Introduction: We don't all work the same way (and that's okay)

Some people need to sit in the same spot every morning, open their laptop, connect their external monitor, and start the day with their usual routine. Others prefer to arrive, find a free spot by the window, work for four hours with complete focus, and then get some fresh air after lunch.

 

Neither way is better. But Choosing the wrong type of desk in a coworking space can turn a space designed for productivity into a source of daily discomfort.. Paying too much for a dedicated desk that you barely use three days a week, or being left without a fixed place when your job requires having documentation, monitors or physical material always at hand, are more frequent mistakes than they seem.

 

In this article we're going to break down the real differences between a fixed position and a flexible coworking space, We'll analyze which profiles work best for each option and give you a quick decision framework so you don't make a mistake. If you work in Madrid—or are thinking of moving here—we'll also tell you what each option is like in [location missing]. ILCOWORKING & LEGAL SERVICES, right in the Glorieta de Bilbao.

What is a flexible position (hot desking) and how does it work?

He flexible position, also known as hot desking, It's a model where you don't have an assigned desk. You arrive at the coworking space, choose an available table, and start working. When you finish, you pack up your things and free up the space for the next person.

 

It's a system that originated in the 1990s in corporate environments with high shift rotation, but it has found its most natural form in today's coworking spaces. The logic is simple: if not all members attend every day, Why keep an empty desk permanently reserved?

What is a day-to-day life like with hot desking?

In practice, a flexible job means that:

 

• You work with a portable device. Laptop, headphones, charger, and little else. It all fits in a backpack.
• You leave nothing on the table when you leave. Some spaces offer optional lockers, but the desk is free at the end of your day.
• You can change zones depending on your task. Need to concentrate? Find a quiet corner. Need to make calls? Head to the phone booths or a more open area.
• Your schedule is completely flexible. You can come from 8 to 14, from 16 to 21, or just two days a week.

Who is a flexible position ideal for?

Hot desking is a particularly good fit for these profiles:

 

• Freelancers who work on a project basis and they don't need to be in the same place every day.
• Digital nomads passing through Madrid who are looking for a professional space for a few weeks or months.
• Part-time remote professionals They combine a company office and coworking, and only need a desk two or three days a week.
• Early-stage entrepreneurs who want to minimize fixed costs while validating their business model.
• Consultants and sales representatives whose main activity takes place outside the office: client visits, external meetings, frequent travel.

Advantages of a flexible job

• Lower cost. Hot desking plans are usually roughly situated between 100 and 200 euros per month In Madrid, it depends on the center and the services included. It's the most accessible entry point to coworking.
• Maximum scheduling flexibility. There is no commitment to daily attendance. You pay for access, not for presence.
• Variety of environments. Changing your workspace requires a change of perspective. For certain creative profiles, that can be a boost.
• Organic networking. By rotating seats, you end up sitting next to different people each week. Casual conversations multiply.
• Fewer ties. If your situation changes—a new client in another city, a long trip—you don't have an empty position generating costs.

Disadvantages of a flexible job

• No customization. You cannot leave your monitor, your lamp, or your folders on the table.
• No permanent storage. Although some centers offer drawers with lock As an extra, it's not the usual thing in the basic plan.
• Risk of not finding a place. During peak hours, the best desks may be occupied. This isn't common in well-managed centers, but it's worth keeping in mind.
• Less sense of belonging. For some people, not having "their" place makes it difficult to establish a routine and concentrate.
• Variable ergonomics. If you need a specific screen configuration, external keyboard or footrest, assembling and disassembling it every day is inconvenient.

What is a dedicated desk and what does it include?

He permanent position -either dedicated desk— It's exactly what it sounds like: a desk that's yours and yours alone. No one sits there when you're not around. You can leave your materials, personalize the space, and start each day right where you left off the day before.

 

In a quality coworking space, a dedicated desk isn't just a reserved table. It typically includes:

 

• Own desk with enough space for a dual screen.
• Ergonomic chair adjustable in height, backrest and tilt.
• Chest of drawers with lock for storing documents and office supplies.
• Access to fixed connections (dedicated power outlets, Ethernet in some centers).
• Customization options: A second monitor, a desk organizer, a plant, a photo. The little details that transform a shared space into something personal.

 

An important nuance: A dedicated desktop offers stability and secure, locked storage, but it's worth remembering that It continues to be located in a shared environment. A filing cabinet allows you to store documents securely, but it doesn't replace the acoustic and visual privacy provided by a private office or a closed room. If your work requires confidentiality in conversations—calls with clients, meetings with sensitive information—it's advisable to supplement your workstation with a private desk. booking meeting rooms or hiring a private office, available at centers such as ILCOWORKING & LEGAL SERVICES.

What's it like to have a dedicated desk on a typical day?

A fixed workstation transforms the dynamics of work in coworking:

 

• You arrive and start. No need to search for a place, no need to assemble. Your desk is exactly as you left it.
• Your team is always ready. If you work with an external monitor, ergonomic mouse, or headphones with a charging base, everything is connected and ready.
• Your neighbors are the same. This creates deeper relationships and a more predictable environment, which many people find essential for maintaining focus.
• You can manage physical documentation. Contracts, invoices, client files… all stored in your drawer under lock and key, without having to carry it around every day.

For whom is a permanent position ideal?

A dedicated desktop is the natural choice for:

 

• Professionals who work full-time from a coworking space and they need daily stability.
• Lawyers, tax advisors and consultants who handle documentation and require secure storage. For confidential conversations, the fixed workstation is complemented by the reservation of meeting rooms or private offices.
• Programmers and designers who work with dual-screen configurations and need a stable ergonomic setup.
• Small teams of two or three people who want to sit together and maintain a team dynamic without renting a private office.
• Any profile with a fixed routine who values having their space prepared every morning without any surprises.

Advantages of a permanent position

• Immediate productivity. Boot time is reduced to zero. You turn on the computer and get started.
• Customized ergonomics. You can adjust your chair, monitor, keyboard, and mouse to your liking and leave them that way permanently. Your back will thank you in the medium term.
• Secure storage. The chest of drawers with lock It allows you to store materials and documentation securely between days.
• Greater sense of belonging. Psychologically, having your own space within a shared environment reinforces the feeling of professional stability.
• Compatibility with tax domicile. Many professionals who rent a dedicated desk also take advantage of it to tax domicile Their activity in the management of coworking spaces is especially relevant for freelancers and companies.

Disadvantages of a permanent position

• Higher cost. A permanent job in Madrid ranges approximately between 250 and 450 euros per month, depending on the location, the size of the desktop, and the associated services.
• Less flexibility. You're paying for a space that awaits you every day, whether you use it or not. If your work schedule is irregular, you might be overspending.
• Temporary commitment. Although many centers offer monthly contracts, a permanent position makes more sense with some degree of permanence. Changing every two months diminishes the advantage of personalization.
• Less social diversity. By always sitting in the same place, the range of people you interact with spontaneously is more limited.

How to decide: five questions to choose your job type

You don't need a 30-page analysis. Answer these five questions honestly and you'll have the answer:

 

1. How many days a week do you work from a shared workspace? If they are three or less, A flexible position is probably sufficient and more cost-effective. If they are four or five, The permanent position starts to make a lot of sense.

 

2. Do you need more than one screen to work normally? If the answer is yes—programmers, designers, data analysts, project managers with multiple open tools—, a dedicated desk It saves you from setting up and dismantling your setup every day.

 

3. Do you handle physical documents that you need to keep under lock and key? If you need to securely store contracts, files, or office supplies between shifts, a chest of drawers with lock A permanent position is essential. This implies a fixed workspace. Keep in mind that if you also require confidentiality in your work conversations, it's ideal to supplement this with the reservation of meeting rooms or a private office.

 

4. Does your productivity depend on routine and predictability? Some people are more productive when they know exactly where they're going to sit, what they'll see when they arrive, and how their workspace is organized. If this sounds like you, a fixed seat eliminates unnecessary friction.

 

5. Are you in Madrid permanently or just passing through? If you've been in the city for less than six months or your professional situation is changing, hot desking gives you flexibility without commitment. If you're already settled and looking for a permanent workspace in the medium term, a dedicated desk is an investment in comfort.

 

Quick result:

 

• 3 or more answers point to the permanent position → Consider a dedicated desktop with full services.
• 3 or more answers point to flexibility → Start with a hot desking plan and reassess in two or three months.
• Draw → Try a flexible coworking day and see if you miss having your own space.

The added value of the environment: what both options share at ILCOWORKING & LEGAL SERVICES

Beyond the type of position you choose, the coworking experience depends heavily on the surrounding environment. And this is where it's important to be selective, because not all spaces offer the same thing.

 

In ILCOWORKING & LEGAL SERVICES, located in the Bilbao roundabout, in the Chamberí neighborhood, Both members with permanent positions and those who opt for hot desking share the following:

Common areas and shared services

• Equipped meeting rooms Equipped with a screen, videoconferencing capabilities, and a whiteboard, these rooms are available for hourly booking. Ideal for receiving clients or holding private conversations, eliminating the need to rent an office.
• Relaxation and kitchen area for breaks, coffees, and those informal conversations that sometimes generate more business than a well-written email.
• High speed internet and a secure network. Essential, but it's surprising how many places fail at the basics.
• Mail reception and management. Your mail arrives at a professional address in the heart of Madrid.
• Printer and scanner shared, included in the rate or with a symbolic cost per use.

Professional community and complementary services

One of the most undervalued assets of a good coworking space is the professional community that is formed there. It's not about forced networking events, but about sharing space with other independent professionals, small businesses, and consultants who face similar challenges to yours.

 

At ILCOWORKING & LEGAL SERVICES, this community has a differentiating feature: members of the space have the possibility to additionally contract legal, tax and accounting advisory services through the center's specialized division. This is a complementary service, separate from the coworking space fee, which each professional can incorporate according to their needs: from company formation to quarterly VAT management, including the tax domiciliation or employment advice.

 

The advantage of having these services available in the same center is operational: You reduce travel, simplify coordination, and centralize the administrative management of your business.. But it's important to understand that these are independent professional services, with their own pricing, not something included in the workspace fee.

Strategic location

The Bilbao roundabout It's one of Madrid's best-connected areas. Metro lines 1 and 4, dozens of bus lines, BiciMAD bike-sharing, and direct pedestrian access from the neighborhoods of Chamberí, Malasaña, Chueca, and the Paseo de la Castellana. For those arriving by car, there are several public parking garages less than five minutes away.

 

The neighborhood offers everything you need for a full workday: cafes, restaurants with set menus, banks, pharmacies, and, for those who need them, gyms just steps away. Working in Chamberí means working in a vibrant neighborhood with its own identity and an economy that isn't dependent on tourism.

Conclusion: Try before you decide

The difference between a permanent and a flexible position isn't just about price. It's a matter of... workflow, daily habits, and real needs. Choosing well means working more comfortably, being more productive, and paying exactly for what you use.

 

If you're still not sure which one suits you best, the best strategy is try it. At ILCOWORKING & LEGAL SERVICES we offer day passes so you can come, sit down, work for a few hours and see for yourself what each option feels like.

 

And if you prefer to watch it calmly, Book a guided tour And we'll show you the available fixed workstations, hot desking areas, meeting rooms, and everything the space can offer your professional activity.