You've started your business and are setting your own hours. You're creating that next big thing everyone will want. You're also finding that holding company meetings at your kitchen table or local coffee shop is not as productive as you thought. With Atlanta's startup community exploding, co-working memberships have become the norm around the metro. Here are five places to rent a desk, an office or simply collaborate and listen with fellow entrepreneurial types.
All-purpose
Strongbox West on West Marietta Street has become Atlanta's longest-running (est. 2009) as well as its largest co-working membership space. To many, it is the cornerstone upon which others have built their foundations. Strongbox is one, big startup-loving family with companies ranging from tech to marketing to law firms. Even artists, a coding school and individual freelancers call SBW home. You might even see a few furry colleagues about or COD (Chief Operations Dog,) Coleman wandering the premises with his owner and SBW co-founder, Amy Hoover. Memberships range from $15 for a day pass up to $450 per month for an office. Amenities include WiFii, private meeting rooms, on-site coffee shop (opening 10/1,) workshop rooms with equipment and free parking.
Creatives
Not everyone in Atlanta works in tech or PR. With the recent explosion of creative ventures around the city, Foster Atlanta in the Poncey-Highland neighborhood has developed a quiet, bright space where imaginative individuals and small groups can create and collaborate. This isn't your ordinary co-working space. Foster aims to bring innovative Atlantans together while helping them curate their skills through workshops and monthly meet-ups with other artistic like minds. There's even a chance for craft makers to peddle their wares at regular pop-up shops. This is Atlanta's answer to a modern, urban art collective. Memberships start at $250 per month and include 24/7 access, studio space, meeting rooms, mail drop, desks, snacks and strong coffee.
Techies
On the corner of Piedmont and Lenox, in the heart of Buckhead's financial district, sits Atlanta Tech Village. Since 2013, ATV has been bringing tech start-ups and businesses together under one roof to promote growth and innovation in the community. Inside this 103,000 square foot tech mecca, entrepreneurs, developers and investors all mingle to support and inspired one another while drinking free beer and Octane coffee. Oh, and changing the world. Private offices, nap rooms, common area, game room, fitness center, Wi-Fi, snacks and free lunch Fridays are just a few of the amenities ATV offers its villagers. Desks start at $300 per month. Offices at $600 per month. Scholarships available for young companies and students.
OTP-reneurs
Calling all OTP pioneers, innovators and visionaries: Roam has a place for you. With locations in Alpharetta, Dunwoody, the Galleria and an upcoming ITP locale in Buckhead, there's no need to fight traffic into the city to mix and mingle with your fellow entrepreneurs. Roam offers its members weekly business-building, branding and networking workshops in order to create a collaborative environment for fledgling, small and nonprofit companies. Roam houses businesses ranging from executive coaching to real estate to a nonprofit student mission organization. Memberships start at $99 per month and go up from there for those who need dedicated office space. Amenities include Wi-Fi, cafe access, events, co-working space, desks, offices, meeting rooms and mail service.
New wave design
Leave it to the co-founders of the wildly successful start-up Scoutmob, Michael Tavani and Dave Payne, to rethink the way we incubate new businesses. Switchyards, in downtown Atlanta, is set to open in November and will serve as the "hub for consumer and design-focused startups." Ever the embodiment of entrepreneurial spirit, Tavani and Payne are in the process of renovating an 87-year-old, 19,000 square foot building for the purposes of housing 35 companies, private workspaces, a dedicated coffee shop and meeting rooms. There is virtually nothing like Switchyards in Atlanta, which they describe as a members-only club that is "part workspace, part coffee shop, part event series and part incubator." Memberships begin at $350 per month and include such amenities as fiber Wi-Fi, unlimited coffee, 24/7 access, private offices, game room, covered garden area, lounge and event and meeting spaces. Tours are available upon request.
