Going out and touring standard offices can be a wake-up call for someone just venturing out into the business world on their own. They may have envisioned sitting behind an oak desk, looking out onto a spectacular view. The cost of this may far exceed the small amount they've set aside for office rental. Instead of taking on the cost of an office on their own, shared office space gives them all they need at a cut rate price.
Most offices offer certain essentials that any smart business person needs. This includes telephone, Internet and snail mail access. They also need access to fax machines and photocopiers. Although anyone can use a copy shop to send and receive faxes or print copies, it's much more efficient when it can be done right in the office itself. With shared office space all of these amenities are offered to the business person for a fair and reasonable cost.
Granted you will be sharing your time with another worker but that's not something that should be viewed as a negative. Shared office space allows different folks the opportunity to work in the same space without having any professional relationship. You may be launching your own freelance writing service while the other person renting the shared office space has an Internet website design business. Professionally all you share is the same brick and mortar address, the office machines and probably a coffee machine.
It's not viewed as ideal by all business people but it's necessary for many young and ambitious individuals. It should be seen as a way to save money while still having a professional space to conduct business from. In many buildings the shared office space also contains a conference room where meetings can be held. If one of the office mates has a business meeting with a client they simply book time in the room. This also adds to the air of working in a professional space and gives the client the strong impression that this person takes their business seriously.
Although it may not be a long term solution it can certainly give someone an edge when they are first starting out. Shared office space saves not only money, it creates a sense of independence that every young entrepreneur needs.