Startups may consider a shared workspace for as a viable alternative for number of reasons. This can include a tight budget, or and the possibility of buying full-time office out of reach. It can also be a great change of pace from working out of your home. When the team at VA Partners had the opportunity for a shared workspace with a software technology company in Toronto, we jumped at the chance. Not only is our office in the downtown core, but we also had prior relationships with employees in the office which made the transition not only easy, but beneficial for both ourselves and those we share the space with.
There is a certain feel of community that comes with working in an office space, whether you are sharing it with others who have similar interests or professional positions, or just being a part of a group. A lot of the time, a work place provides that interpersonal communication that is often lacking in your home office or local coffee shop.
After five years in business and a year and a half of sharing office space, here are the benefits we’ve sought out of our working arrangement:
1. Share Services
We not only had a company open their doors to us, but we were able to open our services to them. While working side by side, both companies realized the potential to work together. VA Partners went from offering marketing assistance, to also assisting in the sales process; two of the three services VA Partners offers its clients.
2. Share Expertise with Others
We were able to share expertise. There was one instance in particular where I needed a hand with WordPress. After attempting to tackle the issue on my own, I decided to ask one of my fellow neighbours for their input. Within two minutes they were able to solve my problem.
3. Network
You can find the space and place needed without the long search. We are in our current space because one of the founders of VA Partners connected with an old university friend who happened to have room in his workplace. There were no open houses or long searches over the internet, all it took was connecting with an old friend.
Working in Toronto is great in itself, but it’s also great to be in an office where you can learn from people. This is especially valuable to learn about industries different from yours. There is always room to learn and what better way than from those with different expertise sitting across from you.
If you’re looking for a space, connect with old friends, colleagues or business partners. See where they are located and what space they may have available to share. When companies downsize in employees, they don’t necessarily downsize in space. Real Estate agent Chris Fyvie offers a commercial office leasing website. The website gives businesses the ability to search their area for available space. Once you secure a space, work with the company who is offering to share their space and a workplace design team to find the best fit. We recommend one of our clients, Mayhew, to find a fit for everyone.
Another route is to look into co-working spaces like Camaraderie, CoWorkative and ThreeFortyNine. Many offer daily, weekly and monthly plans. You also get access to conference room space (usually at an extra cost) and many even supply the coffee!
Once you overcome the challenge of finding a space for your start-up or small business and are left with the challenges of sales and marketing, contact us to discuss our services.
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