okay, seriously – what IS coworking?


Outside of how to pronounce our name (it’s hoo-gah, if ya didn’t know), the most asked question we get is what the heck coworking even is.

If you’ve got no clue, don’t worry. We didn’t really know what coworking was all about at first either. But really, it’s not super complicated. Welcome to Coworking 101 – we’ve got your back.

The TL;DR version is this: coworking is shared workspace. It’s a spot where anyone and everyone can come and get some work done. So, no, it’s not just for trendy startups or entrepreneurs. It’s also for remote employees, nonprofit teams, regional office locations, freelancers, artists, small businesses and more. Seriously, anyone. {Continued below}

what is coworking

Every coworking space does things a little differently, but the basics are pretty much always the same. Usually there are a few different work space options, with the lowest level being an open workspace concept, or a flex membership.

Think of this like going in to get some work done at your local coffee shop, but in a slightly quieter environment (expect some background convos, but you probably won’t hear the espresso machine screaming every 5 minutes). Basically, you sit wherever you want with your laptop and get to it.

Some spaces offer other another option that allows you to have your very own desk to sit at where you can have a second monitor or leave other objects on. This might be called a hot desk or a dedicated desk membership.

And the final coworking option you might see some coworking spaces offer is a private office. This works best for small to medium-sized teams who need a more secluded space to get their work done for whatever reason, but a more traditional office space doesn’t work for them.

You may stumble across other coworking membership options depending on each space. For example, some may have a virtual membership option that allows you to use the coworking space as a business address to receive mail. You may also see a day pass option for those who want to work at the coworking space for a single day.

what is coworking

Coworking is a bit like the gym: you’re going to get out of it what you put into it.

You can definitely work remotely from home or build your business from a coffee shop and not spend money on a coworking membership. But there are some things coworking spaces offer with the hopes of helping you succeed that you won’t find at your local coffee shop.

Depending on the coworking space you’re looking at, this could include meeting spaces so you can meet with potential clients or other coworkers; 24/7 access to a place to work; quiet phone booths to take your remote calls from; a more professional environment to conduct business from, faster WiFi and more.

But aside from all of that – which, don’t get us wrong, is super important – coworking gives you so much more than just a table to work at and free local coffee. It also offers you connections.

Let’s be real, making friends as adults sucks. And if you’re working remotely and don’t have the chance to interact with your coworkers in person or if you’re embarking on the at-times lonely entrepreneurial journey, it can be even harder.

Coworking spaces often host networking or community events to bring their members together for this reason. An example at hygge is our monthly Zero Day event, where we take a break from our usual day-to-day and come together to listen and learn from each other. We host these on the second Friday of every month at a different coworking location, and it’s open for anyone to join. (If you’re interested finding out when the next one is, click here.)

If you are just looking for a spot to crush your to-do list, coworking spaces are for you. But if you’re looking to do that as well as occasionally talk to someone in the kitchen about that new movie they caught Friday or meet other professionals who have skills you might need to help further your business, coworking spaces are also for you.

The possibilities are endless.

Interested in checking it all out for yourself? Request a tour.

what is coworking