There is no denying that we live in a society that is dependent on technology. However, there is a lot to be said about the benefits of face to face interaction, especially in business. For many businesses, the concept of face to face interaction comes at a cost, that is more than just time, which can put many businesses off but it does not have to be as expensive as you think!
Who, Where, What, When?
One of the most difficult and expensive aspects of face to face meetings comes down to logistics and timing, especially if you do not have an office in the area. Our dependence on, and adoption of, technology has allowed us to break down geographical barriers and this in turn has allowed us to gain a wider range of clients. This is simply due to the ability to interact with these clients over the likes of zoom, video conferencing and phone calls. However, sometimes that personal touch of physical discussions and interactions can make a big difference, especially when discussing new work or defining strategy!
So we all know the potential pros and cons of meeting clients but there are ways we can counter some of the negatives, more specifically by utilising shared and coworking spaces.
Why Should You Use Shared and Coworking Spaces?
There is a wide range of reasons why businesses, freelancers and consultants alike should utilise shared and coworking spaces but here are our top 3:
- Having a ‘base’ to work from allows you to maintain productivity outside of the main office because let's face it, working out of your hotel room or a coffee shop can be distracting and infuritating.
- Reduce costs. This can apply in a variety of ways from reducing the need to ‘wine and dine’ a client for want of a better meeting space to ensuring a cost effective way to access office based facilities such as superfast wifi, printers, conferencing and meeting facilities.
- Provides the opportunity for future expansion in the area. If you do decide you need to establish an office or staff in a new area, shared office space is a great way to test the waters and explore your opportunities without the need for a significant financial commitment.
In Summary
Put simply, renting a spare desk, accessing a coworking space or choosing to share office space offers greater geographical flexibility without the significant costs often associated with establishing a new office or work trip. This approach can be vital where office space is in high demand, with the most obvious example being London. Having an office and clients based in London is considered the cornerstone of ‘making it’ for many companies but this also comes with a significant financial cost. However, just because you cannot necessarily justify the expense of your own office space in London does not mean that you should rule it out as a potential market.
So whether you are looking to:
- Establish a London office address which can be used as a base when in the area
- Support a new employee who is working remotely but wants a more traditional office structure
or
- You are in need of a temporary office to conduct yourself from when meeting potential or existing clients or bidding for work.
Coworking and shared offices could be the answer to all your needs!
