Coworking Spaces in Toronto Popular with Freelancers

By Lori Bosworth

Are you planning on becoming your own boss in 2018 or perhaps you have already decided to become a freelancer, independent contractor or small business owner. Many of us are switching careers to become our own bosses. Often that means working from home, which can pose a whole host of challenges and distractions. We look at some of the new and popular coworking spaces in Toronto where you can pay a monthly fee for shared office space for a fraction of the cost of leasing your own space, as well as network with other entrepreneurs.

If you are working from home, you may need to access a workspace only a few days each month to work on specific projects, hold meetings, or have a central work location to go to between meetings. These co-working spaces offer flexible monthly plans to suit your professional needs.

Love Child Social House

If you are looking for co-working spaces in Toronto that also double as a social space, Love Child Social House at 69 Bathurst Street is the shared office space for you. Love Child Social House offers the following membership plans at the King West Village location:

• $15 per day gives you main floor access;
• $45 per month provides you with workspace for 6 days per month, social access plus guest to weekly social events and preferred pricing for specialized events and workshops;
• $75 per month provides you with Monday to Friday access to the workspace, social access plus guest to weekly social events and preferred pricing for specialized events and workshops.

Workshop topics include wellness, fitness, tech and entrepreneurship. Their BOSS MONDAYS SERIES is dedicated to celebrating female entrepreneurs, leaders and influencers. Check out their upcoming workshop on Monday, January 8, 2018 at 6 p.m. featuring April Brown and Sarah Sklash, owners of The June Motel in Prince Edward County. Brown and Sklash will share their insight into becoming entrepreneurs. Tickets are $5 for non members, and free for members.

Love Child Social House is open daily for members and guests from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is open to the public after 5 p.m. For more information, contact guest@lovechildsocial.com or call 647-349-7717.

Spaces Queen West

Spaces has opened its first co-working space in Canada at 180 John Street. The company already has 60 locations in 25 countries. The brick and beam heritage building, which was formerly Urbane Cycle, features a modern workspace with collaborative areas, team rooms, co-working space, phone booths, meeting rooms and fully furnished private offices. Network or hold meetings on the stunning rooftop patio, with views of the CN Tower. There are phone booths to hold private conversations, as well as dedicated desks where you can work with concentration and focus. Members can book meeting rooms for a few hours or a whole day. For frequent travellers, Spaces Queen West members have access to a global network of over 3,000 flexible workspace locations. Enjoy a coffee break at Thor Espresso Bar, an independent café, which will be opening in the front lobby of Spaces Queen West. Spaces Queen West will partner with local community members to host networking events and educational workshops including events by TEDx members.

East Room

This co-working space in Riverside is great for freelancers and small business owners in Toronto’s east end. East Room offers several different membership plans depending on your needs including:
• Mailbox ($100 per month) – This membership provides you with a mailing address and invitations to events;
• Club ($250 per month) – You’ll receive unlimited access to an open work lounge, plus six hours of boardroom time per month;
• Resident 1 ($500 per month) – If you require more privacy, this membership package offers semi-private personal workspace with a desk, chair and lamp and unlimited boardroom bookings;
• Resident II (Starting at $2200 per month) – Receive a 2-5 person enclosed office with chairs and lamps and unlimited boardroom bookings;
• Premium (Starting at $3300 per month) – This membership plan offers a 5-8 person enclosed office with chairs and lamps and unlimited boardroom bookings;
• Boardroom ($200 per hour) – Reserve one of the East Room’s five fully-equipped boardrooms. House catering is available.

The East Room is located at 50 Carroll Street, Suite 200. Call 416-628-5333 or email info@eastroom.ca for more information.

Would you consider using coworking spaces in Toronto? If so, please share your thoughts in the comment section.