Shared office spaces. Pros and cons

Updated on: 05.12.2024

Shared office spaces have become increasingly popular in recent years. This is because they offer multiple advantages that outperform traditional offices, making them well-liked by employees. Of course, there are also some drawbacks to shared office spaces, and in this article, we will explore both sides of the story. Ultimately, you will be able to decide for yourself whether you are more suited to a shared office environment or prefer a regular office setup.

Are shared office spaces becoming more popular?

As previously noted, shared office spaces are gaining popularity for various reasons. One being the desire for increased social contact and interaction post-pandemic. Shared offices provide an ideal environment for meeting new people, sharing ideas, and networking. Additionally, they offer flexibility and cost-effectiveness, making them an attractive option for startups and freelancers.

The Advantages of Shared Office Spaces

From cost efficiency and flexibility to collaboration opportunities and access to various amenities, shared office spaces offer several advantages to consider.

1. Cost Efficiency and Flexibility

One of the primary reasons many employees turn to shared office spaces is that they are cost-efficient and flexible. To begin with, the expenses of the facilities and utilities in a shared office space are usually shared between the businesses that occupy the space. Moreover, shared offices offer flexible leasing options, and people don’t need to worry about renting the whole place for a long period. You can even rent a shared office for a day; it’s up to you!

When it comes to flexibility, shared office spaces can easily accommodate business growth or downsizing. If you decide you would like to expand your firm but are conscious about the space, there is no need to worry. You can always acquire additional workstations or private offices within the same space. And lastly, these working places often have multiple locations in various areas, so businesses have the freedom to choose the office that best suits their needs.

2. Networking and Collaboration Opportunities

If you feel more inspired working in a diverse and professional environment, then consider trying a shared coworking space. These types of offices foster natural networking opportunities where individuals can interact, exchange ideas, and, last but not least, build meaningful connections.

Moreover, most shared offices strive to promote more events and workshops regularly. For instance, shared offices in Sofia have organized numerous networking events, workshops, and seminars on various topics in recent years. This has greatly contributed to the culture of collaboration and knowledge-sharing among the office members.

3. Access to Amenities and Resources

Access to amenities and different resources is one more significant advantage of shared office spaces. The good thing is that whoever uses and has rented the office has access to everything, including meeting rooms, conference areas, printing services, kitchen areas, and sometimes even relaxation spaces! Moreover, shared office spaces are usually equipped with high-speed internet connections, ensuring that everyone can access online resources and conduct their work efficiently.

4. Opportunity for a day well spent away from the traditional office setting

The coworking space offers one more advantage and that is the opportunity to spend a day in the best way possible and away from the traditional office setting. The shared work space is a blend of both the opportunity to work and to use all sorts of cool amenities and facilities. Swapping the office atmosphere with the one of another work space works as a stimulator for the brain and professionals are more likely to be more productive. 

The Drawbacks of Shared Office Spaces

While shared office spaces offer numerous advantages, they also come with disadvantages that sometimes people can’t ignore. Let’s take a look at them.

1. Lack of Privacy and Distractions

While collaboration and diversity are significant advantages of shared office spaces, there is also the issue of lacking privacy that some people may require. For example, the open layout, which includes phone calls and conversations, can disturb people and distract them from their work. Of course, moving to a private workstation is always possible, but it might come at an additional cost or may not always be available when needed.

2. Limited Personalization and Branding

Employees might come across limited personalization and branding challenges when working in a shared office space. In a shared office environment, people might need help organizing their workstations or office due to restrictions on how much personalization is allowed. For entrepreneurs or businesses seeking to establish a distinctive brand identity, shared offices may pose challenges as they may not be able to display company logos, colors, or branding elements as extensively as they would in a dedicated office space.

3. Potential for Competition and Clashes

When working in shared office spaces, there is a possibility of competition and conflict arising due to the sharing of resources and common areas as well as varying noise levels. The shared office amenities may result in high demand for specific resources, leading to disagreements among employees. Additionally, the use of common areas or differing noise levels can disrupt focus and potentially result in personal conflicts.

4. Unsatisfactory setting

For some, the ambiance and general environment might be unsatisfactory. For example, temperature or lightning or even the decor can be distracting or simply disturbing and this might cause disruptions in people’s comfort and productivity. No control over the work space can be frustrating and can lead to decreased efficiency and performance and thus some might choose the comfort of their own home or office.

How does working from home rank when we have so many options?

Working from home ranks at the top when it comes to flexibility, comfort and cost savings and even health for some, because the exposure to illnesses is highly limited. However, working from home can lead to feelings of isolation, blurring of personal and professional life, as well as reduced opportunities for networking. The choice between a coworking space and home office depends on the individual and their ability to manage the pros and cons of both options.