Coworking can be a viable alternative to dedicated brick and mortar space for some entrepreneurs. In the Bay Area and beyond, coworking as a model continues to grow, becoming more customized and accessible more more small business owners. Especially for new businesses, online businesses, consultants, and other service businesses, office space might be a large expense that is not necessary for the daily work of running a business. Coworking gets you workspace at a lower cost, to help keep overhead low.
Beyond office/workspace, coworking spaces offer a chance for entrepreneurs to meet others, test ideas, and build their customer base. Coworking also invites collaboration and partnership among entrepreneurs, allowing for creative solutions for growing businesses and pursuing solutions to problems. Some coworking facilities also offer access to mentors, event space and support, and amenities like coffee and tea.
In Oakland and San Francisco, there are a lot of coworking options, allowing entrepreneurs to find the right place for their specific needs. WeWork is an international organization that supports coworking in many US cities and around the world. There are also some amazing local, independent spaces that exist in Oakland, like Oakstop, Impact Hub Oakland, and The Port Workspaces. Of course, San Francisco has many options (we love this list, if you’re looking for where to start), and you can find spaces that tailor to specific industries, focus on serving women entrepreneurs, and more on both sides of the Bay.
Recently, WeWork partnered with Bunker Labs, an incredible network that incubates and supports veteran-owned companies, to create a Veterans in Residence Program. This partnership provides coworking space at a discount, as well as access to other services. In addition, cities and states across the country offer coworking services tailored to veteran entrepreneurs, including Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center in Dallas, WESST in New Mexico, and VetsDesk in Frisco, Texas. Bunker Labs Bay Area also offers a lot of local support to veteran entrepreneurs.
The coworking model continues to evolve and improve to better serve entrepreneurs, and we’d love to hear your coworking experience. Connect with us on social media @mainstlaunch to get in the conversation!
