• 17 Feb

    As we all know, we are experiencing one of the worst economic times in years. Some say, in generations. And microbusinesses—a term referring to firms with fewer than five employees—are being hit with unmerciful force.

    In the current climate, we have record numbers of small businesses on the brink of folding. Workers who feel they have no job security and so less to lose by starting their own business. And an unusually high percentage of unemployed professionals creating start-ups. What used to be risky is now a necessity.

    And these small business owners are asking themselves:

    • How can I cut costs?
    • How can I make money?
    • How can I feel professional when I work in my pajamas at home?

    Can communal work spaces like OpenSpace help businesses survive? Can coworking actually help businesses thrive? We believe they can.

    Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of OpenSpace:

    • Affordable Work Space. There are no steep office leases to sign. You don’t need that lump of capital to rent space.
    • Accountability. You are surrounded by other professionals who are thinking, working, creating. This isn’t an atmosphere for procrastination. There are no pajama wearers here.
    • Networking Opportunities. Gathered together are potential clients, mentors, collaborators. A brainstorming arena if you will.
    • Access to Essential Technology. Wi-Fi is high-speed, AV needs are covered, meetings run smoothly. This is no make-shift office where the microwave is the most advanced equipment in the room.
    • Community. Here you find support, encouragement, and connection. You are not alone. You are not isolated.

    So whether you are a business team of 1 or 5, OpenSpace offers benefits you cannot find at the café, at home, at a remote windowless office. Check out our new Team Plans. We created these pricing plans with your bottom line in mind.

    To read about small business/coworking success stories:
    The Washington Post, Monday February 1, 2010
    Affinity Lab in D.C. offers small and new businesses room to grow

    Comments: 0

  • 24 Jan

    More and more people are choosing to work away from the traditional office. Today’s technology makes this easier by allowing us to stay fully connected almost anywhere we roam.

    This new breed of worker has been lingoed: a “nomad”, the “mobile worker”, or “worker in limbo”.  The word on the street is that about 23% of the U.S. do their jobs outside of the office and this number is on the rise.

    So as people work outside the box, moving around in the real world, they find the freedom exhilarating and motivating. But they also find that working alone can be lonely. We are social creatures after all. Being connected to the Internet does not replace being connected to other human beings.

    That’s where places like OpenSpace come in. We offer the connection, the buzz, the synergy. The atmosphere needed to work independently and a feeling of belonging to a community.

    These “coworking centers” or “limbo pit-stops”, or “creative work environments” are popping up in cities across the nation. They are all a different flavor, depending on the needs and philosophies of the locals. There is Office Nomads in Seattle, Beehive Baltimore in Maryland, BLANKSPACES in L.A., Sandbox Suites in San Francisco, and New Work City in Manhattan–to name a few.

    And the media is getting caught up on the buzz.

    NPR ran the story Co-Working Offers Community To Solo Workers on January 6, 2010.

    CNN ran the story Working in ‘Wi-Fi’ limbo on January 22, 2010.

    If you’re in the Charlottesville area and you haven’t stopped by OpenSpace for a tour, please do. Our staff are kindly, our members are eclectic, and our coffee is hot.

    Comments: 1

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