When searching for a place to do business, the buzz term of co-working can be confused with shared office space and office business centers. However, they are not the same thing and it’s important to find the best option for your business. It can be helpful to understand the subtle differences between a co-working space and a shared office.
What is a co-working space?
A relatively new concept, it can be defined as a business services model that involves individuals or teams working independently or together in a shared space.
If we focus key points, the fundamental idea behind a co-working space is to provide a work environment that doesn’t double as a kitchen table or their kids’ playroom. It can be great for freelancers, professionals, entrepreneurs and start-ups.
At the same time, it is a place for small corporate teams who do not want to make a huge capital investment. Everyone can focus on growing their core business and forget about the hassles of owning a space or mainstream renting.
What is a business center?
Business centers have been around for decades. The principle is to offer companies an comfortable place to work where they can have a professional business address.
Office centers can offer a more professional career environment. Often giving clients access to boardrooms and high-tech meeting rooms that they wouldn’t normally be able to afford in a traditional standalone office.
Besides a shared office space, a business center can provide semi-private and private offices as well as executive suites with a window view. Furthermore, centers often come with access to professional administrative staff, telephone answering and call transferring services.
Additionally, business centers can offer pay-per-use services such as fax machines, photocopiers and network printing. Some co-working centers can also provide these services but usually one has to pay immediately when using them. However, it’s better to receive one invoice at the end of the month for all expenses which is less ‘paperwork’ for businesses.
Which one should I choose?
Before making any decisions on what will work best for your business, it’s vital to know that there are hybrid business centers. These spaces offer the best of both traditional office space and co-working rentals.
Integrating both of these models in the same office, is where the Guinness Business Centre is different from the crowd. Guinness offers sleek and stylish office rental solutions in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Members are provided with a comfortable, chic space, paired with personalized services in a welcoming environment. The Guinness staff is dedicated to curating affordable office rental and virtual plans to support, develop and grow your business.
