Choosing a coworking space in Los Angeles, California works a lot like booking a hotel. Some people just need a desk for the day and take the first option that works. Others pick a brand and a level of service first, and many default to the biggest national name because of a corporate policy or simple familiarity.
Jerome Chang, founder of BLANKSPACES, one of the oldest coworking brands in America, says the better approach starts with your own needs, not the brand. After nearly two decades of running flex space in Southern California, he has a clear view of what people should check before they sign up, and what they tend to overlook.
Many people, including many operators, assume coworking competes with the home office and the coffee shop. Chang does not see it that way. People who work from a coffee shop are there for the coffee and the atmosphere, and a coworking space cannot compete with that.
The real reason to pay for a workspace is the moment a coffee shop or kitchen table stops working. Usually, that moment is a meeting. A Zoom call or an in-person conversation needs things a cafe cannot promise: a seat, a quiet room, and no coffee grinder going off in the background. If the meeting is an important pitch, paying $30 or $50 for a day pass becomes an easy decision.
The same applies to working alongside someone else. A manager working with a junior employee is not going to invite them over to their home, and a coffee shop cannot guarantee two seats together with enough room to work.
“The coffee shop and the home worker is not a threshold. It is simply an indicator,” Chang said. “And this is where I think a lot of coworking companies get it wrong.”
Before touring anything, write down the situations that push you out of your current setup. If it is meetings, focus on private rooms and quiet areas. If it is working with a colleague, check whether there is space for two people to sit and work side by side.
The old real estate rule of location, location, location applies here too, and the margin is smaller than most people expect. Chang uses the example of a visitor in from New York. If a coworking space is half a block from their hotel, they will use it. If it is a block and a half away, they will likely stay in the hotel room and work from there.
Locals behave the same way. Most people have a daily loop, such as leaving home, dropping a child off at daycare, and heading to work. If a space is not on that route, people rarely make the trip, even when they are driving and the detour is only a few blocks.
Chang compares this to Starbucks, which wins on convenience because there is almost always one nearby and people know exactly what they will get. Coworking is not that common yet, which makes location even more important when you compare options.
Instead of measuring a space against your home address alone, map it against the places you already go during a normal week. The closest space on paper is not always the one you will actually use.
Asked what red flags people should watch for on a tour, Chang said most of them depend on the person. “Again, they tend to be specific to you,” he said.
For software developers and anyone in tech, the internet connection is the first thing to test. Chang suggests asking what kind of network the space uses and whether traffic is ever shared with other computers on the network. Some networks do this without the operator realizing it. If you have an important video call, come in early to test the connection, and ask whether the space has a backup line.
For people who need quiet or are sensitive to harsh daylight, the layout and lighting matter more than the amenity list. If something bothers you in every workplace, it will likely bother you in a coworking space too. Chang is candid that no space is right for everyone, including his own.
For anyone with back or ergonomic issues, check whether sit-stand desks are available. Chang works standing for most of his day, a habit he built up over time, and he says that kind of need should be part of the decision from the start.
A simple way to handle this is to list your two or three non-negotiables before the tour and test each one while you are there.
Most people tour a space asking about price and amenities. Chang wishes more of them asked how they can contribute to the community and fit in.
A shared workspace runs on mutual courtesy, the same lesson taught in kindergarten. That includes how loudly you talk on calls and basic personal habits that are easy to let slide when working from home. In Chang’s words, it comes down to this: “read the room and share.”
The industry has a saying that people come for the space and stay for the community. Chang compares it to sports practice. The practice you least wanted to attend was often the one you got the most out of. In the same way, members tend to join for a practical reason, then meet someone they never would have met otherwise. “Serendipity can be quite surprising,” he said.
He is also clear that it cannot be promised. A great connection might happen on day one, day ten, or not at all. Even then, a good space should still deliver the basics you came for, whether that is a standing desk or a location near your child’s daycare.
The most reliable way to judge fit is to spend real working time in a space before you commit. BLANKSPACES, for example, offers a 2-day trial so prospective members can test the space during a normal workday.
BLANKSPACES is one of the oldest coworking brands in America, founded in Los Angeles in 2008 by architect Jerome Chang. It is now the largest coworking brand in Southern California, built on a partnership model that shares risk with landlords rather than relying on a traditional lease.
This article is based on information provided by the expert source cited above. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making any real estate or financial decisions.
Disclosure: Individuals or companies mentioned may have a commercial relationship with KeyCrew.
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