First and foremost, working in a co-working space makes it possible to end the lonely nature the self-employment, if your work does not require you to have fixed premises with the specific equipment associated with your work.
Co-working is also an ideal solution in term of optimising one’s costs, since most offers of rental are tailor-made and include office essentials (already installed office equipment, internet connections, a printer and a kitchenette). It is also possible to rent space in accordance with your needs, from a few hours per week, to several days a month, so it is also an extremely flexible form of working.
The work environment found in co-working is also known to promote networking, collaborative work and creativity because it enables you to interact with the other occupants.
When renting a co-working space, insurance is often included (check this in your lease) ... but beware, this will generally only cover the premises and possibly the equipment belonging to the owner and is made available by arrangement. In other words, it will cover the co-working premises as well as the owner’s equipment which is insured against the risks of fire or water damage, among other things.
For everything else, it's up to you to make sure you are properly insured.
"If you want to set up as a freelancer in an unregulated sector (e.g. the sale of intellectual services, other than those offered by chartered accountants,architects, etc.), you do not need prior authorisation for business use. However, you will need to get authorisation as a trader in order to issue invoices."
If you decide to rent a co-working office as a freelancer, certain types of insurance will cover you for work outside your home with complete peace of mind.
Third party insurance will cover the loss or damage you may cause to third parties while you exercise your professional activities, and particularly to those people who share the co-working space with you. You will certainly be asked for this insurance when signing a lease for co-working space.
Please note that depending on your type of work, third-party liability insurance will have various options and types of cover. Check with your insurer.
If your equipment is damaged by another person, it is his third-party liability insurance policy - if he has one - which will cover any loss or damage.
So, if you want complete insurance, choose ‘Business’ cover: a multi-risk insurance policy.
In addition to covering your contents against the risk of fire or water damage in the co-working space, you have the option of adding an ‘All Electronic Risks’ extension which, in particular, allows you to cover your portable computer equipment both inside and outside your co-working space. This policy also includes third party liability cover which is tailored for your type of work.
As you will have understood, working in a co-working space has many advantages, especially when you start up your business activity ... but remember to contact your insurance broker to check that you have the insurance policy which covers the specific requirements of your business.