Part of the popularity of coworking stems are the short contract terms. Some
coworking spaces, however, are eager for you to sign up, then make leaving much harder.
Netherlands-based Regus created the coworking brand Spaces in part to distance itself from its stodgy roots as a purveyor of international business centres. However, behind that youthful branding for many members have been displeased to discover age-old practices of stuffing unexpected fees into contracts such as fees for coffee service, mail and shared kitchen use.
Fed up members have quit, only to find out they don’t get their initial deposit (or “Retainer”) back and they have to pay exit fees on top of that.
Coworking spaces, like any business, need to spell things out in contracts. But these contracts should not be so long and difficult to interpret that they mislead customers. If you don’t feel don’t feel confident that you understand your payments and obligations, find another space with more straight-forward terms.
This way, you hopefully won’t receive the added frustration of a hefty bill when you decide to part ways.