Frequently Asked Questions

What is it like to share an office or rent a desk?

There are a lot of potential benefits to sharing an office or renting a desk, such as great conversation, meeting interesting people, a fresh new environment, leaving the cafe/home distractions behind, the potential to share or pass work with those you're sharing a space with and it's great for travellers. We'll be exploring the experience in more detail in our blog. The different types of offices can also influence the experience:

  • Single company office: where a company uses most of the space with a few spare desks for other people to join them.
  • Shared office: where a group of companies have come together to share a space. The group can sometimes include many of the same companies, such as for internet startups. Or the group can be multidisciplinary in the case of many shared creative offices that might include designers, architects, marketers etc.
  • Dedicated co-working space: means that a 'host' has set up the space specifically to bring together different co-workers. There is usually a friendly 'host' or receptionist to help you set up and help you with any issues you have.
  • Home office: where someone who works from home opens up their space to visitors. This can be a great way to meet people who work from your area. For those renting part of a home office, it can offer more options to work close to your own home in a comfortable atmosphere.
  • Pop up space: This is a great way to make use of a space that is only available for a short time. Gather friends and work together from a space for a short period. Or become a roving entrepreneur who finds incredible spaces and creates dedicated spaces to work from.

Like finding a home of any kind it is good to try out a few different options to find out what best suits you.

If you feel uncertain about trying it out, buddy up with a friend and try it together. Otherwise if you're in Sydney, email us at hello[at]co-loco.com to find out where we'll be working from, we'll be happy to show you the ropes. And if you're a seasoned desk renter or office sharer and would like to offer to pair with someone new for a day, email us at hello[at]co-loco.com

What about privacy and security?

Sharing work space isn't for everyone.
If are looking to share a space with a host company or companies, and your work requires a high level of security and privacy then you may want to look at the private offices offered.
If you are looking to hire out a space and privacy and security is an issue for the work you do, carefully consider the consequences of a breach of security.

What about noise?

You can check the expected noise level at an office in its listing. If you make a lot of calls as part of your work, it is generally recommended that you look for a space that is ok with that level of sound, or you look into the private office options in a space. And as in any work space, headphones can be good to have on hand.

What happens once I list my space?

People interested in sharing your office or renting a desk will contact you through our moderated internal messaging system which protects your privacy. Make sure to find out about the people seeking to share your work space and be selective.

Is this suitable for me?

Renting a desk or sharing an office appeals to a lot of freelancers, creatives, professionals, entrepreneurs and marketers. It's a way to avoid isolation and the distractions of working from home. There are also often positive effects on productivity. Many enjoy meeting and talking with new people, finding people to collaborate with or pass work between and working from a location that is convenient. Others that use shared offices or rent a desk include:

  • People or project teams who want to share an office with people from other industries in order to organically cross-pollinate ideas and methods.
  • Employees who occasionally need a separate area to avoid general office distractions at their own place of work.
  • People who are able to come to a flexible work agreement with their employer for reasons such as reducing their commute time.

If you have any further questions, please let us know hello[at]co-loco.com or find us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.