Scoping Out a Coworking Spot? Here’s What to Look For

Coworking is all about getting out of your home office (or couch, or closet, or whatever it may be) and joining some friends for a productive but low-stress work session.

The company you keep is a big part of what makes coworking so great, but the locale matters too. What should you look for in a coworking spot – or a place to work solo, for that matter? We’re pros here at Ladies Work Remote, so here’s your handy-dandy checklist.

Coworking Spot Tips

Reliable Wi-Fi

For most gigs, wi-fi is a must, so that’s a non-starter: your coworking location needs to have solid wi-fi. If you’re working solo and you have a hotspot on your phone, you may be able to work just about anywhere, but that’s not the case for everyone.

Group Seating

Let’s not forget the “co” part of coworking – you want to be around people. For that to work, you need to make sure there’s a group seating area at the coffee shop or other coworking spot. That usually means a big table where you can gather five or six people or more, but it can also work to have some chairs and tables arranged in a circle.

Great Drinks and Eats

Every work session is better if you have a little something to sip or nibble on, so check out the refreshment options at your place of choice. Make sure you think about the time of day when you’ll be meeting up with your coworking crew.

If it’s in the morning or afternoon, a place that has coffee and snacks could work just fine. If your coworking sesh will be overlapping with lunchtime, though, choose somewhere that has lunch food.

The Right Level of Noise

You’ll probably be chatting a bit during your coworking session, and some people may have to take phone calls too. This means you don’t want an environment that has to be completely silent, but you don’t want it to be so loud that you can’t hear each other at the same table. It’s handy to look for an area where people could take professional phone calls, too, like call booths or a quiet outdoor courtyard.

Plug-In Access

If there’s one fact that’s always true of coworking, it’s that your laptop will choose the absolute most inconvenient moment to run out of battery. Beat it at its own game by making sure your coworking spot has electrical outlets near the group seating area so everyone can plug in.

Adequate Lighting

Some coffee shops and similar businesses like to stick to low lighting for a cozy feel. That’s great for curling up with a latte and just watching the world from the window. It’s not so great when you’re trying to work. Make sure your coworking spot has plenty of lighting.

The aim of coworking is to set aside some time that is both social and productive. The location you choose can make all the difference, so use the criteria above as your guide. Or, you could just find a Ladies Work Remote meetup near you and join us instead!