7 Tips on Choosing a Coworking Space in NYC

Choosing the right coworking space for you in NYC shouldn’t be hard. Check out our tips to make this a process a breeze.

As a startup, renting office space in New York City has many benefits. Still, if you are a freelancer, a self-employed worker, or a small business just starting, checking out flexible spaces such as coworking may make more sense. Coworking spaces have been around for a while and provide affordable, collaborative environments perfect for small business growth.  

One of the first places startup entrepreneurs turn to when looking for actual office space (i.e., not their living room or local coffee shop) is a coworking space shared by other freelancers and small business owners. Coworking, also known as shared workspaces, has been around since 2005.  

They provide a stylish, professional, shared office space environment, usually a mix of private office suites and shared desks, also known as common areas, where one can work, network, and meet with potential clients or investors. There are other reasons freelancers, self-employed workers, and creative professionals choose the coworking direction: camaraderie, collaboration, and networking at happy hour events.    

Beyond trendiness, shared work hubs offer unmatched budget-friendliness alongside networking amongst thriving communities—catalyzing startups in ways private offices simply cannot. By pooling resources across companies, coworking spaces supply everything early-stage ventures need: cost-effectiveness, connections, and camaraderie.

Yet, with countless options available, finding the ideal aligning culture and layout for your team's work style takes due diligence. Prioritizing space conducive to productivity and contentment ensures your company can reach new heights in an environment designed to help small businesses flourish.

Commercial real estate landlords recently recognized the potential of transforming buildings through flex office coworking-style renovations. Developers have begun upgrading layouts with open seating filled with ergonomic chairs and desks, relaxed lounges, gyms, huddle spaces, and other high-end amenities. Buildings also integrate speedy Wi-Fi and wellness perks like fruit-infused water, printing stations, and community events. This atmosphere of hospitality attracts professionals by mimicking the inviting vibe of foremost innovators like Google pioneers.   So check out these 7 tips when searching for the perfect coworking space in New York City.  

1 . What are your company’s office space needs and goals?  

Finding a coworking space that fuels your business growth requires aligning your objectives, workstyles, and industry needs with the suitable space.

First, identify your immediate concerns - is it rapid scaling, sparking innovation, facilitating collaboration, or networking? Understanding key priorities allows for properly evaluating how prospective spaces can uniquely address those goals.

Then, consider your office culture to find spaces mimicking compatible vibes and values. Creative software startups might require open lounges, spurring impromptu chats. More introverted teams still need privacy for roles demanding focus. There are now spaces tailored to any mix of work modes.

Ideally, the space transforms initially tentative teams into tightly-knit communities through expertly designed experiences facilitating all facets of members’ ambitions. With clarity on what environment best empowers your people, finding spaces embodying your ethos gets simpler.

2. Define Expectations   

Finding a suitable coworking space hinges on aligning expectations with an environment delivering your ideal experience. 

If networking is a top priority, spaces encouraging serendipitous connections prove ideal through member events, shared lounges, and community messaging boards. More productivity-focused teams still require quiet zones for heads-down work, phone booths, and minimalist ambiance, removing all distractions.

Consider which features matter most day-to-day, from noise levels and privacy options to free-flowing coffee. The rise of specialized spaces means companies can find tailored environments to empower any workstyle - no one-size-fits-all approach is required.

The search gets far less overwhelming by taking stock of must-have amenities and conveniences upfront. The key is understanding the experience that best enables your teams to thrive.

3. Sign Up For Free Trial or DayPass

Most coworking spaces offer monthly and yearly memberships but have realized the value of offering day passes to suit the needs of consultants, digital nomads, and business travelers. Newbies can take advantage of these temporary passes to get a better feel for the day-to-day life at each coworking space they’re considering.

On-demand coworking apps, such as Croissant have partnerships with multiple spaces. 

Apps like this make it easy to pop into the closest coworking spot for one monthly fee, like a “ClassPass” for office work, making them quite popular with remote teams, app developers, and freelancers. For someone looking for a permanent space, spending a day in a space will give you the most straightforward idea about how productive you’ll be, the other types of workers who will be around, and, ultimately, what you value in a workspace. What happens if you reach a different growth stage in your startup, have raised several funding rounds, and are looking to expand your hiring and open up sizeable private office headquarters?  

4. Talk to Current Members

Chances are, if you’re in the startup, tech, or other tight-knit professional community, you will know other founders who have memberships at most of the coworking spaces out there, so asking to hear about their day-to-day experience at a particular place is an excellent way to get an idea of whether you want to work there or not. 

It’s even better to ask other professionals in the same business vertical as you about their experience. This way, you can get feedback and insights from people who appreciate and look for the same features or environments as you.  

5. Learn More About Their Mission and Read Online Reviews 

I don’t recommend signing up for a workspace if you cannot physically visit their location(s). Still, if you’re considering moving your team to or opening up a new office in a different state, you might not have the option. If you cannot drop in, most spaces have their websites and apps with essential information and FAQs beyond just pricing, plans, features, etc., and more about the vibe they want to cultivate. You should also see what you can dig up online regarding customer reviews.  

6. Find a Convenient Location For You

Finding a convenient location remains paramount when evaluating coworking spaces. For commuting employees and visiting clients, site accessibility dramatically impacts productivity and satisfaction. My marketing agency works a few days a week remotely. I will commute into NYC and work from different coworking spaces depending on what neighborhood it is or if there is an event I will network at later or visit a client. I want to have a professional meeting space close to them. From Midtown's sleek towers to Tribeca's cobblestone streets, Manhattan brims with neighborhoods exuding distinct charm. The financial giants ruling Wall Street give way to Little Italy's red-sauced cafes, Chinatown's heated markets, and Chelsea's chic galleries. Behind prestigious addresses, SoHo's cast-iron buildings house boutiques and startups alike. For example, if I go to a Bloomberg event, I might work in a midtown office such as Workville; if I am Soho, I go to the Farm; if I am near Penn Station, I pop into Coalition Space, if I am near Times Square its usually Nomadworks. Pick somewhere convenient for you. 

7. Determine Space Requirements   

When evaluating coworking spaces, first tally projected regular team members to determine optimal seating formats - are private offices, dedicated desks, or shared spots best? Consider specialized spaces like meeting rooms, quiet zones, and lounges based on workflows.

Look beyond immediate arrangements to foresee growth, too. If rapidly hiring full-time employees or freelancers, ensure the space can smoothly accommodate expansion without disruption before maxing out square footage. Similarly, divvying up project teams or new divisions may call for customizable floorplans as needs develop.

Andrew Broadbent is the cofounder and Director of Search Marketing for Vab Media Digital Agency. He has been interviewed and quoted in the Wall Street Journal, ABC News, LA Times and Bloomberg BusinessWeek. He is a contributor to Practical eCommerce, Buzzsumo Econsultancy, Startup Grind, and Google for Education.