What to Know About Shared Office Spaces and Using Them

An office lease can be a heavy burden. For smaller businesses or self-employed individuals who aren’t always in the office, a lease represents major overhead that’s not always worth the price. On the other hand, how else are you going to do business? It’s a catch-22 that businesses have struggled with for years, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

The way we do business has changed, and with that change has come advancements in how (and where) we work. There are options and alternatives available that resolve the problems related to traditional office space. Shared office space is one such solution that can provide the benefits of a permanent office without the hassle or the price tag.

A good number of businesses have never heard of shared office space, but many would benefit from it. Today, we’ll take a look at what shared office space is and how it can help businesses grow and thrive.

What Is a Shared Office Space?

Shared office spaces are a form of on-demand office space. They don’t typically require long-term leases, and they allow businesses or individual professionals to use the space on an as-needed basis. There are a few characteristics that set shared office spaces apart, however.

Generally speaking, a shared office space is occupied by professionals of various employers and employment. It’s usually an open office layout, providing close proximity and little-to-no division between professionals occupying the space. Shared office spaces are fully-furnished offices, stocked with the necessary chairs, desks, tables, and office equipment needed to do work.

Perhaps the most distinctive feature is that shared office spaces are at least partially occupied by professionals who are not employed by the organization that’s responsible for the space. In other words, professionals are renting their time at a desk.

Shared offices have a lot in common with coworking spaces, which are similarly shared work environments with an open layout, occupied by professionals of varying employment. In many cases, the terms are used interchangeably, and frequently they are synonymous. The one difference occurs when the owner/lessor of the space also occupies a portion of it.

Some businesses find that they have more space in their office than they need, and thus sublet their surplus desk space to other companies and professionals. In this model, the owner/lessor continues using the space while sharing it with others, rubbing shoulders with professionals and organizations they might not otherwise associate with.

Why Would I Ever Use a Shared Office Space?

You may be wondering why you would ever use such a space for your business. Perhaps you’re a freelancer who prefers to work from home. Maybe you’re a larger organization that has a permanent office space. Or, you could be somewhere in between. In any of those cases, shared offices have something to offer that working elsewhere can’t provide.

For those who like to work wherever they please, it’s important to keep in mind that most popular choices for doing telecommuting work come with drawbacks. Working from home doesn’t always give you access to the office equipment you need. Plus, you can’t really meet clients or partners there, and there is the temptation to do something else (like wash the dishes or doing the laundry).

As for other locations, like coffee shops, they are distractions because of the ambient conversation noise, constant rotation of customers, and the occasional shouting. Moreover, you have to rely on unprotected wifi (or not very well protected). That means any sensitive information you transmit over the network is vulnerable to hackers that may be intercepting your traffic.

Meanwhile, as mentioned above, permanent offices are expensive. They’re often the largest expense in a business’s budget, especially when you account for utility bills. What’s more, sometimes you need a place to house your employees temporarily, whether that be during a move from a small office to a bigger one, during a remodel, or while you’re making room for new employees at your current office.

There are also business travelers who tend to need an “office away from the office,” and shared office spaces can provide that. So whatever your circumstance, there are compelling reasons to choose a shared office.

The Advantages of Davinci’s Shared Office Spaces

As for specific benefits, there are quite a few that come with using a shared office. First, it’s on-demand pricing. You pay as you go and only pay for what you use. This can save you thousands on the overhead for a permanent office, which you may or may not be utilizing consistently enough to justify the cost.

Shared offices also usually come with access to meeting and conference rooms, allowing you to meet with business contacts in a professional setting. Similarly, shared offices frequently employ lobby greeters and have waiting areas, giving your business a more professional feel.

Shared offices are fully furnished, as mentioned earlier, providing you with all the necessities for doing business, including high-speed internet. And the best shared office providers have a worldwide network of on-demand office and meeting spaces, meaning no matter where you travel, you’ll have access to what you need to get work done.

Lastly, a shared office space with the right provider can give you the prestige of an upscale address, without the hefty price you’d pay to have a permanent office there. For businesses and entrepreneurs that are just starting out, this can make a big difference.

For professionals who need more flexibility, shared office space can be an excellent fit.