Bringing your team together under one roof can have many benefits. Many companies in the gig economy are made up of short-term employees or freelancers that work remotely. While that works for some, there are also some studies that show being isolated can have some negative health effects. 

But the next question is, what’s the best way to bring your team together? You could sign a long-term lease on office space or buy a commercial building. However, that’s not the only option. 

Coworking spaces are growing in popularity, and offer a range of benefits that you may not get from an office. Let’s take a closer look at coworking vs traditional offices, and find out which is best for you. 

Traditional Offices

These tend to be your somewhat institutional-feeling spaces, with teams in separate offices or hiding behind cubicle walls. (That’s not the case with all offices, however, as some have moved to more open-plan concepts.) But while you can pack a large team into a traditional office space, they may not collaborate as much as they’d like. 

This may be fine if each staff member has a very specific task that doesn’t overlap with others. However, if you have a smaller team and brainstorming new ideas is at the heart of your business success, then traditional may not be the best option. 

When you operate your own office space, you’re responsible for utilities such as the internet, lights, and heating. That’s not to mention maintenance on the building unless that’s included in your lease agreement somewhere. That also means you’re likely paying for a workstation for each employee, which you’ll have to factor into your capital costs. 

Coworking Spaces

These spaces offer a more collaborative environment, where employees can bounce ideas off each other. They will also be in the same space as other professionals, and your staff can tap into their knowledge or even generate sales leads through networking. 

Another perk of coworking spaces is their ability to be flexible. That means employees can work at their own table or even at home for part of the day, or join a group of a few other colleagues to discuss ideas. Your staff won’t be confined by the 9 to 5 lifestyle – they can run errands and come back after hours to finish a project if needed. 

Speaking of flexible, the terms of coworking spaces are often more varied than traditional office space. For example, you may be able to use a coworking space for just one day if needed or on a monthly basis, and you won’t necessarily be locked into a long-term agreement. This latter point could be especially big for startups that don’t have a lot of cash to commit while they spread their wings.

Coworking vs Traditional Offices: Which is Best?

Coworking may not be the solution for all companies, but there is a lot of growth in the movement. Also, consider that more than a third of the modern workforce is made up of freelancers or independent workers, and you’ll see why more businesses are turning to this model. 

To find out more about coworking vs traditional offices and why collaborative environments may be more conducive to success, contact us today.