Coworking is becoming popular all over the world and attracts everyone from an entrepreneur to small business owners who have their own reasons and purpose to opt for co-working spaces to start their operations. In India the trend is picking up and more and more folks are considering the option to work out of a co-working space.  There are some definite tangible benefits for everyone who wants to choose coworking space such as savings on rent (and if you going to start an office in Bangalore - the silicon valley of India, monthly rent becomes exorbitant with a 10 month advance deposit condition throwing your budget targets to a toss!!). There are additional expenses for setting up infrastructure which requires and up-front payment to buy furniture, create interiors and setup the network and purchase all devices to be used for your work. Opting to work out of co-working space, these additional expenses are within budgets as someone has already invested and now rents out the space with fully (or partially) loaded features. A big saving if you want space only for limited period since it gives you freedom not to bother about capital expenditure for setting up your work-space, either for self or for your team.

For some there are other intangible benefits such as meeting like minded people which is not possible in a dedicated office space. Such spaces inspire you to perform better as you meet, discuss and leverage what others are doing, unexpected encounters give a twist to your daily routine, stimulating you and your teams to perform and manage situations which in a controlled dedicated office space cannot even be recreated!

Once you opt to go for a coworking space, what should be the critical factors one needs to evaluate before finalizing the deal? Well, as is typical marketing style and hype created around spaces, everyone would be declaring freebies and promise the moon, but you would get to know the reality only after you have signed the contract and it may be too late. So it would be prudent to verify and select the space based on following criteria for your next business destination

1. Location: Does it matter? Yes it does, even if it is a co-working space. You don't want to spend your critical time traveling to your work space, reach there devoid of energy and lacking enthusiasm to speak with your team. Always choose a location that is easily accessible to you, your team and probably your customers!
2. Price: We all have our budgets, so it is always wise to choose a space that fits in the budget and also meets the requirements. Always verify each and every item that is going to be available for price being paid and watch out for small print and add-ons which may give you a shock when you get the first bill. Having said this, also do not push the space provider to bundle everything and give you a space at very low cost. Like everyone else, this is a business and they are into it for making reasonable return on their investment for space. Also do not choose a space only for price - it may cost you less, but may not give you the right environment and may spell bad for business in the long run. Find the balance between space / price / budget and environment to identify the best fit!
3. Space: Getting a space at INR 20 p/sq ft. may be damn attractive offer, but only after you started operating you realize that you actually got only 20 sq. ft. making the place overly crowded, suffocated and devoid of any energy or space to even scratch your back. Choose wisely - the space should be reasonable per work station, have ample natural light and ability for you and your team members to walk without bumping into chairs, monitors, computers or other human beings working out of the space.
4. Infrastructure: Looking for a space with fan or air con? Yes the place has air-con, but it doesn't work since it was purchased in '98 and hasn't been serviced since - oh and look out for water leakage from the air con that is working!!! Server rack ? What Server Rack? The previous folks were happy to use the cabinet on which blade server was kept on 4 wooden blocks and cooled by pedestal fan 24x7. Internet speed is the best in the market .. upto xx MBPS.. but you would get it only if 1 person on the entire floor is connecting the net. Networking cables are damaged? Don't worry.. see the dangling wires all over the place.. fixing concealed wiring is a headache.. the cable will be replaced in no time.. just wait for the electrician to come, drill few holes and drop your cable! Well, such scenarios are not un-common and it would be wise to verify what is the infra available, what is the quality of components used and how you may utilize the services without losing time which is so precious to someone starting a business.
5. Community: A strong factor working out of a coworking space is the presence of strong community and interactions between them. This helps in sharing ideas, leveraging knowledge and skills, finding new business avenues and a great level of satisfaction at the end of the day. One must be open to interacting and collaboration though, if you are going to operate from a co-working space.
6. Timing: Just a point to check, not each day you would stop work at sharp 5 PM.. if the provider operates in traditional office setup, nor would you like to be billed for 24 hours, if only you extend your work schedule by 1 hour. One must enquire the scenarios and check how does the place work - is it 24x7 or only available in traditional time schedule and what would be additional charges if you decide to run a sprint over the weekend to meet your deadline.
7. Security: Crime is on the rise - and just like we all like to live in a secure place and ensure security of our friends and family, office space is no exception and should not be ignored. Verify if the place you wish to move into has enough features and facility to deter any untoward incident.
8. Amenities: Free unlimited coffee / tea - yet when you go to the vending machine, you get only black coffee, tea bags are not to be seen and drinking water has not yet arrived. Does the provider offer any space to meet your potential clients, can you entertain anyone on the premises or do you have scout for nearest coffee shop to attend a business meeting. These are some of the points one must consider before choosing a place for your startup.

Every place has a unique quality - some would be ideal for you, some not so ideal. Before selecting, you must spend a little time on finding the correct mix for your idea. The best match in terms of friendliness to your pocket, meeting your objectives and tangible and intangible benefits should be opted for in finalizing the deal. The real benefits of a co-working space is the atmosphere you are likely to get with multiple dynamic interactions, informal conversations and often also getting expert advise from all quarters since almost everyone operating in such spaces is on the same frequency and more than willing to participate with you in your journey!