concept spread much later, and it reached Romania a few years ago. So what exactly is it? It is a service that self-employed people and companies can both use: freelancers and independent professionals, as well as businesses with a small number of employees.
Why choose a coworking space? There are quite a few reasons, and most of the benefits became visible right after the pandemic, when many companies gave up their office leases and let employees work from home.
How does it work? Some spaces offer daily or hourly access. At Hublou, dedicated desk and private office memberships run for a minimum of 30 days. Compare the total cost of a membership with the cost of renting, including the utilities and services you need. The main features of the service are:
- the facilities you would normally find in an office building;
- the option to book a meeting room, on each space’s terms;
- a stable, high-speed internet connection;
- access to a kitchen or kitchenette;
- a layout that allows for an individual desk or a space for teams of a few people.
That last point is the main reason coworking spaces suit both freelancers and companies that need a workplace they can move into straight away.
2. Why choose a coworking space as a freelancer
If you work as a freelancer, you may have struggled with not having enough space or the quiet you need to work. These are two of the benefits of renting a workplace. Other reasons to choose a coworking space include:
- at Hublou, dedicated desks and private offices have 24/7 key-card access;
- a coworking space works like a regular office, so you can meet clients there with peace of mind;
- you don’t have to cover maintenance costs;
- you get to meet people who work in the same field as you, or in related ones;
- coworking spaces are usually located in places that are easy to reach by public transport.
These are also some of the reasons to choose a coworking space when you run a company.
3. Reasons to choose coworking for your company
You may be wondering why a small company would choose a coworking space. If you don’t own your premises and pay rent, this is one of the best reasons. Compare the total cost of a membership with renting: the space, utilities, internet, cleaning and any services used separately. Here are a few more reasons; pick the ones that suit you:
- when you have only a few employees, they can work in a space equipped exactly like a traditional office;
- you choose the set-up that suits your team: dedicated desks or a private office, both with 24/7 access;
- you have access to a printer and scanner.
The Hublou meeting room seats 6 and is booked separately, by members only, at RON 99/hour.
In short, coworking spaces are increasingly common in large cities and offer an alternative to a traditional lease. A few years ago they were mostly aimed at digital nomads; today a much wider range of professionals use them. So if you want to combine practicality with lower costs and a polished professional image, this service will suit you very well.
Photo: Freepik.com.