Definitive Guide to Coworking Space Lifestyle in the Philippines

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Much has changed in the way people work today. Officevibe’s State of Coworking in 2015 projects that about 40% of the workforce in the entire world will be made up of freelancers, temps, independent contractors and solopreneurs by 2020. A 9-to-5 day in the office is no longer the norm and there has been a huge lifestyle shift when it comes to getting things done, especially for budding entrepreneurs and small business owners.

But when you are working a little differently, the need for a space that will allow one to stay productive is also on the rise. Working from home allows flexibility but can tend to become boring over time and coffee places can become expensive in the long run. Fortunately, co-working spaces have become great alternatives for those who could not afford renting private offices.
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What is a co-working space?

Co-working spaces originated in Europe many years ago and has become an emerging trend in the US. There has also been a huge growth in these types of businesses here in the Philippines due to the fact that more people have switched into working freelance or online instead of being in an office-based job.

Read also: 5 Interesting Co-working Spaces in Metro Manila

While being able to work from home is a huge reason for the switch, many individuals still prefer staying in an office-like environment as it helps them increase their productivity and feel less isolated.
With over 1 million online workers from the Philippines, or about one-eighth of the entire freelancer population using Elance and Odesk, there is definitely a huge need for co-working spaces in the country.
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Why are co-working spaces a great option for freelancers and entrepreneurs?

If you are still not convinced about the benefits that these office-type setups for freelancers and entrepreneurs bring, here are some notable results from the 2^nd Annual Global Coworking Survey:

The number of co-working spaces has nearly doubled each year since 2006 and has more than tripled since 2012.
58% of current co-workers previously worked from home.
84% of co-workers love being able to interact with people and 83% enjoy flexible work times through these spaces.
Members found a positive impact in their social circles (92%) and business networks (80%) and also feel less isolated (86%)

Although the low cost of these rental spaces are not a huge factor according to the survey, one cannot take for granted the cost-effectiveness and benefits that it brings. Most, if not all, of these spaces offer Wi-Fi, small kitchens, conference rooms, faxes and even basic administrative services making it highly beneficial for budding entrepreneurs and solopreneurs.
Let us take a look at some of the advantages that these co-working spaces bring to its members:
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Cost-Effectiveness

Entrepreneurs and freelancers need to save up as much money as they could to help expand their businesses and services in the future. Renting an office space is great but when you have limited financial resources, you would rather want to split the rent. Aside from the flexible monthly and yearly contracts that these spaces have, they also offer office amenities such as Wi-Fi, kitchens, fax machines and printers which can give anyone a headache. Some spaces will even let members focus more on their work by offering basic administrative services such as mail and call handling.
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Networking Opportunity

Working from home very rarely gives you the chance to meet and network with other people. However, if a person would like to grow their business or themselves as a professional, it is important for them to know how important it is to make networks and connections with others, much like in the corporate world. A co-working space allows one to mingle with others from various industries. This helps expand one’s network – who knows a co-working space might just be where you will meet your next client, business partner or investor!
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More Collaboration

In a co-working space, you do not think of others as competition rather a chance for collaboration. Most likely, the people around you will have the same mindset, ideals and values as you do and will be open to working together in order to take both of your businesses into greater heights. After all, when you try to pull each other down, you will most likely end up in the ground. But, if you help each other out, it is guaranteed that both of you will end up successful.
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Increased Productivity

Among the biggest problems that freelancers and people working from home face is boredom, de-motivation and low productivity. When you are surrounded with things that will simply make you want to relax and sleep, finishing tasks will be very difficult. Placing yourself in a professional environment, however, helps ensure that you stay productive and motivated when you have to. When you are surrounded by people who are working hard to achieve their own results, you will surely be dragged along, too.
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How do you choose the right co-working space?

No matter what type of professional you may be – entrepreneur, freelancer, work-from-home – use this coworking space guide to help you choose the best space.
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Reason

Before you even start looking for co-working spaces around your area, ask yourself first: Why do I want to work in such a setup? There are plenty of reasons to choose it over working from home or in a private office. It could be to network, to have the sense of belonging to a community, to have a place to hold meetings, fast WiFi and so on.[divider]

Location

Location is a huge deciding factor in choosing which space to set up camp in. You might want to be able to stay closer with existing and potential clients. Also make sure to check the competition in the area or if there are areas in which you can collaborate with other people. In the Philippines, travel time is a major turn off so finding a space that will not get you stuck in heavy traffic, even if it isn’t rush hour, is extremely ideal.
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Interiors

Image Source: www.mindfuldesignconsulting.com

Most online workers and entrepreneurs are creatives (after all, you need to be able to think outside of the box) so interiors can make or break their co-working decision. Creatives want to be in a place that will inspire them and allow them to reflect and do a lot of creative thinking.
Even if the place does not look very artsy, you would want to make sure that the interiors and furnishings inside the office are enough to allow everyone to work without interruptions.
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Community and Culture

Image Source: www.thecreativefringe.com.au

It is preferable for one to be able to talk with other people in the community to see if they can be a good fit. After all, these people will be with you for most of the day so you need to make sure that you can actually be with them for that length of time. Personalities aside, you would also want to see if the community and the culture will allow you to grow, collaborate and possibly create something entirely new.
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Events and Education

Events are more than just free food and free-flowing coffee. They help entrepreneurs and professionals market and network themselves in order to create collaborations and jumpstart projects. However, you also have to make sure that these events are aligned to your own brand if you want to get the best returns out of it.
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Office Amenities

Many people who work in co-working spaces do so in order to avail of office amenities that are otherwise expensive if they have to acquire it on their own. Among the most important things to consider is the speed of the Wi-Fi connection, fax machine and printers, conference rooms, mail handling and perhaps the availability of basic administrative services. Kitchens with basic utensils and free-flowing coffee are also great to have. Beyond that, it is good to talk to other renters in the space to know what they have to say about the receptionist.
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Pricing and Flexibility

Of course, among the most important things to consider is the affordability of renting these spaces as well as their flexibility options. Before you go on signing with the contract, make sure that the prices fit your budget and your future plans. Will it allow you to get out when you have to? Agreements can be very difficult to get out of so make sure that you know all the details before your sign yourself in – and that you do not have to worry about getting stuck there more than you need to.
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Coworking Space Guide in the Philippines

The co-working space scene in the Philippines is still pretty young and there are not many spaces available yet, considering that there are already 1 million online workers in the country.

Read also: Top Co-working Spaces in Davao, Philippines

If you are thinking about working in such as pace, here is a coworking space guide for you to check out:
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Luzon

47 East

Location: #47 Esteban Abada St., Brgy. Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Operating Hours: 8am to 8pm, Mondays to Fridays; 9am to 6pm, Saturdays
Fees:
Membership Fee of 500 for individuals or 300 each for a group of three
Daily rate of 300 for members or 500 for non-members
Members can join events or receive discounts from various establishments in Metro Manila
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A-Space Manila

Location: 110 Legazpi St., Legazpi Village, Makati
Operating Hours: Open 24 hours
Fees:
Daily rate at 500
Monthly rate at 6000
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Co.Lab Exchange

Co Lab Coworking Space — Image Source: www.colab.ph

Location: 3F Unit 301 #3 Brixton Street, Brgy. Kapitolyo, Pasig City
Operating Hours: 9am to 9pm, Mondays to Fridays
Fees:
Hourly rate of 110 for solo and groups
Daily rate of 550 for individuals or 500 each for a group of three
Monthly rate (20 consecutive work days) of 6,500 for individuals or 6,000 each for a group of three
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Global Hub Serviced Offices

Location: 3F Rufino Pacific Tower, Ayala Avenue, Makati City
Operating Hours: 9am to 8pm, Monday to Friday
Fees: Request for a quote
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Honeycomb Manila

Location: EDSA Beverage Design Studio, 2F CLMC Bldg., 209 Edsa, Mandaluyong
Operating Hours: 9am to 12mn
Fees:
Daily rate of 400
5-day pass at 1600
Monthly rate of 7250
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O2 Space Solutions

Location: Unit 330 Mile Long Bldg., Amorsolo St., Makati
Operating Hours: 8am to 7pm, Mondays to Fridays; 8am to 12nn, Saturdays
Fees:
Daily rate of 600
Monthly rate of 1000 for virtual offices
Monthly rate of 25000 for serviced offices
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The Nomad Offices

Location: PBCom Tower Manila
Operating Hours: 8:30am to 6pm, Mondays to Fridays
Fees:
Monthly rate at 3000
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Visayas

A-Space Cebu

(Under construction)
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Chromedia

Location: Unit 602, Keppel Center, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City
Operating Hours: 8am to 6pm, Mondays to Fridays
Fees:
Daily rate at 500
Weekly rate at 2200
Monthly rate at 7200
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Dojo 8 Coworking Space Iloilo

Location: No. 60 CPN Bldg., General Luna St., Iloilo City
Operating Hours: 9am to 10pm, Mondays to Fridays; 3pm to 10pm, Sundays
Fees:
100 for 4 hours
250 for 10 hours
4000 for 220 hours
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Global Hub Serviced Offices

Location: 12F Keppel Center, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City
Operating Hours: 9am to 8pm, Mondays to Fridays
Fees: Request for a quote
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Location 63

Location: 2F Hyundai Bldg., A.S. Fortuna St., Mandaue City
Operating Hours: 7am to 7pm, Mondays to Fridays
Fees:
Daily rate at 500
Monthly rates are negotiable
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The Tide Cebu

Location: 7F Skyrise 1 Bldg., IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City
Operating Hours: 8am to 8pm, Mondays to Fridays
Fees:
Daily rate at 500
Weekly rate at 1500
Monthly rate at 4000
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