A photo posted by Chestnut St. Pixel Foundry (@chestnutstpixelfoundry) on
You’re probably already aware of the co-working/desk sharing concept: where an individual can lease a desk at a shared office space on an hourly, daily, or monthly basis. It’s a solution for independent contractors, freelancers, consultants, and other self-employed folks that still enjoy the routine and productivity of an office space.
What you may not know: at Pixel Foundry, we ran a co-working/desk-sharing program as part of our office between 2009 and 2012.
When we first started out, we occupied an eccentric loft-style office in Yaletown (complete with disused smokestack). We simply had more space than we needed as a two-person startup. So, Co-Working at the Foundry was launched. With a microsite, branding, and some word of mouth, we managed to sublet between 2-3 desks every month to other awesome creatives.
Sharing our space with others was rewarding and fun! Some benefits:
- We could get advice and feedback from others on work, or an outside opinion from people working in other industries.
- Collaboration! In addition to getting feedback and work advice, we sometimes referred work to each other.
- We had a great group for beer o’clock, holiday parties, and after hours take-out/delivery.
- Working from home can be lonely. So is a mostly empty office. Co-working can help with the isolation.
We discontinued our co-working service upon moving to a smaller Gastown office.
If you’re a small business with extra commercial space, operating a co-working space can be an enriching addition to your business. Here are some things to consider:
- Check your commercial lease and discuss with your landlord to ensure sublets are allowed.
- Draft a disclaimer notice to ensure you’re not liable for losses, damage, and injury.
- Set aside a budget for extras like cases of soda/bottled water, snacks, coffee, tea, and creamer/sweetener.
- Reliable wifi is a must for successful co-working! Make sure you’ve got a great ISP.
- Review safety and security with everyone co-working in your space. For example, if doors must be locked after a certain time, ensure everyone knows the rules.
- Collaboration is one of the best aspects of co-working. Encourage folks to share what they’re working on for advice, testing, or general feedback.
