Technology has afforded the self-employed the ability to do business almost anywhere. With a laptop and a Wi-Fi connection it’s easy to set up shop from the comfort of your own home.  But some may find working from home a bit too comfortable or even isolating.  Luckily over the last decade there has been an increase in coworking space opening up in cities across the globe.

A coworking space is an office shared among users who are not typically employed by the same organization.  It offers a community for those who normally work alone, but have the flexibility to run their own businesses out of a shared space. Members benefit from sharing the cost of rent, and office resources like Wi-Fi, photocopiers, and fax machines. They also get an opportunity to network within the local business community.

A recent study from Deskmag, an online magazine for the shared space community found that 62% of users surveyed saw an improvement in their standard of work, while a whopping 71% said their creativity had increased since becoming a member of a coworking space.

Following the success of coworking spaces in major urban centres like Toronto, the idea is starting to spread to suburban communities.  Entrepreneurs are now, more than ever, starting to realize the value of shared office space.  Those who choose to work out of a suburban space, have the ability to work close to home – avoiding horrible rush hour traffic (bonus) and do not have to be confined to a home office.

As the popularity of coworking continues to rise, services offered by the spaces start to increase.  Currently, many spaces run social events and seminars tailored to the needs of their specific community. In addition coworking members are now able to apply for COHIP a health insurance plan for those who participate in the Coworking Ontario collective.

How do I get started?

If you’re wondering if coworking is right for you or your business visit http://coworkingontario.ca/ for more information.