Traditional Office vs Coworking Spaces
Unbiased guide with pros and cons of traditional office and coworking space.
Guide to help you which one is best for you.
Which office setup is feasible for you?
Cost Comparison Between a Traditional and a Coworking Office
| Pointers | Traditional Office (4 Seater) | Coworking Office (4 Seater) |
|---|---|---|
| Office Boy | Rs.10,000 | No Extra Cost |
| Sanitation | Rs.2,500 (initial cost) and Rs.1,000 (per month) | No extra cost |
| Security | 2 CCTV cameras (Rs.2498) | No extra cost |
| Furniture | Rs.31,880 | No extra cost |
| Coffee/Tea | Rs. 250 | No extra cost |
| Rent | Rs.17,500 (250 sq. feet) | No extra cost |
| Wi-Fi | Broadband plan- Dongle cost (Rs.1,500) and monthly recharge (Rs.999) Leased line plan- Installation charges (Rs.10,000) and monthly recharge (Rs.12,000) | No extra cost |
| Cooler and fans | Rs.13,000 | No extra cost |
| Air conditioner | Rs. 22,999 | No extra cost |
| Electricity bill | Coolers and fans (Rs.3,500), AC and fans (Rs.6,500) | No extra cost |
| Printer and sheets | Rs.3,240 | No extra cost |
| Attendance equipment | Rs. 2,999 | No extra cost |
| Water cooler | Rs.8,880 and water bottles (Rs.240/month) | No extra cost |
| Microwave | Rs.3,299 | No extra cost |
| Maintenance | Rs.500 | No extra cost |
| Initial cost | Rs.1,23,286 (without AC) and Rs.1,49,285 (with AC) | No extra cost |
| Monthly cost | Rs.34,430 (without AC) and Rs.37,430 (with AC) | * Starting from Rs.26,000 plus taxes (with or without AC). |
* The cost of all the above mentioned facilities is included in the membership fees (Starting from Rs.26,000 plus taxes).
Is this the end of traditional office?
Present Scenario
A perfect workspace is a myth. Every workspace has its pros and cons. While some may give you benefits of networking, they may not offer you a quiet environment to focus. While, private offices may give you a quiet environment, but that compromises your ability to develop contacts to grow your business.
Two popular kinds of workspaces today are traditional offices and coworking spaces. We all are familiar with traditional offices. Such offices offer a fixed work schedule along with no creativity or motivation to improve your productivity. Coworking offices, on the other hand, give you a place that is open to other working tenants in the same office.
Earlier, traditional offices were a huge hit but today, the office setup world is ruled by coworking spaces. Don’t believe what I say? Here are a few facts to back me up. A large number of coworking spaces have opened worldwide. According to a Global Coworking Survey 2017, from 1800 cowork spaces in 2012, the numbers of coworking spaces have increased to 14,000 in 2017.
Indian market has also seen a boom in coworking spaces. According to Anshuman Magazine, chairman, India and Southeast Asia, CBRE, “Over the past 2 years, India’s office market has witnessed robust activity across key cities. Apart from high annual absorption figures, the segment has made big strides in adopting global formats and in adjusting to new concepts.The advent of co-working spaces is being called the next wave of disruption in an office segment. It is gaining prominence in the country prompted by rapid urbanization, rising office rents and lack of quality ready-to-move-in supply. During 2016, demand for such spaces tripled as compared to 2014. Leasing of co-working spaces is expected to cross 1.5 million sq. ft in 2017 and is expected to touch 10 million. Sq. ft by 2020.
With domestic and international companies focusing their expansion strategies on cost efficiencies, attracting the right talent, optimization of business operations and space utilization, coworking is not only changing the dynamics of office spaces in India, it is also defining corporate culture.
While still at a nascent stage, the benefits that these spaces offer are making them a preferred choice for several companies. With more entities getting into the co-working segment, there could be some short-term impact on demand for traditional office spaces.However, in the long term, India’s office market has the capacity to absorb development of both co-working and traditional offices spaces. We expect both to address their own set of demands.
According to Bisner , the number of coworkers have increased from 43,000 people in 2011 to 2,95,000 people in 2015 to 23,70,000 people (estimated) in 2018.
Guys, to be very honest, I am not trying to convince you to switch to a coworking hub. I am just simply stating the facts. In this post, I will help you choose the one that best suits your needs.
How are they different?
1. Operating Cost
Coworking Spaces
- Many coworking spaces offer memberships plans which already include all the necessary operating costs such as internet, printing etc. They offer many membership plans such as dedicated seat, private cabins and shared spaces.
- You and your team can choose the membership plan according to your convenience.
Traditional offices
- Here the case is different. You as the incharge of your company are liable to arrange and pay all the operating costs plus you need to make sure that they are properly maintained.
- Isn’t it tough? How can you focus on increasing your productivity when you are busy paying your operating costs? Just think about it.
2. Flexibility
Coworking Spaces
- In 1999, Dekoven came up with the concept of coworking, with the idea to provide flexibility to the workers around the world.
- Coworking hubs offers flexible environment to its clients so that they can work according to their convenience. Many coworking hubs provide 24-hour access to its clients.
Traditional offices
- Here the case is different. You as the incharge of your company are liable to arrange and pay all the operating costs plus you need to make sure that they are properly maintained.
- Here the case is different. You as the incharge of your company are liable to arrange and pay all the operating costs plus you need to make sure that they are properly maintained.
3. Facilities
Coworking Spaces
- These spaces offer state of the art facilities such as beverages, meetings rooms, shared receptionist etc. But such facilities can be expensive, isn’t it? There is no need to worry about it.
- These facilities are provided along with any membership plan that you choose for yourself. The costs of such facilities are accommodated in the membership fees only.
Traditional offices
- You as the incharge of your company have to spend a lot of money on such amenities which can be harmful for your business.
- The funds that you have kept for your business expenditure will be spent on such facilities and remember this expenditure will keep on increasing.
4. Quite Spaces
Coworking Spaces
- Coworking spaces understand the need of people who sometimes wants to work in a quiet space.
- To fulfill this need, such spaces offer meeting rooms or isolated areas where you can have a peace of mind and can completely focus on your work. This helps to increase your productivity.
Traditional offices
- Traditional offices are designed to provide jam packed spaces. You will find so many people in one room that you will rarely get a chance to focus on what is more important to you. Why you ask?
- Because of so much noise and distractions. This can be harmful for your productivity.
5. Networking
Coworking Spaces
- Networking & collaboration are one of the most important benefits that a coworking hub offers to its clients. Here you get a chance to meet people from different backgrounds and companies.
- This setup organizes various events and seminars which gives you a chance to increase your networking opportunities by interacting with investors and other startups.
Traditional offices
- Are you a person who gets bored by looking at same faces everyday? If yes, then this office setup is clearly not for you.
- Here you won’t get a chance to meet new people everyday neither you will get an opportunity to collaborate some someone. Sounds boring, isn’t it?
6. Resources
Coworking Spaces
- These spaces promote sharing of resources. Every coworking space has a common motto which is ‘sharing is caring’. Every coworker needs to follow that.
Traditional offices
- These offices follow a different path. If you need something, you personally need to invest in that. No one is motivated to share resources with each other.
7. Contract
Coworking Spaces
- You as a coworker can switch between different membership plans according to your business needs.
- Doesn’t matter if you just started with a dedicated seat plan 20 days back. If you are not comfortable with it, you have flexibility to switch to a different one.
Traditional offices
- Traditional offices offer rigid contracts. Once you choose this office, you are bound to fulfill long term contracts that can easily stretch for 2-3 years. This office setup lacks flexibility.
- Even if you are not happy with the increasing rents or security deposits, you have no other option but to fulfill your contract term.
8. Office design
Coworking Spaces
- Coworking spaces are designed to be creative. Yes, you read that right. With creative designs on the walls, access to nature, proper scents and what not. I can keep going further and further. Such creativity helps to increase the productivity of a person.
Traditional offices
- Traditional offices are just the opposite of coworking spaces. With poorly designed walls, poor scents and what not. Such monotony reduces the productivity of a person.
What is my opinion?
If I have to choose between traditional or coworking spaces then, I will definitely go for coworking. Don’t get me wrong. Traditional offices have played an important part in the business history but like all the good things in life , it had to end sometime. Now is the time for coworking. For all you traditional office supporters, consider coworking as an innovative and a modern type of traditional office.
We are certain that you liked our little comparison guide between coworking spaces and traditional offices. Hope you make the best choice.
If you are looking for a coworking space in East Delhi, make sure to visit our hub. We will be glad to help you out.
Address- 12, First floor, Hargobind Enclave, Karkardooma, New Delhi, Delhi-110092.
Happy hustling!