If you’ve heard the word coworking but aren’t entirely sure what it means — or whether it’s relevant to you — you’re in good company. Despite being one of the fastest growing workplace trends of the last decade, coworking is still something a lot of people know vaguely but haven’t fully explored.
Here’s everything you need to know — what coworking actually is, how it works, who it’s for, what it costs and how to figure out if it’s the right move for you.
What Is Coworking?
Coworking is a style of working where people from different organisations and backgrounds share a professional workspace. Rather than working from home, a cafe or a traditional private office, coworkers pay for access to a shared, fully equipped workspace — typically through a daily, weekly or monthly membership.
The people in a coworking space are not colleagues in the traditional sense — they work for different businesses, on different projects, in different industries. What they share is a workspace, a community and a set of amenities: fast internet, meeting rooms, kitchen facilities, comfortable furniture and everything else you need to do professional work.
At its best, coworking is about much more than just a desk. It’s about being part of a community of motivated, creative, driven people — and the energy, connections and opportunities that come with that.
Where Did Coworking Come From?
The concept of coworking emerged in the early 2000s, driven by the growth of freelancing, remote work and the internet-enabled independent economy. The first space widely recognised as a coworking space opened in San Francisco in 2005, founded by software developer Brad Neuberg as a way to combine the community of a traditional office with the freedom of independent work.
The idea spread quickly. By the early 2010s, coworking spaces were opening in cities around the world — including Australia — and the model was evolving rapidly from bare-bones shared desks to beautifully designed, full-service workspaces with strong community programs and premium amenities.
The rise of remote work — accelerated significantly by the global shift to flexible working arrangements in recent years — has brought coworking firmly into the mainstream. Today, coworking is no longer a niche concept for tech freelancers. It’s a legitimate, well-established workplace solution used by everyone from solo creatives to enterprise teams.
How Does a Coworking Space Work?
The mechanics of a coworking space are straightforward. You pay for a membership — daily, weekly or monthly — and in return you get access to a professional workspace with everything you need to do your work.
Depending on the membership type, that access might be for a set number of days per month, unlimited weekday access or full 24/7 access. You typically work from a shared hot desk — a desk you choose each day on a first-come, first-served basis — or, at higher membership tiers, a dedicated desk that is permanently yours.
Alongside your desk, you have access to the shared facilities of the space — meeting rooms, phone booths, kitchen, lounge areas, printing and so on. Most coworking spaces are staffed during business hours, with a reception team that manages the space, welcomes guests and supports the community.
Beyond the physical space, good coworking operators invest in building genuine community — through events, introductions, online platforms and the daily rituals that help members connect with each other meaningfully over time.
Who Uses Coworking Spaces?
Coworking started as a solution for freelancers and independent professionals — and that community remains at the core of most coworking spaces. But the range of people who use coworking has expanded considerably over the last decade.
Here’s who you’ll typically find in a coworking space today:
Freelancers and independent professionals Designers, writers, developers, photographers, consultants, coaches, communications professionals and more — independent workers across every creative and professional discipline use coworking spaces as their primary workplace. For solo operators, the community and structure of a coworking space is often transformative.
Remote workers Employees who work for companies based elsewhere — interstate or overseas — are one of the fastest growing segments of the coworking market. Rather than working from home full time, many remote workers use a coworking membership to give themselves a professional workplace, a structured day and a community of local colleagues.
Small business owners and entrepreneurs Early-stage businesses and startups often use coworking as their first proper office — a professional, affordable base that gives them everything they need without the overhead of setting up their own space. As teams grow, many coworking operators offer private offices within the same community, so businesses can scale without disrupting their working environment.
Small and medium teams Teams of two, five, ten or more increasingly use coworking spaces as their permanent workplace — either in a shared area or a private office within the coworking environment. The combination of privacy, community and full-service amenities makes coworking an attractive alternative to a traditional commercial lease for teams at many stages of growth.
Corporate and enterprise teams Larger organisations use coworking spaces for project teams, innovation hubs, satellite offices and overflow space. The flexibility of coworking is particularly valuable for corporate teams working on time-limited projects or operating in locations where a permanent office isn’t justified.
What Does a Coworking Space Include?
The facilities and amenities available in a coworking space vary significantly between operators, but here’s what you can typically expect from a good quality space:
Workspace Shared hot desks, dedicated desks and — in many spaces — private offices of various sizes. Good coworking spaces invest in quality, ergonomic furniture and a thoughtfully designed environment that helps people do their best work.
Internet Fast, reliable internet is non-negotiable. The best coworking spaces run enterprise-grade gigabit fibre — significantly faster and more reliable than a standard home or cafe connection.
Meeting rooms and phone booths Private spaces for client meetings, team calls, video conferences and focused work. Good coworking spaces have a range of options — from single-person phone booths for private calls to larger boardrooms for team presentations.
Kitchen and refreshments A well-stocked kitchen with coffee, tea, snacks and drinks. The kitchen is often the social heart of a coworking space — where conversations happen, relationships form and the community comes to life.
Printing and scanning Access to professional printing and scanning facilities for day-to-day document needs.
Reception and mail services A staffed reception during business hours, a professional business address and a mail and package receiving service.
Parking Depending on location, onsite or nearby parking. In Canberra particularly, free onsite parking is a significant practical advantage.
Community and events Regular community events, social gatherings, professional development sessions and the daily informal interactions that make a coworking space more than just a room full of desks.
Member benefits and discounts Many coworking spaces negotiate discounts and benefits for their members at local businesses — gyms, cafes, restaurants, suppliers and more.
What Types of Coworking Memberships Are Available?
Most coworking spaces offer a tiered membership structure designed to suit different working patterns and budgets. Here’s how the most common membership types work:
Day Pass
The most flexible option — pay for a single day of access with no ongoing commitment. Great for trying out a space, occasional use or visiting professionals who need a base for a day or two.
Part-Time Membership
A monthly membership that gives you access for a set number of days — typically four, eight or twelve days per month. The most popular option for hybrid workers who split their time between home and a coworking space. Cost-effective and flexible.
Full-Time Hot Desk
Unlimited access to a shared desk during operating hours. You don’t have a fixed seat — you find a spot each day — but you have full access to the space and all its facilities. Best for full-time workers who don’t need a permanent desk.
Dedicated Desk
Your own permanent desk — fixed height or electric sit-to-stand — with 24/7 access and lockable storage for your belongings. The closest thing to a traditional office desk within a shared workspace environment. Best for full-time workers who want consistency and the ability to leave their setup in place.
Private Office
A lockable, acoustically private office within the coworking environment — for individuals or teams who need the privacy of their own space alongside the community and amenities of the wider workspace. Available in a range of sizes to suit teams from one to fifty or more.
What Does Coworking Cost?
Coworking costs vary depending on the city, the space, the membership type and what’s included. In Canberra, here’s a general guide to what you can expect:
- Day Pass: $50–$80 per day
- Part-Time Membership: $150–$300 per month
- Full-Time Hot Desk: $350–$500 per month
- Dedicated Desk: $500–$700 per month
- Private Office: from $550 per person per month
Most memberships include internet, access to communal facilities and some level of meeting room access. Always check what’s included before signing up — the all-in value of a well-priced membership is often significantly better than the headline rate suggests.
Coworking vs Working From Home
Working from home has genuine advantages — no commute, flexibility and full control over your environment. But for many people, the downsides accumulate over time in ways that are hard to ignore.
Isolation is the most commonly cited issue. Without colleagues around you, the social and collaborative dimension of work disappears — and for many people that has a real impact on motivation, creativity and mental wellbeing. The boundaries between work and home life can also blur in ways that are genuinely difficult to manage.
Coworking addresses both problems directly. It provides the structure of a professional workplace — a clear start and end to the day, a dedicated space for work and people around you — while preserving the flexibility that makes independent and remote work so appealing.
For the majority of freelancers and remote workers who try coworking, the shift from working at home to working in a coworking space is one of the best professional decisions they’ve made.
Coworking vs a Traditional Office
A traditional office lease gives you full control over your own space — but it comes with significant costs, long-term commitment and administrative overhead that many small businesses and growing teams simply don’t need.
Coworking offers most of the benefits of a proper office — professional environment, reliable infrastructure, meeting rooms, a business address — without the upfront fit-out costs, the multi-year lease commitment or the responsibility of managing a building. For businesses at the earlier stages of growth, or those whose team size is likely to change, coworking is a significantly more flexible and often more cost-efficient solution.
Is Coworking Right for You?
Coworking works best for people who value community and connection alongside professional productivity. If you’re someone who does their best work around other motivated people, who benefits from the structure of going somewhere to work and who would welcome the kind of professional community that a good coworking space provides — then coworking is very likely a good fit.
It’s particularly well-suited to freelancers and independent professionals, remote workers, early-stage businesses and growing small teams. It’s less suited to roles that require a highly controlled, quiet environment for sustained periods, or organisations that need significant security and confidentiality over their workspace.
The best way to find out if coworking is right for you is to try it. Most coworking spaces — including Keep Co — offer day passes that let you experience the space and community before committing to a membership.
Coworking at Keep Co, Fyshwick Canberra
Keep Co has been Canberra’s community-first coworking space since 2018. Located at Dairy Road in Fyshwick — 15 minutes from the CBD and 10 minutes from Canberra Airport — our workspace is home to 120+ freelancers, small businesses, remote workers and entrepreneurs doing great work together.
Our memberships are designed to fit real working life — flexible, affordable and built around genuine community. Every membership includes enterprise gigabit fibre, phone booths, meeting rooms, printing, a fully stocked kitchen, a business address and a community of Canberra locals who genuinely have each other’s backs.
We also offer private offices for teams of 1 to 50 — so if you grow beyond the coworking floor, you don’t have to go far.
Keep Co Coworking Memberships
- Day Pass — $60 per day, 9am–5pm Monday to Friday
- Community Pass — $185 per month, 4 days per month
- Flex Pass — $285 per month, 12 days per month
- Shared Desk — $400 per month, unlimited days
- Dedicated Desk (fixed) — $570 per month, 24/7 access
- Dedicated Desk (sit/stand) — $600 per month, 24/7 access
Not sure where to start? Book a tour and come and see the space for yourself — our Community Managers would love to show you around and help you find the right fit.