The 10 Commandments of Good Coworking Spaces

As all digital nomads come to learn early in their globe-trotting career, not all Coworking Spaces are made equal. Some are hip and expensive, and some are not so different from your garage back home. Some seem to always be empty, while some are so crowded you can’t even get yourself a nice cup of coffee without having to queue up for 15 minutes. 

In your quest for the perfect coworking space you have probably encountered some, if not all, of the above locations. You probably even have a list of favorites you always go back to in a few cities around the world. But then you go to a place you have never been to before and have to go through the search process all over again, armed with nothing but your patience and the old trial and error method. 

What makes this worse is the fact that this time could be used in a better way. Actually getting some work done for example.

Well, we thought we’d help you out by giving you the 10 Commandments of Good Coworking Spaces, this way you will have a handy guide to pick a great coworking space every time, no matter where you are. 

1. Fast Wifi. 

   This should be a no brainer, but sadly in some coworking spaces it isn’t. A good coworking space has fast wifi and have at least a basic security system in place to protect your data and devices. 

2. Fully equipped.

   A good coworking space has all the equipment you would expect to find in a regular office such as fax machines, scanners and printers. Bonus points if they also have a few extra toys such as smartboards.

3. Great Location. 

   Being conveniently located is definitely a must for any coworking space. What you are looking for is to be right where the action is, wherever in the world you might be. 

4. Great Atmosphere. 

   You need a space that helps you get your work done. This means finding a space where distractions are minimal while also providing you with a sense of being welcome. The atmosphere should be one that encourages concentration and productivity. 

5. Security. 

   If you have ever worked out of a coffee house and had to go to the bathroom,  then you know just how important security is. A good coworking space will provide you with a sense of security, not only regarding your personal belongings, but also regarding your privacy, both online and offline.  

6. Meeting Rooms. 

   A good coworking space also has meeting rooms available on site. This way you won’t have to go to a whole different building just to have a meeting. 

7. Access to Extras. 

   Some coworking spaces offer a coffee flat fee, some even give the stuff out for free, some have fruit available, snacks, some offer free workshops and wellness programs. The important thing to look out for is that you feel like they care about your experience.

8. Coziness. 

   Make sure to watch out for the little details that make a place cozy such as coffee tables with books and magazines,  pillows on the couches, and in general things that make you feel like they want you to feel as comfortable as possible when taking a break. Some coworking spaces even have full bars for this purpose. 

9. Quality. 

   A good coworking space invests in quality furniture, and not just furniture that looks cool. After all, you might be working long hours at this place and for that you will want a good chair that doesn’t give you back pains after an hour. 

10. Community Managers. 

    A great coworking space also has a great community manager. They love people and help create a great community inside the coworking space by understanding what each member needs and making connections between members. 

About Andrés Sanjose

Andrés Sanjose is a writer and editor based in Guatemala. He previously lived in Berlin for 10 years where he witnessed the birth and amazing evolution of the Virtual Office phenomenon, while working as a freelancer in the german capital. He is very interested in what the future holds for this exciting industry and loves to write about it.