The benefits of freelancing are difficult to overestimate: being at home, people work more productively, distribute the workload better and generate new ones more often. interesting ideas. However, these factors only appear if the employee has responsibility and interest in the result: not everyone is able to work hard in the absence of control and motivation. To solve this problem, a freelancer needs to immerse himself in a comfortable working environment - for example, visit a coworking space.

Coworking - what is it: meaning in simple words this concept can be revealed, imagining being equipped with comfortable furniture and modern technology a large room in which anyone can rent a place to work, hold meetings with clients or carry out other types of business activity. Moreover, coworking spaces, which initially appeared to reduce office rental costs, have today turned into centers of attraction for freelancers interested in combining productive work with interesting communication and exchange original ideas and establishing new useful contacts.

Characteristic features of coworking space

It is extremely difficult for a person to work at home without strict self-discipline: he is constantly distracted by household chores, a running TV, entertainment sites, children playing or noisy neighbors. However, the impossibility of creating suitable working conditions in own apartment is not at all a reason to refuse freelancing: practice shows that coworking spaces are completely devoid of such disadvantages, while maintaining the main advantages of working from home.

What is coworking: the meaning of this term implies both a way of organizing joint work in a common room, and the center itself - a collective office for remote workers and freelancers. A characteristic feature of coworking spaces is the lack of direct connections between its visitors: they can be employees of different companies, self-employed citizens, and even aspiring entrepreneurs who do not have the means to rent their own premises.

Why do freelancers prefer to do business among their own kind? This desire is fully explained by the human need for social contacts. Some people do not tolerate home loneliness and lack of communication well, others gain motivation only at the sight of actively working colleagues, others are trying to make business contacts, find customers or get new ideas. Thus, a small community is created in a coworking space, whose members help each other, exchange experience and knowledge, provide or receive advice.

Which specialists most often choose such conditions:

• Programmers and web developers;
• Software and website testers;
• Graphic and interior designers, artists;
• Marketers, advertising specialists;
• SEO optimizers, SMM and SMO managers;
• Content managers, moderators, administrators;
• Webmasters, layout designers;
• Copywriters, writers, journalists, translators;
• Students;
• Aspiring entrepreneurs and startup creators.

In the largest cities of Russia, the number of coworking spaces is already measured in the dozens, while in ordinary regional centers and medium-sized towns this market is almost free. Meanwhile, this business is quite promising, since the level of initial investment looks loyal for a beginning entrepreneur, and the payback period for coworking due to high consumer demand does not exceed 12–18 months.

Advantages and disadvantages of coworking spaces

When exploring the reasons why freelancers prefer working in a coworking space to a home or office environment, it is necessary to mention several key factors, not only economic, but also psychological:

• Renting space in a coworking space is cheaper than repairing and maintaining a full-fledged office, especially in the case of small rooms, the cost of which per square meter is one and a half times higher compared to large rooms;
• Owners of office space usually insist on a long rental period, while in a coworking space you can book a place even for one day;
• In a coworking space, everyone is busy with their own business, so no one will distract the freelancer while working;
• Here you can establish many useful and interesting contacts with other specialists, find clients and even business partners among them;
• Coworking spaces regularly host educational lectures, seminars, master classes and other events that improve the skills of entrepreneurs;
• The centers do not have the slightest hint of office formality, such as dress codes, corporate rules, boring surroundings and uncomfortable furniture;
• It is impossible to recreate the same work environment charged with positive energy at home, so a person’s performance in a coworking space increases;
• Cleaning, putting things in order, and servicing equipment in the centers are carried out by support staff, the cost of which is included in the tariff;
• The workplace is equipped with all necessary office equipment, including presentation equipment, telephone communication channels and the Internet.

On the other hand, joint labor organization cannot be considered an ideal solution for free workers, since this format also has some disadvantages:

• Many freelancers and aspiring entrepreneurs do not allow themselves to rent a room in a coworking space, preferring to save money;
• The inevitable noise and a large number of strangers may distract those who are used to working in a quieter environment;
• It is impossible to guarantee the integrity of all people - someone will probably want to steal someone else's thing, spy on an idea, or copy the customer base.

What types of coworking spaces are there?

The concept of “coworking” primarily implies joint work, so visitors come here solely for the sake of work, only allowing themselves to chat with colleagues and drink a cup of coffee during breaks. Depending on what exactly freelancers do here, centers can be classified as:

• Industrial coworking spaces. Such establishments are intended for people who make money from intellectual activities - copywriters, programmers, webmasters, freelancers, remote workers. The owners of the centers create the most comfortable conditions for them - they arrange workplaces, areas for negotiations and meals, rest rooms;
• Creative coworking spaces. This format can be called a creative club - artists, writers, musicians, poets and other representatives of similar professions gather here, author evenings and exhibitions are held. Although the centers are intended primarily for communication between people with similar interests, those who like to work in solitude can also find a free corner;
• Craft coworking spaces. Designed mainly for people who love to work with their hands, but do not have the opportunity to set up a workshop at home. The centers are divided by topic and equipped with all the necessary equipment: co-working spaces for carpenters, furniture makers and seamstresses are especially popular. This format allows craftsmen to actively exchange experiences and secrets, conduct master classes, and entrepreneurs to receive additional income from selling raw materials, tools and materials to clients;
• Coworking spaces for children. They are an intermediate option between kindergartens and creative centers for children. Here you can find game rooms, workshops with instruments for children and teenagers, rooms for dancing and active games. Qualified teachers conduct entertaining and educational activities, master classes, and conduct experiments with young visitors. Sometimes coworking spaces have separate rooms for parents who want to entrust their child to caregivers in order to work themselves.

It is also worth mentioning some unusual center formats that emerged as a result of entrepreneurs’ attempts to create a unique establishment concept:

• Street coworking spaces. In countries with mild climates, freelancers practice working in open coworking spaces, using parks and squares for these purposes;
• Coworking spaces for night owls. A coworking space has been created in the Philippines for those who like to work at night. The establishment opens at 3 pm and closes only in the morning;
• Men's coworking spaces. Men often complain that any attractive woman completely deprives them of the ability to concentrate on work. Therefore, Australian entrepreneurs have limited access to the fair sex to their center;
• Women's coworking spaces. American businessmen came to the opposite decision, opening a coworking space exclusively for women.

What services do coworking spaces provide?

Before organizing a coworking center, you need to carefully consider the list of services it provides. This is especially important in major cities, where dozens of similar enterprises already operate: only by offering some interesting and unusual services in addition to the basic package, will the new establishment be able to acquire its own customer base.

In addition, the entrepreneur will need the help of a lawyer to draw up accompanying documents: the service model in a coworking space implies a full sublease of a workplace, which radically distinguishes this type of business from anti-cafes or other leisure centers. Therefore, an agreement must be concluded with each visitor, containing not only a list of rights and obligations, but also details of the parties.

Below is a typical list of coworking services, which is considered the standard minimum among entrepreneurs in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and other large cities of Russia:

• Rent of workplaces. The main activity of coworking spaces is providing jobs to freelancers. Entrepreneurs practice a fairly flexible system - you can rent a place for a day, a week or a month, book a specific table or take any free chair, use your laptop or center computer. Most often, the subscription fee includes water and drinks, consumables, paper and stationery;
• Renting space for events. Coworking spaces can be partially or fully rented out for corporate events- trainings, seminars, meetings. This service is especially in demand in large cities, where finding a cheap site is not so easy;
• Conducting master classes and lectures. Often, coworking space owners independently conduct various training courses or master classes, or invite relevant specialists for these purposes. You can open several trial courses on different topics in order to later select the most popular ones;
• Providing additional services. Entrepreneurs are trying to make extra profit by combining their coworking spaces with cafes, gyms and even hostels. Some of these decisions are controversial, but everyone agrees that two or three vending machines with snacks in an establishment will not be superfluous.

In addition to food, the list of coworking center services often includes:

• Personal lockers with keys for storing things in the coworking space;
• Dedicated places for rest, eating, telephone conversations;
• Active zones with tennis tables, exercise equipment;
• Shower cabins;
• Presentation equipment - magnetic boards, projectors, TV;
• Unlimited Internet access;
• Consultations with specialists in jurisprudence and accounting;
• Personal page on the coworking website;
• Virtual office and secretary services.

How to choose a coworking space

Choosing a space for coworking is much more difficult than finding a place for a store or hairdresser: in the search process, an entrepreneur has to take into account many different, sometimes even contradictory parameters:

• First of all, you need to pay attention to places with good accessibility - for example, in the center, near public transport stops or near the metro;
• It is not recommended to rent space in shopping or business centers, since many coworking spaces eventually switch to 24-hour operating hours. It is best to use a separate building or an extension;
• It is also important to make sure that there is parking or a parking lot with sufficient capacity nearby. It is advisable to have a reserve of seats, since many freelancers eventually acquire their own transport;
• Finally, the view from the window matters. Visitors to coworking spaces prefer to be inspired by a view of a park or pond rather than be disheartened by a vacant lot or industrial landscape outside the windows. The room itself should be bright, with high ceilings and large windows.

Before organizing a coworking space, you should consider the interior design, choose original artistic solutions and remarkable decorative elements. This need is associated with the desire of many freelancers to show off their workplace to colleagues and publish photos on social networks, thereby providing free advertising for the establishment.

For renting space in a coworking space to be profitable, you need to accommodate at least 40–50 people. Considering the norm of 4–5 m² per person, an entrepreneur should select a hall with an area of ​​220–250 m² and above. When equipping workplaces, you should remember the various preferences of freelancers and use not only standard office tables with chairs, but also sofas with coffee tables, and even bean bags.

The coworking space itself must be divided into several zones:

• A work area where visitors will work;
• Relaxation area with large soft sofas and TV;
• One or two meeting rooms with demonstration equipment;
• Eating area with kitchen equipment and tables;
• Bathroom (if possible, it is advisable to install a shower stall);
• Sometimes entrepreneurs set up a separate conference room.

How to equip a coworking space?

In the process of developing a business plan for a coworking center, you will notice that the main expenses of the enterprise are related to the purchase of furniture and office equipment. It is impossible to save on these items, since their quality directly affects the comfort and ease of work that is important for visitors. However, opening the center at 50 seats, you don't have to buy 50 computers - many freelancers prefer to use their own laptops. The creator of a coworking space can only provide good Wi-Fi coverage in all corners of the room and connect a fast, uninterrupted Internet access channel. In general, to equip the center you will need:

Equipping a coworking space for 50 seats

Name	price, rub.	Quantity, pcs.	Amount, rub.
Office equipment
Laptop for staff	18000	2	36000
Client PC with monitor	18000	20	360000
MFP	9000	2	18000
Network router	2000	2	4000
Wireless router	1500	4	6000
Telephone set	1200	5	6000
TV	25000	2	50000
Projector with screen	25000	1	25000
Cash machine	12000	1	12000
POS terminal	7000	1	7000
PBX	15000	1	15000
Furniture working area
Large office table	3000	10	30000
Working chair	1500	50	75000
Small sofa	8000	12	96000
Coffee table	2000	6	12000
Hanger	3000	5	15000
Locker for things	10000	4	40000
Furniture for meeting rooms
Large office table	3000	2	6000
Working chair	1500	20	30000
Magnetic board	5500	2	11000
Living area and kitchen furniture
Table	1500	4	6000
Chair	800	12	9600
Kitchen set	15000	1	15000
Bag chair	1500	10	15000
Large sofa	20000	4	80000
Coffee table	2000	4	8000
Security systems
Video surveillance system	20000	1	20000
Security and fire alarm	28000	1	28000
Kitchen equipment
Electric kettle	1000	1	1000
Coffee machine	75000	1	75000
Microwave	3000	1	3000
Fridge	12000	1	12000
Cooler	3000	1	3000
Other equipment
Accounting software	25000	1	25000
Lamp	1000	25	25000
Stationery	–	–	5000
Cleaning lady tool	–	–	5000
Bathroom equipment	15000	1	15000
Sockets and switches	200	50	10000
Total:			1214600

Coworking staff

An entrepreneur should not be afraid of high labor costs, since it is possible to open a coworking center with a minimum number of employees. Strictly speaking, one administrator is enough to perform daily tasks. The list of his responsibilities will include:

• Ensuring order and compliance with internal rules;
• Notifying visitors about ongoing promotions and events;
• Ensuring the operability of coworking equipment;
• Consumables inventory management;
• Accepting payments for Additional services, sales of subscriptions.

Since the recommended working day in the center is 15–16 hours (many coworking spaces operate around the clock), the entrepreneur needs to hire at least two administrators who work in shifts. Also, to solve minor problems, you will need a computer technician who will repair and maintain office equipment, and a marketing specialist, whose list of responsibilities will include managing advertising and attracting new clients. Considering that the document flow of coworking spaces usually does not exceed reasonable limits, accounting services can be outsourced:

Coworking staffing schedule

Job title	Rate, rub.	Qty	Amount, rub.
Administrator	25000	2	50000
Office equipment repairman	25000	1	25000
Marketing Specialist	25000	1	25000
Cleaning woman	15000	1	15000
Insurance premiums	–	–	34500
Accounting services	–	–	10000
Total:			159500

How to attract visitors?

As a business, coworking especially needs advertising: this format of workspace has appeared especially recently, and therefore the marketer has to not only promote the center, but also explain to representatives of the target audience the advantages of this way of doing business. Since it is quite expensive to use the entire set of tools proposed below for a long time, it is necessary to constantly analyze the effectiveness of certain advertising channels in order to select the most effective ones:

• Promoting your own website, publishing information materials and reports on past events on it;
• Maintaining communities on social networks, inviting new participants to them;
• Publication of advertising on local and thematic forums;
• Distribution of leaflets at exhibitions, conferences, seminars;
• Promotion of courses and other training events;
• Publication of master classes, photo reports, videos on relevant websites;
• Publication of advertising and feature articles in local media.

Video on the topic

How much does it cost to open a coworking space?

One of the most important sections of a coworking center business plan with calculations is the calculation of the economic efficiency of the project. First of all, it is necessary to determine the start-up costs associated with the design and renovation of the premises, the purchase of furniture and equipment, while not forgetting such important items as website development and the creation of the necessary supply of consumables. This should also include rent, which the entrepreneur will contribute during the renovation of the premises:

Initial costs

Article	Amount, rub.
Individual entrepreneur registration	800
Registration of permits	5000
Opening a current account	2500
First month's rent	75000
Room renovation	375000
Design project	125000
Signboard and work schedule board	20000
Starting advertising campaign	50000
Coworking equipment	1214600
Connecting communication lines	5000
Purchase of consumables	40000
Total:	1912900

The running costs of a coworking space depend on its area, the number of hired staff and attendance. Obviously, an increase in the flow of customers will lead to an increase in costs for paying utility bills and purchasing coffee, drinks, printer paper and stationery free for visitors:

Monthly expenses

Revenues and profitability

The pricing policy of establishments of this type is determined by the location, popularity of the center, the purchasing power of the target audience and the list of additional services. On average in Russia, the price of a coworking space per hour ranges from 60–120 rubles, however, when purchasing a subscription, the user is offered a corresponding discount. For example:

• One working day - from 300 to 800 rubles;
• Monthly subscription - from 8,000 to 16,000 rubles;
• Rent of a meeting room - from 1000 to 4000 rubles for the first hour, from 800 to 3000 rubles for subsequent hours.

According to statistics, daily attendance of coworking spaces is at the level of 65–80%. Thus, you can calculate the income of an establishment with 50 seats, where 50% of visitors buy a monthly subscription:

Monthly coworking profit

Service	Tariff, rub.	Qty	Profit, rub.
Rent of workplaces daily	400	20 x 30 days	240000
Monthly subscription	10000	20	200000
Rent a meeting room per hour	1000	40 hours	40000
Hosting an event	10000	4	40000
Total:			520000

As a business, coworking spaces are characterized by extremely high profitability: the break-even point is reached at only 50% traffic. Thanks to a well-thought-out marketing policy, an entrepreneur will be able to significantly exceed this threshold and get a good profit from the business:

Profit and profitability

Conclusion

Given the increase in the number of people who prefer freelancing or remote work to an office environment, it can be assumed that the popularity of coworking as a business and as a way to organize a workspace will only grow. Of course, this type of activity is not without some drawbacks - for example, due to the relatively recent formation of this niche, an entrepreneur cannot yet use ready-made effective solutions or buy a franchise: in the absence of collective experience, he has to independently search the right ways optimize business processes and develop service technologies.

However, technically, opening a coworking space is quite simple. You just need to choose a suitable room, buy comfortable furniture and carefully consider the list of services. Further success depends entirely on the businessman: by constantly monitoring his clients, studying their needs and adjusting the work of the center in accordance with those, he can create a truly popular and in-demand establishment.

20 voted. Grade: 4,95 out of 5)

In the vocabulary of modern businessmen, you can increasingly hear the concept of “coworking” - what is it? The idea of ​​shared offices, where each specialist can rent a workplace for several hours or months, came to Russia from the West and is steadily gaining popularity. Why is coworking space the future, and is it possible to make money from it?

Why and who needs coworking spaces?

What is a “coworking center”? Currently, this concept, derived from the English co-working - “joint work” - refers to large offices equipped with certain equipment, where each specialist or group of specialists can rent a workplace.

« Wikipedia reports two meanings of the foreign concept “coworking”:

• a common space for collaboration between different specialists (in the broad sense of the word);
• collective office (in the narrow sense of the word).

For the purposes of this article, we will use the first meaning of the term - collaboration space different people, and in this space they can work both on one project and independently of each other.

Shared offices are used by employees and entrepreneurs working on a temporary joint project.

Coworking areas are in demand by several categories of workers. First of all, they are necessary for freelancers, that is, specialists working remotely.

Freelancers most often work from home, but sometimes they need a change of environment, use some special equipment, meet other specialists - coworking is ideal for all these purposes.

Shared offices are used by employees and entrepreneurs working on a temporary joint project - for example, developing a website or application, organizing an event, and so on. Using a coworking space allows you to significantly save on office rent, avoid the need to enter into an agreement with the owners of the premises, take care of the availability necessary equipment and payment of utilities.

Benefits of working in a coworking space

Shared offices are a fairly new trend. It has been developing in the world since 2005, in Russia - for the last 6-7 years. This is a fairly new form of work, which is still common only in big cities and gradually comes to small ones. Meanwhile, everyone who has encountered a coworking space notes an impressive list of opportunities it opens up:

• work in a comfortable environment;
• refuse to rent your own office and purchase equipment that is required irregularly;
• organize a meeting with colleagues, hold a meeting, discuss a project in a calm “working” environment;
• resolve any issue with the involvement of other specialists;
• overcome creative crisis or stagnation through a change of environment;
• make new acquaintances and business contacts, find customers and performers;
• stay focused on work while traveling by using a coworking space in another city.

How much do visitors pay for a “shared office”?

The most common form of payment for a coworking space is the purchase of a membership. A month of visiting a joint work zone in Moscow will cost from 8 to 20 thousand rubles, in the regions - about 6 thousand rubles. An hourly payment is also provided - from 250 rubles, or subscriptions for other periods (for a week, 10 days) - from 1 thousand rubles.

Choosing a good space for coworking is quite difficult.

Opening a coworking space - what you need to buy and how much money you will have to invest

Let's consider sample business plan opening your own coworking space, or rather a list of what you will need to open your own space and how much it will cost. Of course, the costs of opening a center in different regions of Russia will differ significantly.

In addition, individual entrepreneurs can find ways to optimize opening costs or even develop their own innovative approach to this matter. We will present only the most general and significant provisions regarding creating your own coworking space.

Premises - how to choose and not make a mistake

At least half of the success of the entire enterprise depends on the premises. Choosing a good space for coworking is quite difficult. It must have a whole set of specific characteristics:

• large area, preferably from 200 square meters;
• convenient location, good transport accessibility;
• proper communications, a sufficient number of electrical connection points;
• freshly renovated, unique design;
• availability of air conditioning and ventilation systems;
• good lighting.

The list of requirements for a coworking space is very extensive. It is unlikely that you will be able to find a ready-made space and immediately move into it - most likely, renovation will be required. A standard office interior with white or gray walls and the same furniture will not suit a coworking space. People come here for a change of scenery, which means they need original modern design, good furniture, and a cozy atmosphere.

The cost of just renovating the premises, its long-term rental and the purchase of furniture is unlikely to be less than 1 million rubles, and in large cities - much more. A high-quality, memorable interior will attract customers: the first visitors will post photos beautiful place on their social networks and attract new ones.

Modern people love unusual places that will enliven them social media. A “photogenic” interior will create a “wow” effect and ensure a flow of visitors - if not for work, but at least for photographs. Therefore, it is not worth saving on this expense item.

Proper zoning largely determines how busy a coworking space will be.

Zoning in a coworking space - work, negotiations, coffee break

Proper zoning - dividing a room into zones depending on the purpose of their use - largely determines how fast a coworking space will become. As a rule, coworking spaces have the following zones:

1. Working. This is the main area for which most customers come. Workplaces are created here, computers, tables, and office equipment are installed.
2. Negotiation room. This is an area where customers and contractors, as well as specialists working on the same project, can discuss the details of cooperation. There should be tables, comfortable sofas or armchairs. It would be wise to isolate the meeting room from the work area so that the noise does not disturb those who work independently.
3. Recreation. There is a water cooler, coffee machine, kettle, snacks, possibly a TV or game console. The presence of such a zone is important because it extends the time clients visit the coworking space.
4. Restroom. Toilet and, in rare cases, shower.

It would be wise to involve an interior designer in the zoning and design of different zones. If this is not possible, you can study the experience of successful collaboration spaces in other cities and transfer it to your project.

What must be in a coworking area

Each coworking area may have its own specifics, although it will mostly be expressed in interior design and zoning. The basis of each zone will be the same:

1. Computers and laptops, from 10 pieces. Many professionals working in coworking spaces bring their own laptops, but there are often cases when clients need to rent them. At average cost laptop costs 20 thousand rubles, the purchase will require from 200 thousand rubles. The more advanced equipment you plan to purchase, the more impressive this amount will be.
2. A large number of electrical connection points, as well as a variety of extension cords, surge protectors and adapters.
3. Wireless high speed internet. This is a very important component, for which at least half of the visitors come to the center. You will have to spend from 10 thousand rubles on a powerful router, and several thousand rubles monthly on paying for the Internet. You should not save on this expense item, as poor Internet will scare off all visitors and ruin the reputation of the establishment.
4. Desks, chairs, armchairs and other furniture. Some people prefer to work at a desk, some prefer to work on the couch. The coworking organizer must form different variants comfortable workplaces.
5. Office equipment - printers, scanners, graphics tablets or multifunctional devices. You can spend 10-20 thousand rubles.
6. Water coolers, kettles, coffee machines and refrigerators. Not the most necessary, but an important part of a coworking center, helping to extend the stay of clients. The amount of expenses will directly depend on the wishes of the owner of the space; on average, 5-10 thousand rubles are enough.

A more advanced coworking area is equipped with conference rooms with microphones, and even shower rooms. The owners of some centers equip the spaces with TVs and game consoles, but for now in Russia this approach will be more of an exception to the rule. First and foremost, a coworking space is a place to work.

Thus, the total costs (we do not count furniture) for equipping a coworking space with the minimum list of necessary equipment will be 250 thousand rubles. There is no point in saving on equipment, since the comfort of work for visiting clients depends on it.

The coworking area is of interest to a fairly wide audience.

Is it necessary to hire employees to maintain a coworking center?

Another cost item will be employees. As a rule, 3-4 administrators are enough to maintain a coworking space, who will maintain order in the areas and sell subscriptions. It would be good if these same specialists could be involved in cleaning the premises. If not, you need to hire a cleaner for hours.

Coworking spaces do not require a dedicated technician for maintenance. However, it is important to enter into a contract or at least an agreement with some technical assistance center in order to quickly resolve problems with equipment or the Internet if necessary.

To pay for the labor of 3-4 administrators in the regions of Russia it will cost an average of 60-80 thousand rubles, in Moscow it will be much more expensive. The wages of hourly cleaners will not exceed 5-6 thousand rubles, as well as the wages of lump sum technical specialists.

Total cost of opening a coworking space

From all that has been said above, it follows that opening a coworking center will have to spend at least 1.5 million rubles, and most likely much more. Perhaps individual entrepreneurs will be able to find opportunities to save money, but you shouldn’t get carried away with it. Otherwise, coworking will be no different from a regular office, and potential clients will remain at home.

Disadvantages of business when opening a coworking area

The coworking area is of interest to a fairly wide audience: from freelancers to businessmen who want to negotiate with customers or performers in a comfortable environment. However, how profitable and profitable will the business be? The following disadvantages may hinder profits:

1. The need for a very significant initial investment. Opening a coworking space will require costs of one and a half million rubles, but their recoupment is questionable. Using the same funds, you can successfully open a more profitable cafe or store.
2. Low demand. In the regions of Russia, coworking is still gaining momentum, the demand for it is not so high: there are few specialists working remotely, businessmen are accustomed to holding business meetings in cafes or restaurants.

In provincial cities there is no shortage of cheap office space, and the few remote workers are used to working at home, in a cafe or in a library. The need to pay for a workplace does not appeal to the majority of potential clients, which is due to the low incomes of the population as a whole.

How much can you earn

The profit volume of a coworking space directly depends on the number of visitors and subscriptions sold.

With the average price of a subscription in the regions of Russia about 6 thousand rubles, to earn 100 thousand rubles you need to sell at least 17 subscriptions - this is not so little for provincial cities where the demand for coworking has not yet matured.

Obviously, to increase profits, the owner of a coworking space must find some ways, otherwise it will not be possible to recoup even the initial investment.

Opening a coworking space in a small town is a very risky business.

Free form workspace, when a group of completely different people perform their work in a certain space, rooms or halls.

What is coworking in simple words?

All these people can do work independently of each other, although they are in the same place, or, conversely, get together to discuss common project issues and tasks. Coworking only provides a comfortable and equipped space or room necessary for work. In most cases, coworking centers are visited by freelancers and startupers, in other words, free and independent individuals.

Only in such a relaxed atmosphere can a person’s full creative potential be revealed.
It is worth noting that coworking centers first appeared in America in 2005, and in Russia they began to develop only in 2008 in Yekaterinburg. The first coworking center in Russia was called “Tower”, but it only lasted for a year. The following centers opened only a few years later, but already in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and their activities were enshrined in legislation.

As a rule, coworking areas, equipped with everything necessary from furniture to a coffee machine, are rented for the required period and externally resemble a regular office with workstations, meeting rooms and relaxation areas.

Pros and cons of coworking spaces

Coworking centers are not a permanent place of employment, but they allow you to gain the planned income if necessary.

After all, a special atmosphere and a sense of freedom bring to work those factors that contribute to greater productivity, unlike working in the office or at home. This is especially suitable for people with creative professions, designers, artists, poets and musicians, since no one is distracted by everyday issues and various little things. But here you can also meet people in formal business suits who make appointments and solve important problems in places that require an informal atmosphere.

After all, in the process of working in coworking areas, it is possible to make new acquaintances, borrow ideas, discuss issues that you doubt, and expose your ideas to people from completely different professional fields in order to receive an objective assessment.

It is worth noting that coworking areas are often rented by organizations for their employees. This allows all employees to be in a single information space and discuss work issues in a relaxed, free manner.

In addition, such joint work, first of all, is a team-building event, which should be considered one of the important components of a successful business. Companies that care about their employees and are interested in their development personal qualities and skills often resort to such forms of organizing the work process.

Of course, it is worth noting the disadvantages of the coworking system. One of these disadvantages is territorial accessibility. Since coworking spaces are not yet very common within walking distance, you need to spend time on transport to get to it.

At the same time, the absence of a fixed workplace creates a new work environment every day, which will not always be familiar and comfortable. It is necessary to be vigilant in relation to your belongings, since coworking is mostly a public place, which distracts from the main activity.

But despite the above disadvantages, coworking areas are in demand.

Coworking - as a business structure

The main condition for the development of coworking areas as a business direction is customer demand for this type of service. For successful business development, it is undoubtedly necessary to take into account the needs of clients, focus on their wishes, make changes to the terms of service if there are claims and complaints, and analyze the services of competitors in this area.

Thanks to this, it is possible to create coworking areas with an ideal working atmosphere, which also includes additional functions, such as rest rooms, meeting rooms, sports complexes, food areas and other vital conditions.

Each workplace has its own price gradation, depending on its equipment and business platform model. When building a business, it is also worth considering socially-oriented services that provide affordable jobs to low-income groups of the population, for example, pensioners and students.

For the opportunity to work in these zones, the client can pay either 1,500 or 25,000 rubles, taking into account tariffs for additional services. Legal and accounting assistance and even a personal assistant may also be provided. It all depends on the client's wishes.

Coworking starts with planning

Any organizational project activity begins with business planning and the creation of coworking areas is no exception.

It is important to take into account the main aspects of this activity so that the business not only generates income, but also becomes a kind of hobby.

One of the decisive roles is the choice of premises. It should be located in a crowded area, not far from a transport hub, have a convenient layout, business style and meet customer requirements as much as possible.

To do this, at the initial stage it is possible to rent premises for the provision of coworking services. It is important to take into account that the premises must be relatively new and with high-quality repairs. It is also worth paying attention to the colors of the walls. The tone of the room should be neutral and not distract from the main activities of clients.

Space equipment plays an important role. Tables, chairs, clothes hangers, cabinets with locking devices, chargers, partitions. Substantial part Money will only go towards the initial arrangement of the space. As additional functions, it is possible to organize recreation areas, meeting rooms, dining rooms, and a gym.

The purchase of stationery, paper and office supplies are also included in the expense item.
Worth paying Special attention for fixed expenses such as rent, electricity, telephone communications, mobile communications open access, cleaning services, as well as payment wages employees.

Proper planning of expenses and income will allow you to create coworking areas of both budget and prestigious types, depending on your wishes.

Possible profit

Undoubtedly, profit depends on many indicators, including the economic situation in the country, but by correctly calculating all expenses and income, you can achieve desired result. Of course, this requires a lot of effort. But this investment will undoubtedly be returned in the near future.

Of course, it is possible to get big profits by attracting organizations and enterprises by organizing places for their employees in coworking areas. This will increase the volume of services provided and profits accordingly.

It is worth noting that it is quite difficult for one person to organize a coworking center. This requires the efforts of an entire team, including an administrator, a sales manager, a development manager, a designer, a marketer, a specialist in demand research and competitive environment analysis. As a rule, this is 5-8 people.

It is advisable to have personal friends who will help you promote your business free of charge. new business. It is also possible to attract volunteers.

The starting point for profit will begin approximately after six months of doing business. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that you have reserved funds in advance to pay for the first expenses, including wages.

Coworking franchise

For those who are planning to develop a service business in coworking zones for the first time and are afraid of possible failures, you can purchase a franchise from official German companies.
This service is currently developing dynamically, and the proposed concept and well-developed development plan will create all the conditions for the development and profitability of your endeavor.

Features and conditions of working under a franchise

The main feature of working under a franchise is the implementation of most of the organizational issues at the expense of the company:

• provision of a workspace with office furniture, office equipment with installed automated systems necessary for work, communications;
• provision of stationery, paper supplies and other office materials;
• provision of assistant or assistant services;
• provision of an organized storage area, a box with a locking device in which it is possible to store personal belongings, including outside of working hours;
• organization of Halls for conferences, meetings, seminars, master classes, meeting rooms;
• providing space to foreign organizations that do not have official representation in the city;
• organization of public places, kitchen service, rest room and room for conversations not related to work issues, personal matters;
• organization of showers, dry cleaning, gym, vending machines with drinks and food, play areas and much more;
• organization of a children's room with the presence of animators and security to organize an uninterrupted work process;
• organization of legal and legal services, including lawyers, accountants, tax agents and specialists in other financial professions;
• organization of marketing support, including lighting of the coworking area in the funds mass media as a famous brand.

At the same time, partner companies can offer franchise package offers in various modifications, both initial and complete. The range of services provided and, accordingly, the cost depend on this.

The experience and knowledge of franchise companies will help budding entrepreneurs get comfortable in the coworking services market and develop their business under reliable protection.

In contact with

Do you know what coworking is and why it is needed? IN Lately Remote work is becoming increasingly popular. Just imagine how great it is to make reports, edit texts or create advertising banners while sitting on a soft sofa at home. There is no need to get up at the ominous seven in the morning, stand in traffic jams or crowd in the subway, there is no need to sit in a stuffy office from ten in the morning to six in the evening.

And all you need for work is a laptop or computer and the Internet. Not a job, but a dream. However, in reality this is far from the case. In addition to the fact that you will not have sick leave and vacations, you will also lose the work atmosphere. Most household members will not be able to perceive your unusual format work.

Consequently, in such a relaxing environment, where you are constantly distracted by everything and everyone, your productivity will be extremely low. But there are no insoluble problems. If you want to work productively, but don’t have enough money for your own office, then rent your own workplace in one of the coworking centers!

Coworking - what is it?

Translated from English, “co-working” literally means “working together.” In simple terms, a coworking space is a community of free and independent people of various professions who come together in one room to do a specific job.

Web designers, programmers, copywriters, freelancers, entrepreneurs, as well as employees of small companies for which it is not profitable to rent an entire office, work side by side in one space. Thus, coworking is an innovation in the scheme of organizing work activities.

Coworking centers are equipped with everything necessary for full-time work. As a rule, in addition to the work space, they also include a relaxation area, a kitchen or vending machines with food and drinks, a meeting room and its own library. This creates an “office for rent”, a place in which you can rent for a day or for the whole year.

A little history

In 2005, a young American programmer, Brad Newberg, founded the first coworking space, which brought together several like-minded freelancers under its roof. The idea was to create a workspace that is between a regular office and a home. As you can see, the idea turned out to be successful and brought the founder world fame. Since then, coworking has become increasingly popular, gradually spreading throughout the world, and it has finally reached Russia.

It is worth noting that in our country this area is developing much more slowly than abroad. The reasons for this lie in the complexity of the design. It is also difficult to find a space that simultaneously meets several important parameters:

1. The place should have a convenient location. It is advisable that this be the city center, since it is unlikely that anyone will want to go to a dubious dormitory area on the outskirts. In addition, it will be a big plus if the center is located within walking distance from public transport stops. Nowadays, loft spaces that were once industrial premises are often converted into coworking centers.
2. The layout of the room should be atypical. Do not copy company offices under any circumstances, as your task is to create a unique creative place where people will not only be comfortable working, but also simply have an interesting time.
3. Stable and fast internet - required condition, without which the center will not be able to function normally.

Despite the fact that opening a coworking space is accompanied by a lot of difficulties, this process is gradually gaining momentum in Russia. In 2008, the first co-working center “Tower” opened in Yekaterinburg. Later, such workspaces began to appear in all major cities.

It is noteworthy that the state also approved this idea and is trying to promote it to the masses. So, as part of the development of this project, a special program “Coworking 2.0” was created, and simultaneously with these actions, Sberbank developed a program to support youth coworking spaces.

On this moment predict two directions for the development of coworking: it will either evolve towards office space, or will acquire the status of a cultural center uniting creative people.

Types of coworking centers

There is no unified classification of such workspaces yet. However, they can be conditionally divided into the following groups:

1. The most common coworking spaces today are those designed for office and industrial activities. However, these spaces differ in size, level technical equipment and provision of related services, therefore they are divided into:

• Created by freelancers who come together to implement a joint project. They rent a small room, the fee for which is divided among all participants. The necessary equipment is brought from home.
• A workplace organized by a specific entrepreneur. He bears all the costs of maintaining the premises; the client only has to pay for his stay in the office.
• Centers established by a specific company to organize the work of freelancers. All expenses in this case are borne by the employer.
• Coworking centers are becoming increasingly popular creative direction, uniting people of art.

2. One of the promising areas is the development of children's workspaces that combine both educational and leisure functions.

In addition to coworking, there are many more similar establishments with a social orientation, for example, these include time cafes and clubs, anti-cafes. And if in an ordinary cafe after some time they will start looking at you askance, since you are just sitting on your laptop and taking the place of a potential client, then in these new-style premises everything has been created for people to work or communicate with the most different hobbies and preferences.

However, the main difference between coworking centers and anti-cafes is that they are primarily positioned as a specialized place of work, while anti-cafes are more intended for friendly gatherings.

Price list

Coworking prices are determined taking into account many factors:

• region;
• location;
• available equipment;
• rental period: the longer it is, the cheaper it costs the client one day of work in the center;
• fixed or floating workstation.

Please note that the least expensive seats are “dynamic seats,” which means that a person comes with a personal laptop and takes up any available seat. The most expensive thing is to rent meeting rooms or separate rooms for business meetings. But you must admit that it is much more presentable to meet your future partner in a coworking space than at home.

Average prices for renting coworking spaces, for example in Moscow, range from 5 to 15 thousand rubles per month. Payment is made per month, week, day or hour. There are even per-minute rentals.

Pros and cons of coworking spaces

Coworking, like any other innovation penetrating into everyday life, has a number of supporters and opponents. Let's consider what arguments "for" and "against" are given by both sides.

Let's hope that after reading this article, your doubts about coworking centers will be dispelled, and you will be eager to try this original approach to organizing your work activities. However, many of you are probably wondering: “How and where to find a coworking center in your city?”

The Internet will come to the rescue. Type the appropriate query in the search bar, and if a similar space has already been organized in your city, then you can easily find it on the pages of the World Wide Web.

Of course, today coworking is not as widespread in our country as we would like, so don’t be surprised if it doesn’t exist in your city yet. But, on the other hand, maybe this is a good opportunity to open your own center?

Now, having become acquainted with the concept of coworking, you have a certain idea about it unusual place. Do you want to constantly develop creatively and professionally, meet interesting people and discover something new day after day? Then coworking is what you need!

Many freelancers know that the home environment is relaxing and this immediately affects productivity. Of course, not having to work in an office is a definite plus - a freelancer has no bosses and plans his own work schedule, but sometimes communication with colleagues is so lacking! In addition, work in the office is more orderly; the office atmosphere itself puts you in a working mood and allows you to fully concentrate on the task at hand.

For the first time, a young freelance programmer, Brad Newberg, thought about the possibility of creating office space in which workspaces could be rented for a short period of time. The idea of ​​a workspace in which a variety of specialists could work simultaneously seemed worthy of attention, and in 2006, Brad Newberg opened the world's first coworking space in San Francisco, which lasted only one year. The reason for the closure was lack of space. Other freelancers really liked Brad's idea, and a few months later he opened new coworking space, which was called Hat Factory.

The coworking model proposed by Brad Newberg attracted not only freelancers who were tired of home isolation. Businessmen saw in a coworking space great opportunity earn money. After this, office spaces that provide the opportunity to rent a workplace began to appear all over the world. At the moment, there are dozens of coworking spaces operating in Russia. Most of them are in Moscow, which is quite understandable - the city is large, there are a lot of freelancers, and demand, as we know, creates supply. FreelanceToday brings to your attention comparative analysis the most popular coworking spaces in Moscow.

Coworking "Delovar" is located at Komsomolsky Prospekt, building 28. Opening hours: from 10:00 to 22:00, seven days a week. The work area of ​​a coworking space includes a row of open tables and a row of tables with partitions, which are perfect for meetings. Each workplace is provided with Internet access and all necessary office equipment. Coworking “Delovar” offers three tariffs for freelancers and entrepreneurs: “Standard”, “Business” and “Premium”.

The coworking space also has a hall for trainings and seminars, the area of ​​which is 60 square meters. meters.

Delovar is an unusual coworking space that only partially positions itself as a shared workspace for freelancers. In fact, this is the oldest Russian business club, existing for over 12 years. Here entrepreneurs can exchange experiences and make useful contacts. At the club you can get accounting and lawyer consulting, as well as necessary services for business. The friendly atmosphere of the club will especially appeal to beginners, who often need support from their more experienced colleagues.

COWORKING “FREE SWIMMING”

Coworking “Free Swimming” is located at Varshavskoye Shosse, 28 A. Opening hours: daily from 9:00 to 00:00. Coworking space offers visitors several tariff plans, which take into account the financial capabilities and personal needs of freelancers and business people. Even the cheapest tariff provides access to everything that contributes to comfortable work: each client receives a comfortable workplace, high-speed Wi-Fi, access to the recreation area and kitchen.

More expensive tariff plans contain additional options: fixed seat, accounting and legal consulting, parking. The coworking space has a kitchen where you can quickly heat up the lunch you brought with you. “Free Swimming” offers 8 tariff plans designed for a wide variety of customer categories.

The “Table for One” coworking space is located in the center of Moscow at Tokmakov Lane, 20/31, building 1. This is a cozy coworking space where you can rent a workplace or office at any time. The coworking space is small, but it has all the necessary conditions for comfortable work. In addition to renting a workplace, you can book a meeting room or room for holding seminars, master classes or individual lessons. The coworking space is also ready to provide its clients with a legal address with secretarial and accounting support.

High-speed Internet (Wi-Fi) is always available in the coworking space, and there is also an MFP for printing documents. There is no relaxation area, but you can always take your mind off work by sitting on a soft sofa in the hallway. There is a kitchen with hot drinks where customers can heat up lunch or cook something delicious.

“Table for One” is located a five-minute walk from the Kurskaya metro station (circle line). Free parking is available for customers who prefer to travel by car. The coworking space has a savings system: if the client spends three full days at his workplace, he receives a free hour in the coworking space or in the meeting room.

The meeting room can be rented for the day, and hourly rates are also available. Choosing a tariff « Meeting room for an hour », the client reserves one of two premises with an area of ​​11 sq. m or 22 sq.m. The rental cost is 400 and 650 rubles, respectively. The meeting room has everything you need: internet, MFP, table, chairs, air conditioning, whiteboard.

The “Meeting room per day” tariff will cost 2,500 rubles when renting a small meeting room. Renting a room with an area of ​​22 square meters will cost 5,000 rubles.

The coworking space has three tariffs: “I came here”, “I come here” and “I live here”.

You can also rent a representative office with an executive office, a reception area and a meeting room. The cost of renting an office is 8,000 rubles per day.

COWORKING “WORKSTATION”

There are two coworking spaces operating under the Workstation brand. The first is located in the park named after. Gorky, at Leninsky Prospekt 30A. Address of the second coworking: Artplay center, st. Nizhnyaya Syromyatnicheskaya, building 10, building 2, 7th floor.

A single workspace located in Gorky Park will surprise even experienced freelancers. The coworking space is located in a quiet corner of the park; it is a wood-paneled pavilion with panoramic windows. The coworking space has several work areas with different levels noise. At the far end of the pavilion is the startup area, separated from the freelance area by a glass partition. There is also a social area and a gaming area where you can chat without fear of disturbing the work of other visitors.

Like other coworking spaces, Workstation has a kitchen with hot drinks for a quick snack. If you need a full meal, you can do it at the Shardam cafe, located next door.

The coworking space has everything you need for productive work: computers, office equipment, lockers, high-speed Internet. It is worth especially noting the presence of showers - they are intended for those who come to work after jogging or cycling.

The coworking space, located at the Artplay Center for Design and Architecture, is a modern office space occupying four floors. In addition to the work area, the coworking space has a conference room and 3 spacious meeting rooms.

Workstation offers three plans to choose from: Hipster, Freelancer, and Startup.

In the co-working space in Gorky Park there is a full-fledged Rabochiy cinema with an original program. In the summer, film screenings take place on the veranda, and in the winter, the play area and communication area are transformed into a hall for about 50 visitors. So the creators of the “Workstation” coworking space modeled not a workspace, but the lifestyle of a modern creative person.

Union Place coworking addresses: Moscow City, Presnenskaya embankment, building 6, building 2, 43rd floor of the Empire tower and 1st Koptelsky lane, building 10, building 1.

Union Place coworking space is a shared workspace designed primarily for startups and entrepreneurs focused on success. This is the only coworking space of this format not only in Russia, but throughout the entire eastern hemisphere. Union Place has strict rules for clients and is not an anti-cafe or a place to relax and hang out with other freelancers. There are no game consoles, ping-pong tables, balloons or other things that distract from work. People come to Union Place who are united by a common idea - to make money.

There are no dress code requirements at coworking spaces, but a neat appearance is encouraged. Don’t forget about personal hygiene, otherwise you may be denied access.

One of the principles of coworking is openness and communication. It’s not customary here to look at someone else’s monitor, but if a visitor has any difficulties, other clients will be happy to come to his aid.

Union Place welcomes business-minded and goal-oriented people who never stop moving forward. For those who come to the office to relax or work carelessly, there is no place in a coworking space. Team spirit is maintained here and everyone is united by one idea - to get rich.

Union Place coworking spaces have everything you need for... efficient work: high-speed Internet, comfortable workplaces, office equipment and stationery, drinks, meeting rooms, boxes for personal belongings. Various business events are held regularly; consulting sessions, business simulations, seminars and master classes.

CONCLUSION

It is impossible not to note the growing popularity of coworking spaces, of which there are more and more in Moscow every year. Today, coworking spaces operate in a variety of formats - freelancers and entrepreneurs can work in antique cafes, libraries, and business incubators. Even a student dorm room can be turned into a coworking space. However, the best working conditions are provided by coworking spaces, which make money by renting out workspaces. Such office spaces have all the conditions for productive work and constructive communication with other coworking visitors. Coworking spaces are ideal for startups and small companies that would like to save money on renting a separate office. For relatively little money, you can rent workstations and office equipment, and hold meetings with investors and clients in meeting rooms.

The cost of renting a workplace in Moscow coworking spaces is at least 5,900 rubles per month (Free Swimming coworking space). Some coworking spaces offer the option of paying by the hour. Renting a workplace at the lowest rate in this case will cost 100-150 rubles per hour.

On average, a space in a coworking space costs 13-15 thousand rubles per month. The cost of rent depends on several factors: the proximity of the coworking space to the city center, the size of the premises, the number of services provided and the quality of the audience. There are coworking spaces where you can work and have fun; in other shared work spaces, management strives to create an exclusively business atmosphere.

The highest prices for renting a workplace are in the Union Place coworking space, which is located in Moscow City. To work alongside motivated people you will have to pay 19,970 rubles per month. In second place is the “Workstation” coworking space. For visitors who choose the “Startup” tariff, renting a workplace will cost 18 thousand rubles per month. This is the most expensive coworking plan, but you can save money by choosing, for example, the “Hipster” plan with the possibility of hourly rental. The third place with the “Team” tariff is again at Union Place - 17,970 rubles per month.

From all this we can conclude that the cost of renting a workplace in Moscow depends on the proximity of the coworking space to the city center. The price is also influenced by the business positioning of the coworking space, but it is the geographic location that is the pricing factor.