Are you working in a coffee shop right now? While some people thrive in the “cappuccino commerce” atmosphere, others might find the unpredictable atmosphere and loud coffee machine noises distracting. This week, we’re talking about co-working spaces, where freelancers and businesspeople can get some work done in a space designed just for them.
A Desk for Hire
If you’re looking to escape “cappuccino commerce” or a quiet home office, Desk Wanted could be the resource for you. It’s a worldwide network that lists more than 1,000 shared workspaces for small business owners and freelancers, categorised by facilities and price range. In the UK, startups NearDesk and Club Workspace are going one step further, creating a network of office spaces that members can access.
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So, where should we meet?
If you’re trying to find a quiet place to chat to your client, try Liquidspace, an online marketplace for meeting rooms in the US - you can browse availability online and book with your card, and never worry again about getting distracted by the waiter. Businesses can also use Liquidspace to rent out their own empty space.
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Co-working communities
Shared workspaces aren’t just a great way to get out of the house, they’re also a great way to meet and share ideas with other people working in your area. Whether you’re in California, New York, Chicago, Melbourne, London, Manchester, or Edinburgh, you’ll find co-working communities that are designed to make connections and create even better businesses. The business incubator TechCube has a great video that captures the co-working and startup spirit here in Edinburgh. You can also see a peek of our office!
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Build your own co-working space
Thinking about creating your own co-working space? The co-working wiki has tons of resources to help you get started, including software that helps run your co-working space, example business plans and membership documents, and even logo examples from other co-working businesses.
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Google’s Startup Campus
It isn’t just homegrown business types who are setting up co-working communities - even Google is at it. The internet behemoth has established its own seven-storey business campus in East London containing co-working spaces like Central Working, all designed to offer small businesses flexible workspaces, free high speed internet and a location for networking and community mentoring. It’s a great example of a successful tech company giving something back to the next generation of entrepreneurs.
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Have you used a co-working space before or are you tempted to start your own? Hit us up in the comments or on Twitter. And have a great weekend!