Coworking in Spain: For Entrepreneurs, Freelancers and Remote Employees
There’s nothing better than working from home, but have you considered the potential benefits of coworking in Spain?
You may love the complete control over your personal space and not having to worry about impolite coworkers or office dress codes. But as much as we love working from home, there are a lot of benefits to working in an office space that has been designed specifically for remote workers and freelancers. Coworking spaces are affordable, shared offices where you can rent a desk by the day, week, month or however long you need it. The following advantages of coworking will give you everything you need to know about this awesome trend, and why you should consider working in one if you’re an independent worker, freelancer or small business owner.
Coworking is more affordable than traditional office space in Spain
While it’s true that traditional office space could be the perfect fit for some businesses, it’s also incredibly expensive. Coworking is a more affordable option when it comes to choosing an office space to work from. If you’re an independent worker who is hoping to one day rent bespoke premises, you can start working from a coworking space while you build up your client base. This will allow you to still be present in the office environment while saving you money by not having to pay for a traditional office space.
If you’re a small business owner, coworking is a great way to get your foot in the door without having to make a massive investment. You can test out the coworking space to see if it’s the right fit for your team before making the decision to commit to a long-term lease.
You’ll have access to other people
Coworking spaces are designed to be an environment where professionals from different industries come together to do their best work. In this way, you’ll have access to other working professionals who can help you out with your projects, talk shop with you about your field, or simply provide you support throughout your day.
This is perfect for freelancers who are looking for a support network to help them get through their busy season, or for independent workers who want to talk shop with like-minded individuals. Working alongside other professionals can help you feel more connected to your industry, while also having a network of people to go to when you need help with a project.
Even if you like to work totally independently, many more extroverted personalities simply thrive more effectively when surrounded by other people. Of course you can always capture this at your favourite coffee shop, but coworking spaces are designed for professional use, and long term ergonomic comfort.
Some Spanish coworking spaces are very flexible
If you’re an independent worker or you have a small business, you’ll know that there’s no one-size-fits-all work schedule. You may have times when you need to work long hours, and then there are other times when you may need to take off a few days to catch up on work or to attend an important meeting. In this way, coworking spaces are very flexible.
Unlike an office where you have to follow a set schedule, coworking spaces are sometimes open 24/7 so you can come and go as you need. You can choose a coworking space that’s open whenever you need it to be, whenever day you need it to be open.
Check the small print though when you are comparing contracts, because in Spain, some coworking spaces are more flexible than others. Shop around and think about your own work style - do you want to commit to full or half days for a month, or do you prefer a bono of X hours over a given spread of weeks? Is it important to you to come and work evenings and weekends? And are there any contract lock-ins or cancellation periods?
Lots will offer you a free day pass, so you can check out a new coworking spot and see whether it’s right for you.
Coworking spaces help you create boundaries between your home and work life
If you have difficulty switching off at the end of the day, or getting started to begin with, then the using a coworking space can help you to engage the right mindset each time.
Especially if you don’t have a dedicated room to work from home in, coworking spaces are great for protecting your personal space and the edges between being at home and being at work.
You can read more about this in Finding Your Edge: Establishing And Maintaining Boundaries When You Work From Home
It can alter your attitude simply going to a separate space to get your work done, instead of being in your own home, and of course it also helps you to limit the impact on work of anyone else who you live with.
Coworking spaces help you build a professional network of fellow remote workers in Spain
Working alongside other professionals can help you build a professional network. However, when you work in a coworking space, you have the added benefit of seeing people on a daily basis — which can help make these connections stronger. You can also attend networking events at your coworking space or in your city as a whole to connect with other professionals in your industry even more.
In most larger cities the coworking space is diversifying significantly, so you can find a crowd you vibe with - whether you prefer a more stable group of long-term expats and remote workers, or a fluid community of digital nomads who come and go.
You can even find specialist coworking spaces for students, women-only, pet-friendly, and so on.
Coworking spaces give you access to facilities you might not have in your Spanish home
Maybe your day-to-day is just you and your laptop, but from time to time you need use of space or equipment that is difficult to fit into your work-from-home setup, especially for occasional use.
Many coworking spaces provide additional facilities you can book by the hour as needed, such as:
Meeting rooms
Conference facilities
Audio booths for podcasting or calls
3D printing and other craft tools
it might also be important to you to choose a place with really good coffee! So, awareness of your own needs, combined with detailed research, is a must.
Coworking can save you money!
Of course working from home has always been very affordable, but there are a number of factors to take into consideration.
If you’re renting your home, you should work out the cost of renting a whole extra room, just to use as an office. How would that budget compare, to renting a coworking desk? If you’ve never explored the option, then take a look at the numbers.
Also, think about bills. From fast broadband to coffee, a lot of things are covered in many coworking subscriptions.
In recent months we have seen the costs of domestic utilities skyrocket, and in many homes, once you put on the aircon or central heating that is for the whole house… Even if you’re working from home alone in one room. When you look at your bills, the coworking inclusive tariff might start to look a whole lot more attractive.
Final Words: Is Coworking in Spain Right for You?
When choosing a coworking space, make sure you read the fine print about the rates, and make sure you know exactly what the space offers. You should also select a coworking space that’s in close proximity to your home or office so that you aren’t spending extra time commuting between two locations. If you’re an independent worker or a small business owner, coworking is a great choice.
You’ll get access to other professionals who can help you out with your projects, and you can choose a flexible work schedule that works best for you. Working alongside other professionals can help you build a professional network, and you can select a coworking space that’s close to your home or office so that you aren’t spending extra time commuting.