As one of the world’s most creative and innovative cities, New York is certainly not alien to the concept of collaborative and shared working spaces. According to a recent real estate survey, Manhattan alone is home to more than 5 million square feet of shared office space, and the figures are also high (and continue to increase) in boroughs like Brooklyn, which has approximately 1 million square feet of such space.

Over the past five years, New York City has witnessed the significant growth of co-working spaces that cater to very specific niches, from female-only spaces to those exclusively created to attract graphic designers or writers. New spaces are constantly appearing across the city, offering a range of fabulous benefits in an effort to target specific niche communities and to bring real value and opportunities for growth to the professionals using these spaces.

In this article we take a look at some of the most interesting, cool, and quirky perks offered by some of the top co-working spaces in New York.

Spacious defines itself as a co-working-hospitality hybrid model that provides workspaces in select New York restaurants when they are closed to diners. Perks include high-speed WiFi, private dining rooms used to conduct private calls or meetings complimentary tea and coffee, and food and drink discounts at each restaurant.

Office accommodation is one of the biggest expenses an expanding company has to consider. Every cent counts and negotiating the best deal possible can save your business enough to launch a marketing campaign or perhaps hire extra staff.

Here are a few useful tips that should enable you to get more for less:

Tip 1: Evaluate the permitted uses of the leased space. Are you planning to expand in a few years time? Do you intend on subleasing any of the space to a third party? It’s advisable to ask for an option to be able to sublet the premises in case you have to downsize or move part of your team to another office.

Tip 2: How long is the lease for? It’s generally easier to get discounts and concessions if you plan on signing a long-term contract. However, in the current economic climate you may be able to successfully negotiate a short-term deal with bonuses that would normally only be available to long-term tenants. Always investigate lease renewal terms and conditions, especially if leasing short-term.

Staten Island, although the smallest borough of New York City with a population of less than 500,000 people, has shown many positive signs of growth in recent times.

Major Economic Drivers For Staten Island

The slower acclimation of technology start-ups into the Staten Island community in comparison to the other four New York boroughs means that the area predominantly relies on other economic drivers to grow and sustain its economy, although this is starting to change.

One of the faster growing economic drivers for Staten Island is tourism. The VisitStatenIsland.com website was started in 2009 to help drive more tourism revenue to the area and the initial results indicate that visitors are responding.

The main economic driver for Staten Island remains its healthcare system. One of the more unique aspects of Staten Island is that it runs its own hospitals and is completely independent of the New York City government. Health research and healthcare remain a prime economic factor for  Staten Island residents.

Primary Industries And Employers For Staten Island

The most prominent industry on Staten Island is healthcare. Richmond University Medical Center and Staten Island University Hospital are two of the larger employers on the island for a variety of trades and professions.

Running a close second as far as dominant industries on Staten Island is the financial sales and insurance industries. There are nearly as many people employed in the financial and insurance industries on Staten Island as there are in healthcare.

Business Funding Opportunities On Staten Island

Manhattan been New York City’s most successful borough for a quite some time. One of the reasons for Manhattan’s success is its ports and trade businesses. Along with the incoming and outgoing trade, there are the associated business that pop up such as customs brokers and trade agents. Thanks to its seaports, Manhattan has always had a strong financial foundation to rely on.

Manhattan is also known for its skyscrapers and dynamic downtown region. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 destroyed the World Trade center and its iconic Twin Towers. But in place of the destruction, another iconic Manhattan office complex has risen and stands as a testament to the durability of the Manhattan economy. With so much going for it at any given time, it is easy to understand why people are so excited about the economic future of Manhattan.

Main Economic Drivers In Manhattan

The seaports are always alive with activity, but the main economic driver in Manhattan is its downtown real estate. When the real estate values in Manhattan fell in 2011, the area experienced a financial challenge that saw a major part of its economy go stagnant. But as downtown property values increase, so do the fortunes of the Manhattan economy.

Another economic driver for Manhattan has been the significant success of the Start-Up NY campaign. This is an initiative by New York State to entice technology and medical start-ups to base themselves in New York State colleges and other parts of the state. The result has been a significant increase in technology companies in Manhattan’s downtown office spaces and this new influx of business is driving up the real estate prices.

In the current economic climate it is important to optimize resources and facilities as effectively as possible, and many businesses consider switching to more cost-effective open-plan office space. Reduced cost, however, is not the only thing to consider.

The pros:

Open-plan offices offer ideal conditions for establishing friendships – assuming you like the people you share the space with.

Open-plan offices are more cost-effective, on average saving business up to 20 percent on accommodation cost. Choosing partitions wisely and working out the best possible desk layout allows companies to fit more people into the smaller space.

Buildings with open-plan office facilities are environmentally friendlier as heating and cooling becomes more efficient.