Co-working is a relatively new concept amongst freelance Virtual Assistants.
When one typically thinks of freelancing, you might picture a lonely writer or graphic design artist busily working in front the computer, doing it all on their own.
However, many freelancers are now turning to the benefits of co-working to increase the profit and success of their business ventures.
If you've been debating about whether co-working is right for you or whether you should continue to go it alone, here's a little guide to help you in the decision process.
The Benefits of Co-working with Freelancers As previously mentioned, co-working is a great way to fend off loneliness while you work.
A fair number of individuals who are new to freelancing find that the busy office or store that they were used to has been replaced by an empty room in their home, and this is remedied quite quickly by choosing to co-work with other freelance Virtual Assistants, either at home or in a shared office environment.
This fact also leads to another great aspect of co-working, given that you can get yourself out of the house for a while each day to work at this shared office space.
Having things to do around the house or bills staring you in the face while you're working at home can be unnerving and limit your productivity.
But, if you are sharing the cost of a work area with others, then you will be free to work without distraction.
In addition, you'll gain the benefit of whatever skills the other freelancers whom you are co-working with have in their knowledge base.
For instance, if you are a writer who doesn't know the first thing about designing a website, why not have the web designer on your co-working freelance team help you make one to show off your books or articles.
This is a great way to avoid having to pay someone else money that you may not have, and, in turn, you can help them with anything they might need assistance with in the future.
It's a mutually beneficial situation.
The Drawbacks of Co-working with Freelancers There are a few drawbacks to co-working with freelancers, one of them being that you may not be compatible with the other members of your freelance team.
It's a given that some personalities simply don't mesh, and you may find that is the case with one or two of the freelancers you are co-working with.
Maybe it's the a bad habit of theirs that irritates you, or the fact that they invite people over to your shared work space without asking you first.
Whatever the case is, conflicting characters is definitely a cause for concern when co-working.
Also, the shared responsibilities of the shared office space may prove to be an issue between you and your team.
What if one of you has trouble coming up with the rent each month, or seems to always be late on paying their portion of the electric bill? If you're going it alone in your freelance venture, then you are only accountable for yourself.
However, if you are co-working with others, their financial woes can also, potentially, become yours.
Overall, co-working can be very beneficial to freelance Virtual Assistants, if you find the right people for your freelancing team and iron out all of the kinks before you join forces.
Remember to set some ground rules, like how you are going to utilize your shared workspace and when it's alright to have visitors, so that you won't disturb the work of the other freelancers.
Whether you're choosing a more solitary path or one that involves a group of freelancers...
good luck and enjoy all that the exciting world of freelancing has to offer!
When one typically thinks of freelancing, you might picture a lonely writer or graphic design artist busily working in front the computer, doing it all on their own.
However, many freelancers are now turning to the benefits of co-working to increase the profit and success of their business ventures.
If you've been debating about whether co-working is right for you or whether you should continue to go it alone, here's a little guide to help you in the decision process.
The Benefits of Co-working with Freelancers As previously mentioned, co-working is a great way to fend off loneliness while you work.
A fair number of individuals who are new to freelancing find that the busy office or store that they were used to has been replaced by an empty room in their home, and this is remedied quite quickly by choosing to co-work with other freelance Virtual Assistants, either at home or in a shared office environment.
This fact also leads to another great aspect of co-working, given that you can get yourself out of the house for a while each day to work at this shared office space.
Having things to do around the house or bills staring you in the face while you're working at home can be unnerving and limit your productivity.
But, if you are sharing the cost of a work area with others, then you will be free to work without distraction.
In addition, you'll gain the benefit of whatever skills the other freelancers whom you are co-working with have in their knowledge base.
For instance, if you are a writer who doesn't know the first thing about designing a website, why not have the web designer on your co-working freelance team help you make one to show off your books or articles.
This is a great way to avoid having to pay someone else money that you may not have, and, in turn, you can help them with anything they might need assistance with in the future.
It's a mutually beneficial situation.
The Drawbacks of Co-working with Freelancers There are a few drawbacks to co-working with freelancers, one of them being that you may not be compatible with the other members of your freelance team.
It's a given that some personalities simply don't mesh, and you may find that is the case with one or two of the freelancers you are co-working with.
Maybe it's the a bad habit of theirs that irritates you, or the fact that they invite people over to your shared work space without asking you first.
Whatever the case is, conflicting characters is definitely a cause for concern when co-working.
Also, the shared responsibilities of the shared office space may prove to be an issue between you and your team.
What if one of you has trouble coming up with the rent each month, or seems to always be late on paying their portion of the electric bill? If you're going it alone in your freelance venture, then you are only accountable for yourself.
However, if you are co-working with others, their financial woes can also, potentially, become yours.
Overall, co-working can be very beneficial to freelance Virtual Assistants, if you find the right people for your freelancing team and iron out all of the kinks before you join forces.
Remember to set some ground rules, like how you are going to utilize your shared workspace and when it's alright to have visitors, so that you won't disturb the work of the other freelancers.
Whether you're choosing a more solitary path or one that involves a group of freelancers...
good luck and enjoy all that the exciting world of freelancing has to offer!