The best coworking spaces in Los Angeles

As more people go freelance, and more entrepreneurs and startups eschew traditional office spaces, coworking real estate solutions have increased in popularity. In fact, they’re so popular that JLL expects these spaces to make up 30% of US office spaces by 2030, from under 5% at the moment. So, if you’re a freelancer or an entrepreneur, and have decided to move to L.A., you might be wondering where to find the best coworking space in Los Angeles. The problem is that what qualifies as the best coworking space for you might not be the best for another person and vice versa. For this reason, you need to consider a few factors when choosing a coworking space.

Is a coworking space right for you?

The first question you need to ask yourself is whether or not a coworking space in Los Angeles is the right option for you. For example, if you’ve found yourself missing the frequent face-to-face interaction with other people that you lost after going freelance, then a coworking space might be perfect for you. As long as you don’t spend more time interacting than working, of course.

On the other hand, if the idea of dragging yourself out of bed every morning to go to work again is not at all attractive, then a coworking space might not be for you. And if you are easily distracted and find yourself spending more time mingling and end up getting little to no work done, then maybe you’re better off working from home.

After all, there are plenty of great apartments in Los Angeles with sufficient extra space for you to set up a home office. Blueground, for example, offers stunning apartments that are beautifully furnished and fully equipped, and include a work area. This way, you won’t have to waste time commuting and can even work in your pajamas without anyone being the wiser.

Where is it?

Location is essential, especially in L.A. because traffic is horrendous. Plus, parking is rarely cheap. So, the closer your coworking space in Los Angeles is to where you live, the less time you’ll waste in traffic. If you can find one within walking distance, even better, because you’ll save a fortune on parking costs.

Luckily, you can find coworking spaces all over Los Angeles, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find one near you.

What seating options are available?

If you’ve decided to go with a coworking space in Los Angeles, you need to consider what’s available in terms of seating options. This involves figuring out what you require to get your work done. For example, if you’re a graphic designer with multiple monitors and lots of equipment, you’ll probably want a dedicated desk so you aren’t carrying around all that equipment. If you have frequent client meetings, then you will probably need a private office or access to a meeting room. Or you might be a writer who frequently dictates, in which case you’ll need a private office so you aren’t disturbing other people who are trying to get their work done around you.

WeWork has a location in Culver City, for example, where they offer hot desks, but also private offices. They also offer front-desk service, unique conference rooms, a fitness center, and more.WeWork has one of the biggest networks of coworking space in the world, with over 400 locations in more than 80 cities across the globe. They offer flexible solutions that suit most people’s needs, whether you want to write a book or expand your business.

What do you get beyond a desk?

Free WiFi and complimentary tea and coffee are the norms, but you might find a coworking space in Los Angeles that offers even more. Some will offer unlimited printing and photocopies, access to booths for calls, conference rooms, and more. Others, like Cross Campus, offer meditation rooms, kombucha, and craft beer on tap. Cross Campus doesn’t just offer coworking spaces. They focus on providing people with an environment where they can build strong relationships while also finding a balance between their work and personal lives. Keep in mind, though, that a coworking space in Los Angeles that’s offering all these additional amenities isn’t going to be as cheap as one that offers the basics. So, if you don’t really need all the perks – or aren’t planning on enjoying them – then you might as well not pay extra for them.

How often will you use the space?

This is important because if you’ll only be using it a few days per month, then it’s definitely not worth paying for a full month. However, the downside is that a dedicated desk won’t be an option. So, you’ll have to consider what’s more important. If a dedicated desk is mandatory, then you might find it more efficient to create a home office. Maker City LA, for example, is an amazing space that offers far more than your average coworking space. They have spaces for events, adaptable private offices available for short- or long-term leases, and even studios with green screens and lighting equipment, photo studies, podcast sound studios, and more.

Do you travel a lot?

If you do a lot of traveling, you might want a coworking space in Los Angeles that has locations in the other cities you travel to as you might be able to cut a deal to use those other locations too.

For example, WeWork has locations in 80 cities across the world, including Chicago, Boston, and New York, while Industrious offers coworking spaces in 53 cities across the United States. Industrious offers 53 coworking spaces across the US. Their spaces are designed to accommodate people working on their own but also teams of up to 100. Their community is vibrant yet professional and made up of all sorts of professionals from the self-employed to Fortune 500 employees.

Test it out

On paper, any coworking space in Los Angeles looks great on paper, but you won’t know what it’s really like until you test it out. Most coworking spaces offer at least a free day for you to test their facilities out, but some might offer even more if you ask. This is especially important because it will allow you to see if the place has a good sense of community. A lot of spaces don’t place that much emphasis on community, even though that’s what the real draw of a coworking space is. After all, if you just wanted to sit around other people without interacting with them, you could go to the park or Starbucks.

NeueHouse, for example, is a very upscale coworking space that offers a wide range of perks, including cultural programming that allows you to meet some of the most important people in fashion, politics, music, and many other industries. It sounds great on paper, but until you’ve tested it out yourself, you’ll never know if it’s actually suited to your work style.

It might take a little time for you to find the perfect coworking space in Los Angeles for you, but it’s worth taking your time and doing it right. Finding the right place with the right community can really boost your productivity, and thereby increase your bottom line. It could even save your sanity. So, don’t rush the process, do your research, and take the time to test out different spaces until you find one that truly fits your working needs.