Coworking Spaces as a Strategic Resource for Freelancers and SMEs: A Qualitative Study

Hero Gefthi Firnando; Cucu Setiawati

doi:10.55980/esber.v3i3.425

Authors

Hero Gefthi Firnando STIE GICI Business School, Jakarta, Indonesia
Cucu Setiawati Universitas PTIQ, Jakarta, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55980/esber.v3i3.425

Keywords:

Coworking Spaces , Strategic Resources , Freelancers , SMEs

Abstract

This study investigates the role of coworking spaces as strategic resources for freelancers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in enhancing productivity, collaboration, and business sustainability. Drawing on the Resource-Based View (RBV), this research adopts a qualitative approach through in-depth semi-structured interviews with freelancers and SME actors who utilize a coworking space known as BMS as their primary or supporting work environment. The findings reveal that coworking spaces provide not only physical infrastructure but also intangible resources, including networking opportunities, knowledge sharing, and a collaborative atmosphere that fosters innovation and business growth. Furthermore, the presence of a flexible and professional work environment contributes to greater work efficiency and enhanced business credibility. However, several challenges are identified, such as cost considerations and dependency on shared facilities. Overall, the findings suggest that coworking spaces function as valuable strategic assets that support the competitiveness and sustainability of freelancers and SMEs. These findings contribute to the entrepreneurship and SME literature by highlighting the importance of shared work environments as part of the modern entrepreneurial ecosystem.

References

Akhavan, M., Mariotti, I., Astolfi, L., & Canevari, A. (2019). Coworking Spaces and New Social Relations: A Focus on the Social Streets in Italy. Urban Science, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci3010002

Alfieri, L., Mariotti, I., & Rossi, F. (2025). The twin transition and flexible work arrangements: A systematic literature review. Journal of Environmental Management, 395(November), 127988. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127988

Berbegal-Mirabent, J. (2021). What do we know about co-working spaces? Trends and challenges ahead. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(3), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031416

Bouncken, R. B., Kraus, S., & Martínez-Pérez, J. F. (2020). Entrepreneurship of an institutional field: the emergence of coworking spaces for digital business models. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 16(4), 1465–1481. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-020-00689-4

Bouncken, R. B., & Tiberius, V. (2023). Legitimacy Processes and Trajectories of Co-Prosumption Services: Insights from Coworking Spaces. Journal of Service Research, 26(1), 64–82. https://doi.org/10.1177/10946705211050208

Bouncken, R., Ratzmann, M., Barwinski, R., & Kraus, S. (2020). Coworking spaces: Empowerment for entrepreneurship and innovation in the digital and sharing economy. Journal of Business Research, 114(February), 102–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.03.033

Bueno, S., Rodríguez-Baltanás, G., & Gallego, M. D. (2018). Coworking spaces: a new way of achieving productivity. Journal of Facilities Management, 16(4), 452–466. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFM-01-2018-0006

Cheah, S., & Ho, Y. P. (2019). Coworking and sustainable business model innovation in young firms. Sustainability (Switzerland), 11(10), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102959

Clifton, N., Füzi, A., & Loudon, G. (2022). Coworking in the digital economy: Context, motivations, and outcomes. Futures, 135(May 2019), 102439. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2019.102439

Echeverri, N., Jylhä, T., & Koppels, P. (2021). Searching for flexibility in corporate real estate portfolio: Six co-working strategies for user corporations. Buildings, 11(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11030115

El Nemar, S., El-Chaarani, H., Dandachi, I., & Castellano, S. (2025). Resource-based view and sustainable advantage: a framework for SMEs. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 33(6), 798–821. https://doi.org/10.1080/0965254X.2022.2160486

Fu, Y., Li, Y., & Li, X. (2025). Coexisting or coworking? The reconfigured office spaces in two emerging global cities. Journal of Urban Affairs, 47(5), 1691–1708. https://doi.org/10.1080/07352166.2023.2242531

Gao, C., & Psenner, E. (2024). Transforming the Creative and Social Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: The Broker Roles of Rural Collaborative Workspaces. Societies, 14(6), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14060081

Gerdenitsch, C., Scheel, T. E., Andorfer, J., & Korunka, C. (2016). Coworking Spaces: A Source of Social Support for Independent Professionals. Frontiers in Psychology, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00581

Ingaldi, M., & Ulewicz, R. (2025). Sustainable Development and Technological Advancements in Industry 4.0: Overcoming Barriers in Sme Sector Integration. Management Systems in Production Engineering, 33(2), 144–162. https://doi.org/10.2478/mspe-2025-0015

Knox, S., Farooqi, S., & Oziri, V. (2024). More than just co-working? How co-working spaces frame their role and impact in entrepreneurial ecosystems. Local Economy, 39(5–6), 253–276. https://doi.org/10.1177/02690942251334593

Leclercq-Vandelannoitte, A., & Isaac, H. (2016). The new office: how coworking changes the work concept. Journal of Business Strategy, 37(6), 3–9. https://doi.org/10.1108/JBS-10-2015-0105

Radic, D. (2020). Small matters! Journal of the International Council for Small Business, 1(1), 24–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/26437015.2020.1714357

Rantanen, T., Eronen, J., Kauppinen, M., Kokko, K., Sanaslahti, S., Kajan, N., & Portegijs, E. (2021). Life-Space Mobility and Active Aging as Factors Underlying Quality of Life among Older People before and during COVID-19 Lockdown in Finland - A Longitudinal Study. Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 76(3), E60–E67. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaa274

Sutriadi, R., & Fachryza, D. M. (2021). A phenomenon in urban disruption: the emergence of Coworking Spaces in Bandung. Heliyon, 7(7), e07663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07663

Wijngaarden, Y., Hitters, E., & Bhansing, P. V. (2020). Cultivating fertile learning grounds: Collegiality, tacit knowledge and innovation in creative co-working spaces. Geoforum, 109(June 2019), 86–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2020.01.005

Xia, L., Baghaie, S., & Mohammad Sajadi, S. (2024). The digital economy: Challenges and opportunities in the new era of technology and electronic communications. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 15(2), 102411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2023.102411

Yang, E., Bisson, C., & Sanborn, B. E. (2019). Coworking space as a third-fourth place: changing models of a hybrid space in corporate real estate. Journal of Corporate Real Estate, 21(4), 324–345. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRE-12-2018-0051

Yu, R., Burke, M., & Raad, N. (2019). Exploring impact of future flexible working model evolution on urban environment, economy and planning. Journal of Urban Management, 8(3), 447–457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jum.2019.05.002

Zhu, S. (2026). How Does Cross-Border E-Commerce Change As Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Expand Into Emerging Markets? Journal of Governance and Regulation, 15(1), 160–173. https://doi.org/10.22495/jgrv15i1art15