Self-employment is on the rise. According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics by 2020, about 65 million Americans will be entrepreneurs, freelancers, independent contractors and temps – and they will make up 40 percent of the workforce. As telecommuting and freelancing become more common, coworking spaces in New Orleans are turning into a viable alternative to working from home, a coffee shop or a traditional office.
Scroll down for our comprehensive list of coworking spaces in New Orleans.
What Is Coworking?
Coworking is a relatively new concept in which independent workers rent cheap desks in large, shared offices. In some cases coworking spaces also operate as formal businesses, renting out offices to freelancers, telecommuters, and entrepreneurs. Operation models vary, with some coworking businesses charging daily, weekly, or monthly rent, while others sell memberships that allow the member to make use of the workspace and its amenities.
What are the benefits of a coworking space?
While working from home is a good option for some, other people choose to rent and commute to a coworking office every day. Here’s why:
1. Networking and Learning at Coworking spaces in New Orleans
According to Deskmag, “80% [of co-workers] expand their businesses network.” Many small business owners find that the “stranger” at the desk next to them actually provides a service their own company can benefit from. By attending a coworking space, many individuals report making new acquaintances who have a positive effect on their own work. A lot of coworking spaces in New Orleans host workshops and educational events for their members, such as conferences, seminars, and visits with local business leaders. According to Deskmag, 72% of individuals say their skill set increased during the time they were sharing an office space.
2. Increase Credibility & Professionalism at Coworking spaces in New Orleans
In addition to providing a business address and mail, many coworking spaces in New Orleans offer conference rooms, professional boardrooms, video conference calls, and other types of shared space that can be used to host meetings and other client events. You can’t accomplish either of those at a noisy coffee shop. Depending on your clientele, you may instantly impress potential clients if you’re located in a trendy neighborhood or downtown area.
3. Improved Work and Life Balance
Leaving work at the office is a lot easier when you actually have an office to leave to. Working from home can be stressful, particularly if there’s not a home office or segregated workspace to retreat to. Entrepreneurs, especially those working on early-stage companies, work a LOT. Research has shown that those who work from home regularly end up working much longer hours than commuters. Coworking spaces in New Orleans offer another physical barrier to help people balance their work and home lives.
– Eric Normand, a New Orleans software engineer who worked 2 years from home and later moved to a local coworking space had this to say:
“Getting out of the house was really nice. I have a kid, and kids can be time consuming, even if you are not directly taking care of them. They often distract you while you are working. It is also good psychologically to have a space, because at home is often easy to forget the line between work and home life”
4. Less Expensive and Less Risky Than Private Office Rental
Affordable rates and flexible contractual conditions make coworking spaces in New Orleans an easy and relatively hassle-free choice for entrepreneurs. If your business ends up needing to relocate or suddenly requires a smaller or larger space you aren’t tied down with a lease or mortgage. You also save on the cost of purchasing your own office equipment and furnishings, and share all operational expenses such as utilities, internet, parking, phone etc, among members, making them much more manageable.
5. Higher Income and Productivity
A recent global study has found another reason to give coworking ago: it has a positive effect on freelancer incomes. A Global Survey by Desk Mag found that 50% of individuals who attend a coworking space said their income had increased, and 74% of them said they felt more productive. The reason for the increased income is due to the interactive nature of coworking spaces in New Orleans– they’re a natural setting for networking, contact-sharing, and job-swapping.
– Barret Conrad, the owner of a local tech company (Cotinga Soft) leased a desk at Launchpad for 5 years while he grew his business. He says:
“I grew my company and my contacts while at Launchpad, and sort of stabilized my business to the point where I got ready to grow, made some hires, moved out and got my own office space!” – “If your business is dependent upon you having contacts, clients, networking and meeting people then you should get out of your house unless you have another method to do that”
6. Louisiana tax credits and Startup Culture
New Orleans has a booming startup culture and many entrepreneurs are attracted to the city because of its relatively low cost of living. Even if your company is based outside of Louisiana, you can benefit from a number of state tax credits by opening an office in NOLA. Many startups have benefited from the Louisiana digital media tax incentive which provides a 35 percent tax credit on payroll for in-state employees, and companies can get 25 percent back on what they spend on production. If you have a company culture that focuses on innovation and feeling current to the times, offering a remote work policy with a coworking space budget is a great way to cement that culture!
New Orleans Vibrant Coworking Scene
New Orleans boasts a unique coworking culture, with several office spaces that cater to a fast-growing number of entrepreneurs and freelancers. Here’s a list of available coworking spaces in New Orleans:
The Shop
The Contemporary Arts Center
900 Camp Street, 3rd Floor
504.608.4151
The Shop at the CAC is a state-of-the art coworking space with over 40,000 sq ft of workspace, catering to the vibrant professional community in New Orleans. Some of the amenities include 24/7 access (with keyless entry through mobile app), heavily discounted business services such as payment processing and HR services, full kitchen stocked with coffee & beer, loads of programming & entrepreneurial support, available IT support, and most importantly you can bring your best friend. That’s right! YOU CAN BRING YOUR DOG.
Propeller
4035 Washington Ave
504.322.3282
This space differs from the others because it is the first “social venture” workspace. It’s located at Washington Avenue and Broad Street, with 10,000 square feet occupied by 15 companies that are part of its nonprofit accelerator program and approximately 100 individual and 50 organization memberships, many with social or environmental missions. Propeller offers private offices and shared desk spaces, as well as workshops, seminars, and events on topics related to technology, entrepreneurship, and design. The rental options start at $20 for a day and go to $1500 per month for a large private office. Every month, Propeller opens their doors for Coworking Wednesdays, a new monthly event series featuring free coworking spaces from 9 am to 5 pm with local food vendors.
The Greenhouse Workspace
4157 St. Louis Street
504.434.2210
This unique space in Mid City combines a renovated historic warehouse with a modern building, joined by a landscaped courtyard featuring native plants, built-in seating, and an outdoor conference table. Conveniently situated near local shops and restaurants, the Greenhouse offers easy access to bike paths, walking trails, and 24/7 neighborhood security patrols, making it a vibrant and secure workspace in the heart of New Orleans. Monthly common space memberships are $205/month, or drop in with a $35 day pass!
The Shop
900 Camp Street, 3rd Floor
504.517.1200
The Shop offers private offices, co-working spaces, and meeting rooms with a modern design and free wifi included. They have a laundry list of amenities including 24/7 keyless access, and private offices. The Shop desk space is available at $35/day with a membership coming in at $335/month.
The Warehouse
3014 Dauphine Street
504.517.3014
The Warehouse is just blocks from Crescent City Park, which stretches along the banks of the Mississippi River. It is also in close walking distance to great restaurants and cafes in the Bywater neighborhood. Spaces include private offices, permanent desks and flexible coworking memberships with great amenities like a full kitchen, private phone booths for calls, indoor bike parking, fiber internet, and printing/copying services. Memberships and “a la carte” pricing is available.
Scale
612 Andrew Higgins Dr. 2nd Floor
504-309-4901
Scale New Orleans is a dynamic coworking space designed for innovative teams and energetic individuals. Amenities include unlimited coffee and tea, 24/7 access, and lots of plants! Scale has flexible membership options like Full Time ($275/month) and Part Time ($180/month). If you’d rather a quick drop in, day passes are $20.
BayouWorks
3205 Orleans Ave. New Orleans, LA 70119
BayouWorks is a new coworking space near Bayou St. John that offers sitting/standing desks, conference space and other amenities in a renovated, light-filled former church. The space has 13 desks and offers a more intimate setting than larger shared office spaces. Among other amenities BayouWorks offers fast speed internet, a printer/scanner, a physical mailing address, lockable cabinets, and free coffee. The space is also equipped with a kitchen and a lounge area.
Friends of Bayou St. John, the non-profit organization that produces the Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo Festival and works to protect and preserve Bayou St. John year around is the anchor tenant. For more info contact: [email protected].
Final Word
Technology makes coworking a great alternative for freelancers and telecommuters who don’t want to work from home. Still, it’s important to acknowledge all of the additional expenses associated with coworking, such as commuting, child and pet care, office services, food and drink, etc. While co-working can have many advantages, it may not be the right fit for everyone. If you value privacy for your business and would like the ability to design and change your own office layout at will, a traditional office space lease might be a better choice. But if you don’t mind having neighbors and sharing resources co-working can be a cost-effective, beneficial option for growing companies