Coworking as an investment

Posted by Drew December 11th, 2009

I read a nice article on Web Worker Daily about justifying coworking as an investment. It was a quick read and basically covered the hard costs that come with coworking. It mentions several groups that could benefit from the brick & mortar presence and the space to meet clients.

The focus of the post was “How and when does it become a justifiable expense?” essentially looking at what there is to gain from coworking, assessing the risks and costs and then making an informed decision. All together a good solid article that looks to help you decide if Coworking is right for you.

However, this article quickly dismisses the part of the equation that is the “good feeling and sense of camaraderie you miss from your days working in an office setting” and focuses on the hard costs and benefits. I would add that those “good feelings” are too important to put aside when making your decision. The intangibles of coworking are exactly what coworking is about. Without them we’re talking about executive suites and coffee-shop hopping. Coworking is about boosting productivity through synergy. Surround yourself with like-minded people and benefit from the collaboration, the support and the productive atmosphere.

Whatever it is that you place on the scales to decide if coworking is right for you, consider the value of those intangibles and the value of being involved in a community that supports you and your ventures.