Coworking spaces offer numerous benefits for remote employees, freelancers, small business owners, and entrepreneurs.
At The Post Workspaces, we offer two membership options to help you dip your toes into the coworking experience: hot desks and dedicated desks.
Hot desks allow for flexibility and spontaneity, ideal for those who thrive in dynamic environments. They are also optimal for on-the-go professionals who want a workspace where they can drop in, do some work, and head out just as quickly.
On the other hand, dedicated desks offer a consistent space, perfect for those who value routine and personal space but don’t need a fully private office of their own.
With such a contrast between the two, how do you decide which one is right for you? In this article, we’ll explain the benefits of both to help you make the best choice for your needs.
What’s a Hot Desk?
A hot desk is probably the first thing you’d envision when you think of a coworking space, although you may not be aware of that exact term.
Hot desks refer to an open-plan office environment where you can come in and set up shop on any available workspace.
Hot desks are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can’t be reserved ahead of time.
When “hot desking,” you get access to a suite of outstanding amenities, including:
- A monthly allotment of meeting room hours
- Communal areas such as the kitchen and lounges
- High-speed, ultra-secure WiFi and the tech infrastructure you need
- Printing services
Because hot desks operate with more agility, they come with specific, unique benefits—let’s discuss each of them.
Benefits of Hot Desks
Wondering whether a hot desk membership is right for you? Let’s explore some of the big benefits of hot desks to help you make an informed decision:
- Flexibility: Hot desks provide the ultimate flexibility, as you can choose any seat and drop in for an hour, half a day, or the whole working day. You don’t need to commit to a monthly membership, but you still get access to important amenities that you may need for your work or business.
- Affordability: Due to their on-demand nature, hot desks are more affordable than dedicated desks (which we’ll discuss in just a moment) or other monthly coworking membership options. If you’re using them every day, it may be similar cost-wise, but for an every-now-and-then scenario, you’ll definitely be saving money.
- Networking: Because hot desks are situated in an open space where you’re surrounded by other working professionals, such as freelancers or solopreneurs, you’re given ample opportunity for networking. Strike up a conversation in the lounge or introduce yourself to the person sitting next to you.
What’s a Dedicated Desk?
Dedicated desks are your own personal workspace, reserved just for you. Like hot desks, they’re located in an open office area, but your desk is entirely yours. Dedicated desks provide you with a desk, chair, and filing cabinet of your own.
Some coworking spaces offer flexible terms for dedicated desks, while others require a time commitment. At The Post, we have a 12-month minimum for dedicated desks because we’ve learned that’s ideal for our members to start reaping the benefits from their membership (like building a supportive community and mutually beneficial connections).
You also get access to amenities like meeting room access, coffee, and so on. At The Post, we give our dedicated desk members plenty of meeting room credits, so they’re not paying extra.
Overall, dedicated desks offer a balance between connection and structure, but let’s discuss all their benefits together.
Benefits of Dedicated Desks
Understanding what benefits dedicated desks have to offer will help you make an informed decision on whether or not they’re a fit for you.
- Structure and stability: Having your own workspace just for you can alleviate worry and pressure over day-to-day details for some people by removing the morning rush to grab a workspace (as may be the case for hot desks). In that way, dedicated desks create stability. Dedicated desk setups also create structure by creating physical barriers, through separators for example, and allowing you more ownership of your workspace.
- Access to more important amenities: Dedicated desk members often get access to more amenities than hot deskers. For example, at The Post, you get your own filing cabinet and free meeting room credits to name a couple.
- Community: Dedicated desks are often packaged as a membership rather than an on-demand service like hot desks. Because of this, you become part of the community at the coworking space and get access to mixers and seminars that can help you or your business grow.
Which type of desk is right for you?
Ultimately, choosing between hot desks and dedicated desks depends on your business or work needs, preferences, and goals.
Hot desks may be ideal for:
- On-the-go professionals who need a very flexible workspace that allows them to drop in but with a productive environment that comes with crucial amenities like robust, fast WiFi and meeting rooms (even if it may be at an additional cost).
- Remote employees and solopreneurs who may have a dedicated home office but need to change the scenery occasionally.
Dedicated desks may be a better option for:
- Freelancers who are working at a high-growth pace. They may need more stability, structure, and a dedicated space for both in-person collaboration and meetings.
- Professionals who want to benefit from the community, mixers, seminars, and masterminds that coworking spaces have to offer.
- Business owners who need a professional, polished workspace—dedicated desks (like the ones at The Post) are created with these factors in mind.
Hot Desks and Dedicated Desks at The Post
We offer both hot desks and dedicated desks here at The Post. Both are tailored to the vastly unique experience that comes with both of these options.
Hot desks at The Post
Our hot desks are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. While we don’t offer free meeting room credits for hot desks, you still get other amenities like:
- Fast, reliable Wi-Fi
- Access to our shared kitchen and cafe area
- Opportunities for networking with other hot deskers
Dedicated desks at The Post
Our dedicated desks offer the perfect blend of flexibility, structure, and support to help you achieve your goals. You can expect our dedicated desks to come with additional amenities such as:
- Fast, reliable Wi-Fi
- Free Printing (up to 200 pages)
- Ergonomic task chair
- Lockable file cabinet
- Mail Services
- Five monthly meeting credits
- Access to our shared kitchen and cafe area
- Soundproof phone booths
- Access to The Post community portal for account management
- Opportunities for connecting and networking at events
Whether you’re looking for the ultimate flexible solution to coworking or need a workspace to call your own, we’ve got you covered here at The Post. Book a tour today to see both our hot desks and dedicated desks, plus learn what we’re all about.