Location
Location is an important factor for a number of reasons. You must consider what area suits you and your team best. If you live too far, consider renting an office space that is close to public transport like trains, metros, or bus stations. Consider urban areas that offer a lot of benefits, including increased productivity, more attract more talent. Nearby facilities such as restaurants, cafés & markets are also key components to an optimal coworking space location. The right combination makes for a perfectly balanced modern workspace location. Most coworking spaces are located in optimal locations that take into consideration the factors listed above. Particularly in Rotterdam, almost all coworking spaces are located in the center of the city, near public transport and other facilities.
Facilities
When you search for a coworking space, it is important to consider the kinds of facilities that you and your team need to effectively run day to day business. Luckily, coworking spaces tend to offer an array of facilities. Look out for facilities such as: kitchen, espresso machine, microwave, fridge, lockers, lounge seats, booth seats, phone booths, meeting rooms, gym, shower, outdoor spaces, printer room, event spaces, coffee area, bar and reception.
Consider what facilities matter most to you and your team.
Facilities vary between the same types of office spaces, depending on the coworking space you choose. For instance, if you get a premium desk at 42workspace, part of your coworking space membership is access to facilities such as the gym. Meanwhile, a coworking space at CIC, offers yoga, meditation, and massage.
Facilities are shared. For example, traditional offices have total control over their own equipment, while coworking spaces share printers and scanners with members. However, in case of damages, shared facilities are taken care of, while privately owned equipment is primarily one’s own responsibility. Less worry and more time to focus on your work!
Shared meeting spaces
One of the greatest value propositions of coworking spaces is that you pay less and get more. Meeting spaces are not always used and use a lot of space which comes at a cost. Well in coworking spaces – meeting spaces are shared and easily accessible (through booking systems), this is a great way for you to reduce rental costs. A great alternative to using space without the requirement to rent it.
42workspace provides different meeting rooms like Deep Thought , a spacious, vintage space inspired by Douglas Adams’ novel: the hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy, most suitable for brainstorming sessions. Further, some providers offer extra food services such as Spaces.
Room to grow
Importantly, consider your businesses expansion potential. If you plan on growing quickly and/or change occurs frequently within your ecosystem- coworking spaces are a great solution to your needs. Coworking spaces offer flexibility and room for growth. By signing shorter leases (1 month contracts), you deal with less risk and more possibility to easily upgrade your space to accommodate growth.
Digital freight forwarded, Shypple, started with a team of 4 people working at a coworking office space at 42workspace. Gradually, the company grew from 1 to 3 units, before it eventually expanded enough to take up the entire 4th floor of the office building. It has been declared as one of the hottest startups in the Netherlands and Startup of the year 2019 by Sprout magazine. They have now grown out of 42workspace because of their further expansion, whilst remaining an active member of the community.
HelloPrint, is another prime example of how a coworking space helped a startup achieve growth. After launching in 2013, HelloPrint quickly gained traction and revenue was going through the roof. As their team grew rapidly, they were in need of additional office space. This is when in November of 2017, HelloPrint moved across the street to 42workspace. The company started on the first floor and had a Private Office with 8 desks. 6 months later, they moved up 3 floors from a private office to a whole floor with 45 desks. A real success story!
Price & contract flexibility
When choosing the optimal coworking space, remember that price matters. Look at different packages and compare these to competitors. Ensure that you know what exactly you are paying for. Fortunately, coworking spaces are known for transparency unlike traditional office spaces. It is important to look out for contract flexibility – make sure the contrast does not restrict you but instead does the opposite – gives you the ability to easily manage change (as with the COVID-19 pandemic) and the opportunity to smoothly grow.
Coworking space providers like 42workspace, Spaces and CIC offer flexibility in their contracts, while other providers don’t. Be certain about your contract’s flexibility before you sign.
Community
Coworking space providers such as 42workspaces focus exclusively on building a strong tech community. Along with some highly involved community members like Helloprint, they have taken steps to organize and cater for their members with drinks, a daily buffet, a fully equipped gym, and even the WeTechRotterdam Foundation to improve the tech ecosystem in Rotterdam.
Further, coworking space providers enhance the sense of community through various community-specific topics or a focus on an industry vertical such as; Tech startups (42workspace), circularity (Bluecity), first time entrepreneurship (ECE), Maker spaces (RDM). Hashtag Workmode is an all-women coworking community space for hardworking women who seek to be inspired by the work ethic of other women working among them.
These communities encompass a mindset of helping one another to the top. Creating them is extremely valuable, as they can accelerate the growth of your company and give community members a chance to network and collaborate with like-minded people with whom they can share knowledge & experience. For instance, 42workspace has hosted events such as the “ProductTank Rotterdam: Kick-Off Event”, a webinar discussing ways of managing a growing product in product management.
You can also learn more about the community from individual providers by looking at community events that they offer. CIC, ECE, Bluecity, Spaces, and 42workspace welcome members to host hackathons, corporate events, workshops, and much more.
Free coffee and/or tea