Blog

There is a nice list of coworking options in San Luis Obispo County. Coworking is where you share a large space with other people but they are not your coworkers from the same company as you. Some of these coworking spaces even have a private desk option with walls and your own door for a higher fee.

There are a total of 8 locations that I've found, including the following areas: San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande, and Paso Robles.

Organization-run Coworking Spaces in San Luis Obispo County

• Hot House in Downtown San Luis Obispo is on the Cal Poly campus and you don't have to have Cal Poly ties to get a desk here. It is pricier among the bunch. A designated work desk is $325 a month. (Rate could be higher than last checked from the date of this post)
  Website: https://cie.calpoly.edu/coworking/

• Connect SLO is the newest of the bunch and offers office space for rental. They offer coworking spaces to their residents.So if you're looking for a living situation plus a coworking space, this is a unique option.
  Website: https://www.connectslo.com/coworkingofficespaces

• Storylabs in Atascadero is interesting because it used to be in San Luis Obispo but they moved! A dedicated desk is $300 a month. (Rate could be higher than last checked from the date of this post)
  Website: https://www.storylabs.work

• The Launchpad in Grover Beach is 1 block from the ocean. I've been told by another mom that if you are a member of the South County Chamber of Commerce, you may get some discounts for The Launchpad. Their monthly fee is not publicly disclosed on their website.
  Website: https://thelaunchpadsouthcountychambers.com

• 5 Cities Cowork in Arroyo Grande is the most affordable of the bunch at $150 a month for a designated work desk! They don't have the fancy amenities but it's great place if you're only popping in a few times a week and need a quiet space to work. They also have a meeting room, It's close to Wal Mart and Panera Bread, plus other shopping and restaurants and located off the 101 HWY!
  Website: https://www.fivecitiescowork.com

• Bridgeworks Coworking in Atascadero is run by the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce. A dedicated work desk is $300 a month. (Rate could be higher than last checked from the date of this post)
  Website: https://www.atascaderochamber.org/bridgeworks-coworking/

• Bloom Cowork in Atascadero has a big faith mission in their space, which can be very appealing. They don't publicly publish the prices on their website.
  Website: https://www.bloomcowork.org/events

• THE SANDBOX in Paso Robles has a bonus where they have an enclosed small space that you can rent by the hour at an affordable rate for calls. You can also rent a dedicated office space at a monthly rate or just drop in for a coworking space that is not designated.
  Website: https://thesandboxpaso.com/work-at-the-sandbox/day-passes/

[This blog entry is under progress. Please contact me for questions.]

Cowork or Remotely Work at Libraries for Free!

Always free, you can visit a local library and use their free wifi and seating area to work on your computer. I even suggested this on a thread and got some agreement. A few libraries in my area even have couches. I've seen people work at libraries around here before, although you should be very, very quiet, compared to a organization-run coworking space. However, if you're on a budget, utilizing the free public library to work are great options. We have some fantastic libraries around the area and you can even borrow a book with your library card when you have time afterwards! I have a list of story times for kids but you can totally use this list to locate a library. See the library list of San Luis Obispo County libraries here to explore possible areas to work remotely from for free. I highly suggest the Downtown San Luis Obispo location or the Paso Robles Library if you're looking for bigger libraries.

You can also remotely work at coffee shops in the area if you're looking for some mean coffee and vibrant spaces to also scope out different areas. Here's a list of coffee shops that I've remotely work from in San Luis Obispo County.

From being a sole proprietor for many years, I've finally learned how to start an LLC to keep my personal and work concerns separate. This is the beginning of many new blog entries about beginning a startup in San Luis Obispo County. I can't give any legal advice as I am not a lawyer, but I can share a bit of the hurdles and know-how. Feel free to contact me via my Contact Form for any questions.

Remote Work Supplies:

Most of my work is independent work where I'm just hashing out projects from my computer and communicating with my teammates via email and chat so working remotely from coffee shops requires me to continually upkeep my office supplies. Here are the supplies I usually bring with me, when I'm remotely working outside of the home:

• Noise Canceling Headphones with Microphone - I've had web meetings from a coffee shop before. My noise cancelling headset makes such a big difference and really helps keep my work life professional, as well as keep distractions to a minimum since it could get noisy in a coffee shop.
• Extension Cord - I'd also bring my extension cord in case the closest outlet from where I'm sitting at is more than a couple of feet away. Usually a 3 foot extension cord is enough to give me the right reach without the unnecessary clunkiness that a 10 foot extension cord has.
• Notebook Paper and Pens - I'm still old fashion with note taking as I like to write my meeting notes on paper before typing them up. Getting a pretty notebook and pen set or themed set really sets a good mood for me.