Co-working. Kinda Like An Exec. Suite, But More Fun and Cheaper

Start up | June 11th, 2007

Co-working is a rather new movement that has emerged in the last couple of years. Due to the entrepreneurial and small business spirit that is fostered in the U.S, we have more freelancers and independent professionals who make up a significant portion of the small business nation. Many of which are working from home.

Anyone who has ever worked from home knows that it is not what’s cracked up to be. Sitting in front of the computer all day and not having anyone to talk to can be quite lonesome and hard for many of us. In comes co-working. It is described as “a cafe-like community/collaboration space for developers, writers and independents.”

As of this writing, there is only one co-working space here in the DC area which can be found at Affinity Labs in Adams Morgan. I like their description alot better;

Affinity Lab is an entrepreneurial launch platform serving a rich community of creative businesses, non-profits and start-ups. The Lab manages the shared business and operations needs of its member organizations, allowing them to better focus on mission and execution. While the convenience and cost savings are valuable, it is the culture, opportunity and idea sharing that makes Affinity such a compelling place start and grow your dream.

So who is co-working really for? If you are a work at home independent professional who wouldn’t mind being in an open community and could use some extra office space from time to time, then co-working may be for you.

Space is pretty cheap. For membership at Affinity Labs, it can be as low as $200 and go as high as $800 depending on your needs. Most spaces offer the basics such as fax and copy machines, internet access, and a mailbox. Anyone who has tried an executive suite knows how much it can break your budget, especially if you are an indie professional.

Check out Businessweek’s article on co-working, “Where The Coffee Shop Meets The Cubicle.”

These are some pictures from the Businessweek article of co-working spaces that are emerging all over the country;