It made me wonder:

* Exactly what type of internet worker would really need to rent office space?

* Haven't we all been trying to get away from fluorescent lights and cubicles?

* Why not just work at home or at the cafe?

I had a few ideas about why an internet business owner with my friend's needs would want to work from a collaborative co-working facility, but this whole "virtual worker renting office space" phenomenon reached a new level when I learned that one of my clients was also doing the same thing. When I learned this I thought "Aha, I see a pattern here!"

Some high profile very successful internet entrepreneurs are yearning for a more structured workspace where they can get more work done, meet with in-person clients, and possibly socialize and collaborate with colleagues and potential clients. Working from home, the corner coffee shop and crowded cafes just isn't cutting it any longer for some folks.

The big question is: What kind of virtual worker would need to rent office space?

Well, I think obviously this appeals to folks who are web workers, particularly those in the tech industry and creative fields--designers, probloggers, writers, architects, developers, entrepreneurs, programmers, web media professionals and other tech-y, artsy type jobs.

So, would it be worth it for you to try working outside the home? It depends--definitely working in rented office space around people instead of at your home or the neighborhood coffee shop might help you take your business up a notch if you fit certain criteria. You might want to rent office space in a co-working facility or regular office if:

* You can afford to pay rent on office space. (Duh, right?)

* You have disturbances at your home that prevent you from focusing on the work you need to do (think kids, roommates, super friendly neighbors and such)

* You sometimes meet with clients or colleagues in person and are tired of meeting in a crowded, noisy coffee shop

* You get lonely working from home all day and would like to work around people

* Perhaps your home is so small that you get "cabin fever" working in there and need some place out in open society where you can work

* You find the cafes and coffee shops too distracting and need a more controlled, quiet environment to get your best work done

* You like the idea of "going to work" and also "coming home from work" (working away from home sometimes helps us to not work so much all the time)

* Your line of work is such that working in a collaborative co-working facility allows you to easily work on projects with colleagues in person, network with potential clients and generate new business

Obviously this office space strategy is not the answer for everyone, and if you have a perfectly good office in your house you might want to save the cash and continue to work from home. But how can you know for sure if you should rent office space or not? Well, you will definitely NOT want to rent office space in a co-working facility or regular office if:

* You cannot afford to pay rent on office space. (Duh, right?)

* You can afford to rent office space, but you just don't think it's necessary for your needs

* You like working by yourself from home

* You enjoy being a nomadic web worker and venturing from cafe to cafe * You home is quiet, or you don't mind it being noisy

* You don't get lonely or you have other activities you do in your off hours that fill that social need

* You have a dog or a baby that you want/need to keep with you as you work

* You don't want to commute to work at all

* Your work is 100% virtual and you never meet with clients in person

* Working in a cubicle under fluorescent lights gives you "corporate life flashbacks" and disturbing nightmares

So, getting outside office space is definitely the best choice for some virtual business owners, but it's not for everyone. I have to admit, having a one second commute is nice, but it's also kind of cool to actually go somewhere and then come back home. You get more the feeling of "Ahh, work is over--time to relax!", and I think sometimes we virtual home workers don't get that feeling very often.