Is coworking your next uplevel? WeWorkers and coworking-space founders weigh in.

Working from coworking spaces can pay dividends in the form of higher productivity, better product, more connections, and better mental health. It's also expensive and, according to the news, a pretty terrible business model.

I caught up with WeWorkers and other indie hackers who either run or attend coworking spaces to find out if coworking is really the indie hacking uplevel people say it is. 👇

Why coworking is your next uplevel

Alex Hillman of Indy Hall (founder of a coworking space):

I think the #1 benefit of coworking at this point is not networking or productivity (though both are possible and very powerful).

I think the #1 benefit of coworking is as a mental health tool. Isolation and loneliness are quiet killers, and folks don't even realize how bad it is until it's too late. Having a place where you can go as a part of your routine where there are some familiar and trusted faces, as well as the serendipity of conversations that aren't meetings, is a total game changer.

[Other than that] some people find coworking is better for their productivity. Others find it less productive, but good for creativity. Others find it valuable just for the change of pace and more like a "battery recharge".

Charlie Ward of Ramen Club (founder of a coworking space):

Assuming you can currently afford it, and have access to a quality space of like-minded folks, [coworking is right for]:

• people who don't have a productive work setup
• people who feel their current work setup deprives them of in-person connection
• people who want to connect with and learn from people with complementary skill sets and experiences

A good coworking space is not just the physical building, it's the community you join. The right community can change your life. You can meet lifelong friends, collaborators or co-founders, learn from people with complementary skills or experiences, and just make your journey far more fun.

Lydia Stepanek of TooPhishy (a coworker):

As someone who used to work from home most of the time, splurging on a coworking space has been a game changer. Having a separation of home and work keeps me more motivated because I get time to relax every day when I’m in my “home” space.

Amogh Sarda of Eesel (a coworker):

Working with a distributed team can mean I don't get to enjoy as many 'in-person office hangs' and being at WeWork is kind of a substitute for that. I get to hang out with other founders, friends, and so on. It's really fun just learning from what others are up to or just having a beer.

And I'd definitely say it [translates to a more successful product]. It helps to be outside your own head, in a different location (AKA an actual workstation and office), where you also sometimes get opinions and ideas from other founders and friends.

@tinycode of Arno (a coworker):

I've used two coworking spaces so far. One of them has a lunch event once a week where everyone is invited to lunch. It provides a great opportunity to get to know what other people are working on, and from there, it is much easier to create personal relationships.

@Indie124 (a coworker):

I've worked in coworking spaces for years (still do), and the type of space matters hugely... Where I am now feels like home to me, I know the people very well, there are joint breakfasts and some events. It gives me the social surroundings that I don't have working by myself.

Why coworking isn't worth the money

Charlie Ward of Ramen Club (founder of a coworking space):

If this is out of your budget, or you're more introverted (being around people drains your energy), then you may prefer to either work by yourself, or join an online community instead, which requires less social energy.

Tom Hirst, author of Pricing Freelance Projects (not a coworker):

14 years of remote work. Never been to a "coworking" space...

Especially with kids, being at home is the biggest unlock of remote work. Source

Drew Thomas of Work and Whistle (not a coworker):

Half the point for me is to actually be at home.

Going to a coworking space = going to an office (IMO). Source

@Indie124 (a coworker):

A coworking space might not be the best place if you are going to make lots of phone calls, unless they have booths or breakout areas that you can use.

Gil Gildner of Discosloth (not a coworker):

I've tried dozens of different coworking spaces, all around the world. I've come to the conclusion that although they may be good for some people, they're not good for me.

I simply don't enjoy coworking spaces and I came to the realization there was no reason for me to be spending hundreds of dollars a month...

Coworking, to me, hasn't been very social. It's usually full of people trying to hawk their own tools and network for the sake of selling some SaaS or their dev services, rather than just being friendly, which is why I've gone the cafe route.

How to choose the right spot

Alex Hillman of Indy Hall (founder of a coworking space):

Check out their website and social media. Look for photos of people instead of empty spaces.

Look for any events they have coming up and attend. Talk to folks who work there, both staff and members.

Ask if they have a trial day, either free or paid. Try it for a day. Put yourself in common areas rather than hiding in a corner.

In all cases, the thing I suggest folks look for is whether folks actually talk to each other. Look for signs of life, creativity, and most of all, member contributions.

Charlie Ward of Ramen Club (founder of a coworking space):

You need to shop around a bit to find what's right for you. I'd advise trying to find a community of founders, ideally bootstrapped. In London, Hubble is good for finding them. Ramen Club is of course a great option for indie founders.

Look for spaces that you can afford, are convenient to get to, and have a good vibe (comfortable to work in etc). But most importantly, [the space should focus] on building a community of like-minded people as their mission. Join something like this, and you can't go wrong.

In terms of WeWork - it's good in terms of the number of locations, 24/7 access, and amazing facilities, but there isn't a strong community there anymore, especially for indie founders. It's mostly funded startups and large corporates. Smaller spaces are usually better for building meaningful connections.

How to get more bang for your buck

Alex Hillman of Indy Hall (founder of a coworking space):

Make time in your schedule to hang out in common areas, near the coffee, etc. Change where you sit. Go to events and other activities the space has planned. Ask other members what their tips are.

Most of all, find ways to contribute! Offer help to other members, the coworking staff, etc. Becoming known as a helpful community member is one of the most reliable ways to improve your experience.

Charlie Ward of Ramen Club (founder of a coworking space):

Be proactive in getting involved. Help people who need it, ask for help yourself, grab coffee with people, and be genuinely interested in what they're doing. You generally get out of a community what you put into it.

@tinycode of Arno (a coworker):

Team lunch once a week was a great balance between socializing and still being able to focus on what you are doing. Also, happy hour events also help in my opinion.

Michel of HostingCafe (a coworker):

I mostly hate events in a coworking space TBH, and I usually start getting to know people gradually - by normal conversation during the day, not events.

Amogh Sarda of Eesel (a coworker):
I mostly just get in, head to a desk, and work. You end up grabbing lunch with people around you and that's enough to get the value out of it.

IRL vs digital (and other alternatives)

Alex Hillman of Indy Hall (founder of a coworking space):

Digital coworking requires more planning in order for you to have other people around, but can definitely help with productivity. Body doubling in particular is scientifically proven, and is especially valuable for people with ADHD!

IRL coworking gives you a lot of things for "free" that online doesn't - mainly because it's so hard to create serendipity online.

Charlie Ward of Ramen Club (founder of a coworking space):

Like most digital vs IRL experiences, they have their tradeoffs. Digital coworking is more accessible (anywhere with an internet connection), cheaper, more scalable but less meaningful. IRL coworking is more expensive, less scalable, less accessible, but for most people, more engaging and meaningful.

Some communities accommodate both for different types of members.

Amogh Sarda of Eesel (a coworker):

There's no full substitute for IRL. I think it's just fun, and I get 'digital' coworking with my real colleagues anyway.

Ashley Fairbanks (not a coworker):

Found a rad new coworking spot called the public library, very cool, super affordable. Source

Gil Gildner of Discosloth (not a coworker):

My favorite out-of-home work environment is a coffee shop... But it's very different. For a $5 coffee every few hours, I can pick the place which has the right vibe, the right white noise, the right sort of table, and usually I can get quite a bit done in an afternoon of focused work. Everything else happens at home (calls, more relaxed work, etc).

Are coworking spaces here to stay?

Alex Hillman of Indy Hall (founder of a coworking space):

The remote work and solopreneur populations have exploded... I'm not sure that WeWork should be a proxy for anything other than WeWork and most of the other corporate coworking options.

While they're often "known" as being for entrepreneurs, their business model has relied heavily on corporate customers outsourcing their office needs. Companies were already used to spending money on a "place" for their employees, and with WeWork and the like, it was also a fashion accessory of sorts that sent the message of "we're hip and cool." But it was pretty common for those spaces to be largely underutilized.

WeWork and others have long used the language of "community" but don't really know how to deliver it. This is where local and independent coworking spaces can shine.

Charlie Ward of Ramen Club (founder of a coworking space):

Lots of spaces did not survive COVID, and even the ones that did have struggled since. The expensive leases they've been paying to commercial landlords for years haven't gone anywhere, but memberships have simultaneously dwindled due to higher interest rates and the knock-on effects: freelancers and small businesses have simply had less money to spend. Plus larger companies occupying large spaces like WeWork have started moving out, as so many more employees work from home.

While the economy is like it is, for spaces that have high costs and no differentiation, I think this will continue. But I think we'll also start seeing a proliferation of scrappy, community-driven coworking.

People crave in-person connection right now - and niche, highly engaged online communities have a great opportunity to snap up bargain commercial deals, or negotiate clever partnerships, and go from URL to IRL.

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