You’re just starting out and you need a place to call home work. Sure, you could go rent a warehouse, or a massive office space for yourself and your PA/receptionist/advisor/only-employee. So what do you do? How about sharing a space with any number of other businesses. Yes, yes, you may be hesitant about that, but there are a large number of benefits that could actually help your business grow. We looked at ten reasons to go for it, because being on your own can be so lonely.

1: Encourage Creativity

Creativity and innovation is an important aspect of being around other people. While home offices are isolating, having the company of other entrepreneurs is a luxury.

2: You Share Value and Save Money

When choosing an office space to rent with others, there are various ways you can divide the space so its simultaneously free, yet bounded. One can even share an office space with a business that has services that can be utilised and shared.

3: You Meet Great New Vendors

When startups come under one roof – or ceiling – there are great opportunities to meet and network with experts in diverse fields, benefitting from early access and discounts.

4: You Get Connected Through Connections

We all know it’s about who, not what, you know. So there’s nothing wrong with sharing a space with a business that will extend your skills and services to their mates.

5: Security

Most shared office spaces use fairly sophisticated entrance technology; whether this takes the form of keycard or fingerprint access, it’s all cool when you know your affairs are conducted in a secure environment.

6: Flexibility of a Short Lease

Choose the package you need when entering a shared office space contract. Whether this be for a month, or a year, or even a temporary holding, the freedom to grow or stop your business at your own convenience is freedom like no other.

7: The water cooler experience

In other words, the casual conversations that flow in a bigger office. It’s important to spend time with other people who know what you’re going through and can offer a word of encouragement or provide an outlet to let off steam – something you don’t quite get at home.

8. Professional meeting space

This is an element that is often looked over when entering a new workspace. A conference room or meeting space is important when growing your business or meeting new clients as sometimes, meeting at the coffee shop up the road isn’t as profesh as some would like.

9: Create structure and community

This is ideal if you’re a freelancer and need a little stability in your life so you don’t work until three in the morning. And if you start employing people, responsibility.

10: Cost effective:

This is the most obvious pro of them all. Sharing an office space cuts down costs on electricity, internet and rent – especially in the City.

Right now, there’s ample opportunity and possibilities at the Woodstock Exchange. With finger-print access office spaces and a host of coffee shops on the ground floor, The Bureaux offers a rad set of office spaces that allow you to make them your own. For just R1 500 per month you can get your own desk space that comes with cleaning and uncapped high-speed internet.  If you want a larger area so you can maybe fit in an old leather couch or ceiling high indoor plant, then you can rent a space for around R5 500 per month. Not too shabby, huh?