You finally made the decision to compromise between working independently and committing to a lease by working at a coworking space. However, there are a lot of coworking space options and as a result, finding the right one can become complicated. Here are some things to consider when looking for a workspace:

AMBIENCE

This refers to the character and atmosphere of the space. What do you feel when you walk into the space? What’s your first impression? Does it feel welcoming? Or is it stiff and impersonal? Does the space feel like a place you’d want to spend your time? Is the space buzzing with energy or kind of flat? Would you have your preferred space play music in the background, have white noise, be extremely quiet or buzz with activity. If you struggle to focus with noise around you, or if quiet makes you uncomfortable, make sure the sound of the space will work for you. You’re going to spend a lot of hours here, so look beyond the surface details of the space and ask yourself if it’s a place you could see becoming your home away from home.

COMMUNITY

Does the vibe of the space suit you? Is there a diverse group of people? Are people impersonal and aloof or are they connecting, chatting and collaborating?

EVENTS

In the interest of supporting and growing their communities, many coworking spaces feature events, including happy hours, workshops, presentations, networking events, art openings and more. Take a look at the offerings and see if they speak to your interests, needs and skills you’d like to develop. You don’t have to go to all of them, but you should be able to tell from the schedule if the events generally held in the space are a good fit for you.

SEATING/ SPACE CHOICES

The best coworking spaces have a variety of seating options to accommodate different preferences and needs. If you like working at a community table, an individual desk and/or a standing desk, make sure the space has options that work for you.

MEETING ROOMS

Do you need a place to meet clients or make video calls? If so, make sure the space offers easy (and affordable) access to meeting rooms. In some spaces, you get a handful of free meeting room hours each month with your membership.

COMMUNITY CURATOR

Is there someone in the space making sure everything runs smoothly, answering questions, introducing new people to members, actively engaging the space, dealing with issues and connecting people? They may be called a community curator or manager or any number of other titles, but having someone there whose priority is cultivating community can make a difference.

LOCATION

Is the space near things that are important to you: a central business district, transit lines, good restaurants? Everyone’s needs are different—make sure the location works for you and your needs.

WIFI

While you can do analog work while coworking, having fast and reliable WiFi is one of the absolute essentials in a coworking space. Not only is it frustrating to have spotty WiFi when you’re working online, it’s impossible to stream or have video calls of any kind. You can ask the curators how their WiFi is (or run a quick speed test of your own), but, better yet, ask one of the members coworking there. You’ll get an honest perspective on the reliability of the service.

Regardless of the coworking space, it will take you some time to find your place, connect with people and get familiar with everything. But if a space suits, not just who you are, but who you want to become, you may have found your new home space.