6 pros and cons of joining a co-working space

6 pros and cons of joining a co-working space6 pros and cons of joining a co-working spaceIf youre afull-time freelancer, budgeting for taxes andsaving for retirementarent the only things you have to worry about. You also probably have to buy your own health insurance, plan around missed income for time off and, of course, force yourself tostay productiveduring the day. Self-employed bosses who crave office interaction often turn toco-working spacesto satisfy this need, but there are pluses and minuses to replicating an office environment by renting a desk. Weve collected the biggest pros and cons youll want to consider.Pros1. NetworkingIf you decide to invest in a co-working spot, be sure to bring along your business cards, because working from a spot thats packed with other freelancers and entrepreneurs can be great for building connections. Not only will you have the opportunity to make new friends, but more importantly youll also expand your professionalnetwork. If youre a writer , there may be a graphic designer at the desk next to yours who can whip up graphics for a killer website if youre a web designer, you could meet an editor who can ensure your sites verbiage is fit to impress.2. Meeting SpaceIf your business includes meeting regularly with clients, a co-working space could practically be a necessity. Most spots arebeautifully styledand convey a professional ambiance And theres a certain suggestion of professional success thats communicated by taking meetings somewhere more upscale than your living room.3. ProductivityMany freelancers struggle with stayingproductivewhen they work from home. Its not surprising - with no one looking over your shoulder, itswaytoo easy to scroll through your Instagram feed for a lot longer than you planned. And taking a nap is SO tempting when your bed is right there looking all warm n comfy. Getting yourself out of the house and into an office where everyone else is working could be just the push you need to keep you f ocused.Cons1. CostWorking at home is essentially free (and can even get you a tax credit if youre careful about blocking out a work-exclusive space), while reserving a spot at a co-working space is like tacking a second rent line onto your monthly budget. Prices will vary by location, buteven unassigned hot desks in prime locationscan start at $300 per month, with fancier options such as reserved, dedicated workspaces topping $700 per month in cities like New York where space is at a premium. Considering that coffee shops are also free (minus the cost of your lattes), shelling out for a co-working space may look less than attractive, especially when youre still in the startup phase.2. Dedicated Desk AvailabilityAll co-working spaces are different, but most offer at least a couple of different pricing plans. One option will simply include hot-desk access to the office, where you plunk down for the day wherever you can find an open spot, while another, pricier plan will include reserv ing a dedicated desk for only you to use. If you dont splurge on the latter, you wont have a desk of your own, which means youll have to cart all your materials to and from the space every day and wont have any predictability about whom youre working near.3. CommuteAlthough you may be more productive at a co-working space, its worth noting that youll have to *get* there. Unless youre lucky enough to find an office spot right down the street, this can take a sizable chunk of time out of your day. It will also increase your transportation spending - and since youre going to and from a regular workspace, unlike business travel, your commuting costs wont be tax-deductible.Thisarticle first appeared on Brit + Co.