After our last blog entry, one of our virtual office clients phoned in with a question of his own. He wanted to know the difference between a co-working office and a shared office. It seems that he currently had a Toronto Mail Service account with Telsec and now requires something more. The office space administrator decided that, rather than just send him the link to our previous blog about the benefits of shared office space over coworking office space, we should write another blog with direct comparisons of key features.

The virtual office client asked “for those small businesses, freelancers, independents and work-from-home businesses, what are some options for physical office space as opposed to traditional office space for lease Toronto solutions or virtual office plans?”

A shared office (sometimes referred to as flex space or hot desks) are based on a traditional office space environment. The only difference being that a Shared Office is shared and offers limited on-site storage. While it follows the traditional way of thinking for an “office” (i.e. a receptionist, phone, desk and internet connection), what it does not offer are filing cabinets or an office with a door – but those options are available with semi-private and private office solutions. When a shared office client wants to upgrade to those office space situations, he or she can do so without changing their address or phone number.

Co-working is a relatively new way to work in a shared community. The work space is generally in an open space with some private rooms for meetings or phone calls. Users generally have their own cellphone and do their own work and have no access to a receptionist to answer calls. In most cases, their entire work is done on a laptop, tablet or other mobile device – as access to PC’s is usually an add-on cost.

Lets look at some of the features that businesses look for in an upscale office space.

Professional Receptionist (who answers calls and greets your guests):

Shared Office: YES (the receptionist can alert a tenant to the arrival of guests so that the office client can take them to the free boardroom they have arranged rather than their shared working space).
Co-working: NO (as most people in co-working centres use their cell phones and greet their own clients)

Private Office with a desk:

Shared Office: YES. While a shared office arrangement is in a common room with other shared office users, shared office clients can upgrade to a private day office for a small fee.

Co-working: Some YES; some NO.

Boardrooms and Meeting Rooms:

Shared Office: YES. They are included (as well as larger conference/training rooms for a small extra cost)
Co-working: MOST (mostly free with membership)

Hours of Access to Office Space:

Shared Office: UNLIMITED. Only limited to regular business hours (semi-private and private office tenants enjoy 24/7 access).
Co-working: UNLIMITED and/or LIMITED membership options per month, but still limited to hours of operation.

Telephone Service. Shared Office: YES (including a VoIP phone option where they can take their phone anywhere).
Co-working: Probably NO (most use their cell phones or other services like Skype or Google Voice).

Fax Service:

Shared Office: YES (because a fax is still the only way to digitally send legally-binding documents).
Co-working: Some YES, some NO (most consider the fax an old-fashioned way of sending documents, but do not understand that emailed signed documents are not legally binding).

In Summary

While some people may need the features offered by a Shared Office, those who do not need a professional business address or a professional work environment may find a better fit in a co-working location.

A suggested general rule: If a business person can work temporarily at a café to get out of the house, than that individual should enjoy co-working. If a small business person requires a professional working environment at a prestigious business address, then a Shared Office is the best option.

Restaurants

1. Ryan Halsall

CRAFT BEER MARKET (OUTDOOR COURTYARD)

Courtyard backs onto our Telsec building, 18 King St. E

1 Adelaide St E (enter on east side of Yonge St., south of Adelaide)

Toronto, ON

M5C 2V9

Tel: 437-922-BEER (2337)

Website: www.craftbeermarket.ca

2. Michael Pagliaro

Carisma (Italian)

15 Toronto Street

Toronto, ON

M5C 2E3

Tel: 416-864-7373

Website: www.carismarestaurant.com

3. Patti Shaw

Terroni (Italian)

57 Adelaide Street East

Toronto, ON

M5C 1K6

Tel: 416-203-3093

Website: www.terroni.com

4. Declan

Restaurant 20 Victoria – Michelin guide approved

20 Victoria Street

Toronto, ON

M5C 2A1

Tel: 416-804-6066

Instagram for reservations: https://www.instagram.com/twentyvictoria/

5. Mana

Nami (Japanese)

55 Adelaide Street East

Toronto, ON

M5C 1K6

Tel: 416-362-7373

Website: www.namirestaurant.ca

6. Restaurant Lucie

100 Yonge Street

Toronto, ON

M5C 2W1

Tel: 416-788-9054

Website: www.restaurantlucie.com

7. Niam H

Cantina Mercatto

20 Wellington Street East

Toronto, ON

M5E 1C5

Tel: 416-304-0781

Website: www.cantinamercatto.ca

8. Siva Sathasivam

Uncle Tony’s

38 Wellington St E

Toronto, ON

M5E 1C7

Tel: 416-455-6650

Website: https://uncletonys.ca/

9. Pizzaiolo

104 Yonge Street

Toronto, ON

M5C 2Y6

Tel: 416-860-0700

Website: www.pizzaiolo.ca

10. Robin Singh

Woods Restaurant and Bar

45 Colborne Street

Toronto, ON

M5E 1E3

Tel: 416-214-9918

Website: www.woodsrestaurant.ca

11. Amadeusz Domyslawski

GUSTO 501

501 King St. E

Toronto, ON

M5A 1L9

Tel: 416-477-5647

Website: www.gusto501.com

Health and Wellness

1. Thom Tullo

Morpheus8 by Inmode

47 Colborne Street

Toronto, ON

M5E 1E3

Tel: 416-863-6564

Website: www.amanspa.ca

2. Altitude Athletic Training

56 Colborne Street

Toronto, ON

M5E 1E3

Tel: 416-366-3838

Website: www.altitudeathletictraining.com

3. Physioheath Studios

33 Victoria Street, #130

Toronto, ON

M5C 2A1

Tel: 416-368-2525

Website: www.physiohealth.com

Hotels

1. Jennifer Smith

General Manager

The Omni King Edward Hotel

37 King Street East

Toronto, ON

M5C 1E9

Tel: 416-863-9700

Website: https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/toronto-king-edward

2. Mark Perry

General Manager

Executive Hotels and Resorts (Boutique)

8 Colborne Street

Toronto, ON

M5E 1E1

Tel: 416-350-2419

Website: www.spazen.ca or www.cosmotoronto.com

3. Emeline Boul

General Manager

Hotel Victoria (Boutique)

56 Yonge Street

Toronto, ON

M5E 1G5

Tel: 416-363-1666

Mobile: 647-574-5832

Website: www.hotelvictoriatoronto.com

4. Omkar Sawant

Reservations Manager

One King West Hotel

1 King Street West

Toronto, ON

M5H 1A1

Main: 416-548-8100

Reservations: 1-866-470-5464

Website: www.onekingwest.com

5. Van Nguyen

General Manager

Cambridge Suites Toronto

15 Richmond Street East

Toronto, ON

M5C 1N2

Direct: 416-601-3757

Hotel: 416-368-1990

Website: www.cambridgesuitestoronto.com

Our Amenities

We are by far the most experienced and best coworking team in the market – established in 1980

We are the highest Tech centre in the market

We have a very modern, high quality, brand new facility located at:

18 King Street East, Suite 1400

Toronto, Ontario M5C 1C4 Canada

- 18 King Street East is a boutique Class A building – East of Yonge: easy street parking, less traffic, excellent restaurants and lovely parks – St. James Park @ Church & King and Berczy Park @ Wellington East, Scott and Front Streets – Very high energy and engaging area
- A few steps (a few seconds) to the Yonge Street subway/underground PATH network and streetcar available outside building
- Building is located in Toronto's vibrant financial district
- Plenty of parking available in the area including street parking and reserved parking in the 18 King building
- Adjacent to the building huge outdoor food courtyard - Beer Bistro www.beerbistro.com and Craft Beer Market www.craftbeermamrket.ca restaurants and bars with onsite catering services
- Onsite amenities: Tim Horton's, Beer Bistro, Convenience store and Starbucks across the street
- Nearby amenities: underground PATH network, numerous restaurants, banking, Starbucks plus a wide array of nearby shops and services
- New modernized office layout fully furnished with meeting spaces and training rooms plus café lounge area
- We are leaders in the service of training/meeting rooms with full conference facilities, high quality hot and cold catering
- Largest training room and conference facilities accommodate up to 60 people classroom style
- Ultra-high-speed - 1 GIG pipe = 1,000 x 1000 fiber-optic network, which will deliver internet connection speeds faster than most North American services
- Private shower room
- Indoor Reserved Parking at the current building rental rate
- Bicycle parking
- Rent a space to accommodate your team for meetings, training sessions, corporate events or coworking space or flexible office space for one day, one week, one month or one year, or whatever term suits your business
- Telsec has over 650 locations in 40 different countries worldwide available for their clients. Office clients receive up to 8 hours of meeting space per month at no charge at any ABCN member location. Plus, Office and Virtual Office clients may rent a space from any member location at special member rates which varies depending on the location
- King Edward Hotel is located across the street - recently completed a $40 million renovation and boutique hotels close by within walking distance

Dining and entertainment at high quality restaurants only minutes away – Carisma, Terroni, Woods Restaurant & Bar and Michelin Rated - Restaurant 20 Victoria. Plus numerous lunch and takeout eateries nearby

Please check out our 70 second video, click below:

Take a look at our facilities www.telsec.net

Telsec will Customize Your Client’s Office(s) Layout to Meet Their Requirements.

You are welcome to drop-in any-time, a quick call would be appreciated to ensure our availability Vanessa 416-574-1112 or Josie 416-606-4349 or e-mail josie@telsec.net.

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