
Shared office centers are known for their ability to bring together professionals from different backgrounds and businesses, some of which have been around a few weeks and others that have been in business for several decades.

Shared office centers are known for their ability to bring together professionals from different backgrounds and businesses, some of which have been around a few weeks and others that have been in business for several decades.

As the number of startup incubators and accelerators has continued to climb, so, too, has demand for flexible workspaces that cater to early-stage companies with big ideas and small budgets. For many, a shared office is a logical “next step” after graduating from an incubator environment, allowing them to enjoy many of the same benefits – state-of-the-art amenities, networking opportunities and a downtown address – at a price they can afford.
Yet startups account for only a portion of shared office users, with everyone from freelancers to national and international companies utilizing these spaces to reduce overhead while growing their respective businesses.

It’s estimated that the average worker spends about 90,000 hours on the job. That’s a long time, especially if you’re stuck in an office environment that isn’t enjoyable or conducive to your day-to-day activities.

A recently released survey commissioned by the American Psychological Association found that six in 10 U.S. adults consider work to be a very or somewhat significant source of stress in their life. And for entrepreneurs, who often find themselves working longer hours for less pay, anxiety levels can be even higher, taking a toll on their business and, more importantly, their health.
While a person’s work environment can have negative effects on their mental and physical well-being – open-plan offices have been criticized for facilitating the spread of workplace illnesses – some offices also come with special services and amenities designed to help workers lead happier, healthier, and more productive lives. And it’s not just employees of Fortune 500 companies who have access to them. Thanks to the growing popularity of coworking spaces and other alternative office environments, these health-related perks have become accessible to freelancers and other self-employed individuals, including those who previously worked from home because they could not afford to lease a space of their own.

Shared offices come with a variety of perks – a full suite of amenities, on-site support staff and a central location, to name a few – but one of the biggest benefits isn’t something you’ll find on a center’s list of provided services.
By bringing together individuals from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines, collaborative offices provide business owners with a unique, one-of-a-kind professional network that’s difficult, if not impossible, to replicate in a typical office environment. It was this camaraderie that struck a chord with James Lenger, founder of Chicago-based Guitar Cities, which provides music lessons to students of all ages and skill levels.

The bottom line. These three little words mean everything to the success of your business. Once you subtract all of the expenses and costs of operating a business from its revenue, you are left with the bottom line, aka pure profit.
Many business owners and entrepreneurs are finding success raising their bottom line by using cost-efficient shared office spaces. But how exactly does a shared office space help raise your bottom line?