Coworking in tier 2 cities in India

Coworking in tier 2 cities in India

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With the emergence of the start-up ecosystem in India, another predominant trend also took root and began transforming the conventional workspace scenario: the concept of flexible and shared offices. Needless to say, the first beneficiaries of this trend have been major cities like Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Chennai, and they continue to be at the top of the demand graph for shared workspaces.

Coworking in tier 2 cities in India

Even as large corporates, medium-sized businesses, and multi-national companies opened up to the idea of coworking spaces, the concept didn’t remain confined to such tier 1 cities alone. Cities like Pune, Indore, Chandigarh, Ahmadabad, Jaipur, Kota, Lucknow, Udaipur, Bhubaneswar, Jabalpur, Surat, Rajkot, etc. have been witnessing the rise and popularity of coworking in tier 2 cities in India – as a viable and cost-effective alternative to traditional offices. The incredible popularity of shared offices among start-ups, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and established companies is a clear indication of the expanding horizon of coworking in tier 2 cities.

So, what makes coworking in tier 2 cities, such a lucrative option? Let us take a look.

hugely Affordable office spaces

The tier 2 markets in India are a hotbed of possibilities as far as innovation and skills are concerned. Availability of a large workforce and resources add to this framework. When provided with the right kind of infrastructure, the tier 2 cities in India can strike the right chord in terms of cultivating entrepreneurs and supporting large-scale business enterprises. However, one thing stands in the way of this proposed success route: the deficiency of funds to leverage business in the seed stage.

Most start-ups and entrepreneurs in tier 2 cities prefer to step into the business ecosystem with a low capital base. But given the upswing in real estate prices and the high rent of offices, leasing a traditional office often means a huge and risky investment. Flexible office spaces have come across as the perfect solution to this predicament. Catering to the specific needs of freelancers, start-ups, consultants, and companies alike, coworking spaces offer an affordable option to carry out work in a professional environment. No wonder, even large companies and corporate houses are also opting for coworking in tier 2 cities instead of taking up formal office spaces on a lease.

Flexibility to the core

In the initial days of starting a business, entrepreneurs and start-ups often begin with a low manpower base. The idea is to expand once the endeavor gets a foothold in the industry and the cash flow starts to increase. Coworking in tier 2 cities help to keep the operational costs low while ensuring that the options of scalability remain open.

For example, if a start-up opts for a coworking space in Gurgaon, the underlying benefits do not remain limited to the massive cost advantage alone. The spaces for coworking in Gurgaon offer seats based on client requirements. So, if the start-up starts with a 5-member team and then wants to increase its members in a few months’ time, they don’t have to worry about leasing a new place for their growing team. On the other hand, if a large company decides to curtail and retain a smaller team after hiring a certain number of seats at a coworking space, they can easily give up on the seats and save on the costs.

Such flexibility in increasing or downsizing a team due to coworking spaces ensures that entrepreneurs and companies can give shape to their business dreams in tier 2 cities without worrying about scalability issues.

Also Read: Traditional Workspace vs Coworking Space

Networking opportunities and technology partners

More often than not, building a business network and finding technology partners can turn out to be a challenge for businesses or individuals trying to establish their base in tier 2 cities. One of the biggest advantages of being a member of the coworking community is that networking opportunities come along easily. A shared office is not just about an open floor plan or a flexible work environment; it is also about the various people who come to work there from different backgrounds. Intermingling with such a heterogeneous group of people facilitates the building up of a community of like-minded people who are ready to help one another out. Finding technology partners for business ventures also becomes easy when one is a part of a coworking community.

Professional workspace with all necessary facilities

Regardless of the size or nature of a company or business, having a professional and presentable office space is essential when it comes to meeting clients. In a traditional office, the responsibility of furnishing the space and maintaining it lies with the business owner. This means one has to spend extra time, effort, and money to make sure that the office looks professional enough. Coworking in tier 2 cities are no less than their counterparts in the tier I cities. This means one can get all the facilities required for running an office without having to shoulder the burden of buying or maintaining them. This concept works in favor of the large companies as well, who don’t want to compromise on the facilities-front when hiring office space.

Happy coworking.

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Difference Between Coworking Space vs Home Office - The Office Pass

Coworking Moved My Home Office

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This is a true story of how coworking moved my home office?

What are the issues with Home Office?

You don’t have to be successful to start, but you have to start to be successful – that was my mantra when I opted out of full-time employment and switched to full-time freelancing a few years back. Working from the comforts of my home office, I was able to juggle work life and home life in an effective manner, or so I thought. Slowly my clientele grew, and that was when the issues related to my home office also started growing.

Even though I had a well-appointed home office situated in a separate room in my home, the line between my professional and personal life was often a thin (and sometimes, a non-existing one too!). Moreover, I started to miss my colleagues at the office and often felt lonely while working from the confines of my home office. Finding motivation on my own was another key issue; there were times when I started my day with an overflowing to-do list but ended up doing none of it. Working from home – which, I must say, is the dream of my generation – was doing me more harm than good.

Getting Introduced to coworking

And that was when a friend suggested becoming a member of a neighborhood coworking space. I decided to give the idea a short try for a fortnight or so to see how things went. After that initial phase, “coworking replaced my home office and I have never looked back since then“. So, how did coworking moved my home office? Here are five solid reasons:

Benefits of a coworking space over home office

It gave me a distraction-free work environment

You can argue that a coworking space isn’t always free from distractions. There can be more chatter and noise there than in a home office. If you look at it from my perspective, you will get my point. The biggest distraction in my home office was that I could take a break from work at any time and start watching the TV or indulge in a quick nap. There was no one to give me a rap on the shoulder.

However, in my coworking space in Gurgaon, I was surrounded by people who were doing their work in a diligent manner. This inspired me to be productive at my work as well. I wasn’t tempted to take a break every now and then. In other words, even if I had to put up with a few distractions, I actually ended up being more productive than in my home office.

It helped me connect with people

For some people, networking is an easy thing to do. For others, it is a dreadful proposition. However, one can’t ignore that networking is essential for the growth of a business. But to network, you have to meet people, which is not possible when you are working all day long from a home office. To be honest, I was never a pro at networking. Until I became a member of a shared workspace, I wasn’t even sure how to build my network.

Coworkers interacting informally @ The Office Pass, GurgaonCommunity event at The Office Pass, Gurgaon

All that changed when I shifted to coworking. I won’t say my network started to grow overnight – it never happens this way. Also, it’s not necessary that you like every person working in your shared office. However, regular interactions with some of those people with whom I liked talking helped me to meet more like-minded people and my network started to form in an effortless manner.

It helped me look more professional

For all the pros of working from a home office, one glaring con was that I wasn’t able to meet my clients there. So, every time I had to meet a client, I selected a neighborhood café for the same. This always left me wondering about what impression my clients got regarding such an arrangement. But when I started working at the coworking space in Gurgaon near my home, this issue got resolved effectively. I now had a professional place where I could meet my clients.

Also Read: Grow Your Business Fast with Coworking Spaces

It didn’t burn a hole in my pocket

As it is, coworking spaces are a highly cost-effective option in comparison to regular offices taken on rent. On top of that, many coworking spaces have various membership options that cater to clients of all pockets. For instance, TheOfficePass is one high-quality shared office that offers long and short-term membership options. They also offer flexible membership options for less frequent users.

It gave me many facilities which you miss at home

My well-equipped home office had almost everything that I required to get my work done efficiently. But this also meant that I was responsible for keeping everything in a functional mode. If anything in my home office broke down or needed maintenance, I was required to take time out of my busy schedule and solve the issue. But the scenario was very different in the coworking space for freelancers from where I carried out my work. The plug and play mode of the shared office meant that I didn’t have to bother about either setting up the office or maintaining it. All I needed to do was walk into the place and get on fulfilling my professional commitments.

Community event at The Office Pass, Coworking space in Gurgaon Community event at The Office Pass, Gurgaon

Some Coworking facilities:

Apart from the regular facilities like Wi-Fi, printer, meeting rooms, lockers, coffee machines, etc. coworking also offers other perks that are essential for a growing business. For instance, my coworking office regularly organizes community events for its members. Such events are a great place to exchange ideas, find investors, and learn new things. Long story short, coworking changed the way I work!

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How to get maximum out of a Coworking Space - The Office Pass

How to Get Maximum Out Of a Coworking Space?

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Coworking spaces introduced a new work ambiance in India. The rise of this more casual and less formal workspace concept has found many takers and for many good reasons. The draw of coworking spaces has quickly expanded to include not just young entrepreneurs, start-ups, and freelancers but multi-national companies and corporate houses as well. This led to the escalation in demand for shared offices across India and mainly in the millennium city of Gurgaon.

One of the primary reasons behind Gurgaon office spaces becoming a preferred choice for individuals and companies alike is the fact that such spaces cater to their evolving needs while offering the advantages of time, money, and reduced effort. If you are looking for a shared office, here are a few tips on how to get the maximum out of a coworking space.

3 Ways to Get the Most out of Your Coworking Space

Save money: Because it doesn’t grow on trees

A penny saved is a penny earned, and there’s no doubt about that. Making money is the bottom line in the business world, regardless of whether you are an independent professional or a business owner. A coworking space in Gurgaon enables you to do this in an effective manner.

As far as saving money is concerned, opting for a coworking space instead of leasing a traditional office in Gurgaon can tilt the scale heavily in your favor. Consider this: When you select one of the high-quality shared office spaces in DLF Cyber City, you will have to shell out around Rs. 24,000 as a monthly expense. This monthly expense includes your rent for the shared office, extra payment for hiring a conference room for meetings, paperwork, internet charges, and even the salary of the support staff. In comparison, if you opt for a traditional office, your expenses will shoot up to the bracket of Rs. 40,000 or more each month for the same variables. Simple calculation says that you will be able to save to the tune of Rs. 16,000 every month if you prefer to work from a coworking space.

SHARING PICS, CABS, TWEETS & NOW OFFICES

However, that is not the end of your money-saving story. You will also be saving on fixed expenses related to furniture, office gadgets, and electrical fittings and their installation that you will need to invest in if you opt for a traditional office. So, a coworking space will not only enable you to work in a flexible and comfortable environment, but it will also help you to save money.

Save time: Because it is precious

Commuting to the office daily has become a nightmare for many people in India, and especially for those in Delhi and the NCR. The traffic snarls have stretched the commuting time of the office-goers significantly. As a result, by the time a person reaches the office, he or she is already drained of much of his or her energy and enthusiasm to plunge into work. It may not be in your hands to improve the traffic conditions on the road. But if you opt for an office in a well-connected location, you can definitely save your time. However, if you opt for a traditional office in a prime location like Gurgaon, which has an easy airport and metro connectivity and is also a highly industrialized area, you will have to pay a premium price for the same. Moving to a coworking space in this area can be the ideal solution for you.

For instance, if you choose one of the shared offices for rent near Huda City Centre metro station, you can have the best of both the options. On the one hand, your office will be located in the vicinity of large corporate houses. On the other hand, you will have the option to reach your office using the metro railway and ensure that your commuting time is reduced to a considerable extent. In other words, you will be able to devote more time to your work or business. Another crucial point to be noted here is that since Gurgaon houses several multi-national companies and big corporate houses, you will remain surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and other such facilities that have become a necessary part of one’s daily life.

Also Read: Which Is More Important – Time, Effort or Money?

Save effort: Because it matters

There is more to setting up an office than simply renting a space for the same. When you rent or lease a traditional office, the onus lies on you to make the space usable. You will have to arrange for the office furniture, accessories, electrical fittings and installation, internet connectivity, security, and even maintenance. But the scenario is quite different in a coworking space. For example, you can simply walk into one of the coworking offices near NH48 and start working from the moment you step inside.

Most coworking spaces in Gurgaon offer a range of facilities for an affordable rate, such as free Wi-Fi, accessories and equipment needed for office work, cafeteria, constant IT support, etc. In short, you can make the most of the amenities offered without spending any effort for arranging or maintaining them.

In summary, a coworking space helps you save money, time & effort so you can do what you love the most – growing your business. If you are looking for a coworking space, feel free to call TheOfficePass at 8999 828282.

Happy Coworking.

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5 Reasons why women should use Coworking Space and not Work From Home

Why women should use Coworking Space and not “Work From Home”

by | posted in: Coworking Spaces, Work From Home | 0

Many women are attracted to the idea of working from home. The possibility of staying at home and managing a career can indeed be quite enticing. However, merging personal life and work may not always turn out to be a good idea. Whether you are a woman solopreneur, freelancer, or running your own small business, you need to ensure that your efficiency is not impacted in any way. As more and more women are opting to work independently or remotely, coworking can provide them the right environment and flexibility they need to maintain their work-life balance and carve out a niche in the professional world. Outlined below are a few compelling reasons why women should use Coworking space n not “work from home”.

5 Reasons Why women should use Coworking Space and not Work From Home

  1. Coworking is a distraction-free environment
  2. Coworking helps Overcome isolation and feel connected
  3. Network in an effective manner
  4. You get proper space for professional meetings
  5. Women discover new business opportunities

1. Coworking is a distraction-free environment

Working from home may have its advantages of no commuting during rush hours and being near your family even as you complete professional commitments. But more often than not, the home environment may not be conducive to work. One of the biggest disadvantages of working from home is the constant distractions that you have to face. Kids, television, pets, the list of distractions can be long and varied and can impact your work. A neighborhood coworking space can offer you a distraction-free environment where you can focus on your work without bothering about the chores at home.

Image: The Office Pass, Neighborhood Coworking office

2. Coworking helps Overcome isolation and feel connected

When you work from home, your time mainly gets divided between your work commitments and your family. This may leave you with no time or scope to reach out to other professionals and feel connected to them. Over a period of time, you may feel socially isolated and even discontented. Neighbourhood Coworking can help you to keep isolation at bay. Suppose that you are a freelancer who has opted to work out of a coworking space in Delhi. You can easily bond with like-minded professionals with whom you co-work and share a sense of community. This is something that you will never find when working from your home.

3. Network in an effective manner

Every working woman needs proper networking opportunities to give her career graph a boost. The best part about working out of a coworking space is that you can come across individuals belonging to different fields and industries. Shared offices allow women to build an amazing network by connecting them with such a varied group of people. Additionally, you can also tap into the network of these people if needed. What’s more, you can even share and discuss ideas with your co-workers. When you are surrounded by a group of people possessing different kinds of skills and talents, it’s easy to get inspired and learn new things. Also, most coworking spaces organize events and programs for the people who work there. You can take advantage of such initiatives and give a boost to your career, especially if you are back to work after a break. When you work from home, you miss out on such possibilities.

Also Read: How to be Productive When You Have to Work From Home

4. You get proper space for professional meetings

Women entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and freelancers need a professional environment and space to make headways in their careers. Despite the policies and measures to promote gender equality, men still dominate India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Coworking spaces can solve many problems faced by women entrepreneurs at workspace. However, many women are forced to give up such a space due to pressures from society, industry, and family. Shared offices bridge this gap quite effectively. Whether you consider a coworking space in Gurgaon or London or in any part of the world, one of the reasons for their rising popularity is the professional environment they offer. Consider that you work from home and are required to have meetings with business clients regularly. A coffee shop or your home may not be the ideal place for meetings. But if you rent a seat in a coworking space, you can easily get on with your meetings in a professional environment.

5. Women discover new business opportunities

Shared offices are places where a lot of business opportunities are generated for women. Imagine that you work out of a coworking space for freelancers. You will be able to meet other co-workers who can provide you with links or referrals that you won’t have if you work from home. The feeling of belonging to a community works a lot in such places. Each individual will be trying to fulfill their work ambitions. At the same time, they won’t be inclined to compete among themselves as each one will be paving their own paths of success. This feeling of solidarity is hard to come across even in traditional offices where the sense of competition is much more pronounced.

The way ahead

It is estimated that the number of global coworking members will reach 3.8 million by 2020. As of 2017, this number stood at 1.74 million. These statistics are an indication that coworking spaces are becoming the workplace of choice. The increase in the number of coworking spaces for women across the world is another pointer to the fact that women find it advantageous to work in these flexible workplaces. If you too want to bring a transition to your work life by joining a coworking space, check out TheOfficePass.com. Apart from offering a host of facilities and services, it is a great platform where you can connect with different companies and professionals.

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