Working in a Coworking space

Coworking

I've been part of the coworking lifestyle for about 6 months now, and I've developed a good sense of how working in a coworking space has benefited me. I've been able to have a flexible work schedule, and it has honestly improved my overall outlook on going to work and my normal life.

A problem I faced while working a normal 9-5 was that I'm a single parent. And without the means to afford after-school pickup and care on one income. I couldn't fit into the schedule that the company wanted. This happened a multitude of times. After getting to the point of mental breakdown, I decided to learn about website development and made that my new source of income. After a few months of doing that, I realized that being home allowed me too much freedom. I was too easily distracted by home projects and entertainment. So after some research, I found out about coworking spaces and looked into the one closest to me.

Flywheel

Flywheel is a coworking space that I located here in Winston-Salem. They have other locations and are very affordable. They have a full kitchen, unlimited coffee (a must for me), beer on tap (free for members), meeting rooms, phone booths for private calls, and video calls. Everything else is laid out plainly, not in a bad way, but straightforward. There are first-come, first-served desk spaces, reserved desk spaces, and office spaces. They also offer a free trial coworking day, which allows you to test out the space to see if you like it. I'll get into pricing later in my post.

The view is probably my favorite part; you get a great view of the mountains in the distance and the city in the area. The chairs are comfortable, and the desk sizes easily accommodate two-monitor setups. The phone booths have a mounted wall desk to bring your laptop for any Zoom calls. The staff is helpful and willing to help you with whatever you need.

Now there are, of course, a few negatives, nothing major or deal-breaking, and honestly, only two in my opinion. One is that the view is great, but the open windows do present glare on your monitors if they don't have anti-glare. Which is a quick fix with some shades, nothing too crazy. And there are some areas where, due to the floor being smooth concrete, the chairs roll away from the desks; a space rug can fix this issue as well, so again, not a major problem.

Community Day

Community Day is offered once a month. It allows non-members a chance to test out the space. Also, local businesses can come and give presentations. Lunch is provided, and it's an overall good time. It's a great chance to network and meet others in the community. I recommend everyone try it at least once.

Community Day is usually on the last Wednesday of the month unless there is a holiday that interferes with that schedule, and is usually rescheduled for earlier in the month.

Pricing

Pricing is actually very affordable for those who don't need a space full-time or those who just need a dedicated working environment. Members have the ability to use other Flywheel locations and affiliates if traveling. Check with the staff for lists of available locations.

• Day passes are $25.00 and allow you access to all of the amenities the space offers, with small limits on how much you can print and the time for meeting rooms.
  
• Community 10-day passes are $140.00 + $25.00 member fee. This membership grants you 10 days throughout the month that you can use the space from 8 am to 5 pm.
  
• Unreserved Desk membership $275 + $50 member fee. This gives you access to free parking included, and everything offered, with the addition of 24/7 access to the building and amenities. I actually started here when I started using the space.
  
• Reserved Desk membership $375 +$50 member fee. This grants you a dedicated desk that you can set up and not have to worry about hauling an additional monitor if needed or picking a seat. As well as all the same benefits as the unreserved membership. This is my current membership tier.

There are additional things you can add to your membership, such as a mailbox and locker.

Conclusion

I think those who need a dedicated space for remote work, freelancing, or a start-up. This is a great option for the low cost and flexibility. I would recommend it and Flywheel as well to anyone who has the ability to locate one now. Pricing may change by location, and these are the current prices for my location.