Five Ways Coworking Supports Small Business Productivity

Key insights:

• Research shows coworking boosts SME productivity through improved flexibility, a wider variety of business services and facilities, and community networking opportunities, among other things.
• More than 70 per cent of professionals in flexible workspaces report higher satisfaction and productivity.
• Servcorp’s US$100m global network, world-class admin and IT staff, and 50,000-strong client community help businesses reclaim time and drive growth.

Coworking is more than just a practical way for small businesses and sole practitioners to manage costs; it’s a productivity powerhouse.

Flexible Workspace Australia data shows more than 70 per cent of professionals working in flexible coworking environments report being more satisfied and productive. Academic research into co-working spaces reveals several reasons for this, including business services like reception, IT, and admin support, adaptability to schedules, and diversity of spaces suited to specific preferences and types of work.

Rising costs have sharpened the focus on workplace efficiency. ABS figures show electricity prices jumped 13 per cent in July 2025, adding pressure to already tight budgets for small businesses.

At the same time, a changing culture around work has reinforced coworking’s appeal. A recent Great Aussie Debate survey of more than 54,000 participants found that 62 per cent of Australians prefer a hybrid work model, while only 29 per cent support a traditional, full-time office arrangement. That shift underscores a broader need for work environments that match modern expectations, and employee satisfaction, choice, and productivity can coexist.

These trends highlight how the value of serviced office extends beyond addresses. At Servcorp, we’ve seen countless businesses supercharge productivity by using shared office spaces that combine human services, technology, community, and space flexibility in a way that traditional offices simply can’t. Here are five ways that co-working drives productivity improvements for our 50,000+ clients every day.

State-of-the-art technology support

Technology underpins every aspect of productivity. For small businesses, downtime caused by poor Wi-Fi or patchy IT support can derail whole days and have a material impact on revenue. Research shows that connectivity and IT reliability are among the top factors influencing workspace choice for SMEs and freelancers

Coworking environments that provide strong infrastructure help to reduce downtime risk. Reliable internet, flexible telephony, and responsive IT support mean businesses can keep projects moving without the disruption that comes from patchy systems or waiting on third-party providers.

Servcorp has invested over US$100 million in its own global network infrastructure, rather than reselling third-party services, giving clients direct peering with major providers like Microsoft and Amazon. That means faster, more secure, and more customisable connectivity. Every client has access to in-house IT support, from onboarding devices to configuring cloud environments, removing the need for external providers.

Through our partnership with OpenAI, our staff are trained on using generative AI tools to develop assets for clients, enabling businesses to navigate and capitalise on the biggest trend in technology quickly and easily.

Reception and administration services help handle mundane tasks

Administrative work takes up valuable time that could otherwise be spent on clients or growth. Research shows Australian small businesses spend an average of 541 hours and almost $15,000 on administrative tasks, with a total annual cost of more than $20 billion per year.

Coworking environments with professional reception and administrative services can help reclaim that time. Trained receptionists handling calls, mail, and visitor management create a professional first impression, while support staff take care of everyday requests. For sole practitioners, this is often the difference between being perceived as a small operation and presenting the presence of a larger, more established business.

Servcorp integrates these services directly into its offering, with dedicated reception teams trained to understand each client’s business, answer calls in their company name, and support with secretarial tasks.

Flexibility that reflects modern workstyles

Hybrid work is firmly embedded in Australia's working culture. Data from the Australian HR Institute shows more than 80 per cent of Australians believe hybrid working will increase or stay the same in the coming two years, with a falling number of workplaces requiring in-office attendance between three and five days a week.

Similarly, the Productivity Commission’s 2025 report confirmed that as of August 2024, 36% of employed Australians usually worked from home, up from just 12% pre-pandemic. Critically, hybrid work arrangements have not harmed productivity, and in many cases have improved worker satisfaction by reducing commute time and absenteeism.

For small businesses, long-term office leases can be misaligned with these evolving patterns. Coworking offers a practical way to access professional space when required, such as boardrooms, collaboration zones, and quiet desks, without paying for unused capacity, enabling businesses to scale in step with actual needs.

Community & Connection That Build Opportunities

Coworking spaces provide built-in networks that allow small businesses to connect, collaborate, and identify new growth opportunities. Beyond the casual “water cooler” effect, these shared environments increase opportunities for collaboration, partnerships, and knowledge exchange.

Coworking communities like Servcorp host events, workshops, and networking sessions, creating a platform for entrepreneurs to share expertise and learn from others. For many SMEs, this community aspect translates into tangible business outcomes, from finding new suppliers to securing new clients.

Servcorp fosters these networks globally, giving members access not only to local business communities but also to an international ecosystem of 50,000 professionals across 150 locations.

Spaces Designed for Every Task

Productivity is closely tied to environment. Research has found that workers value a balance between focused work areas and collaborative spaces, with business services ranking among the top reasons for choosing one space over another. This diversity allows people to choose an environment suited to the task, whether that’s quiet focus, a creative brainstorm, or a formal client pitch.

Serviced offices and coworking hubs provide this variety by design. Private offices sit alongside open-plan desks, phone booths, boardrooms, and lounges, letting individuals move between environments throughout the day. For small businesses, this spatial flexibility is nearly impossible to replicate in a fixed lease.

The Bottom Line

Coworking has evolved from being a real estate solution to a key strategy for improving productivity. By combining technology, professional services, flexible models, community, and thoughtfully designed spaces, serviced offices allow small businesses and sole traders to operate with the agility of larger firms, accelerating their growth trajectories.