Startup Series: Why start a coworking space?
Want to start a coworking space? Then this series is dedicated to you. We recently published the most critical questions prospective founders should ask themselves. We want to get to the bottom of each aspect in more detail. First and foremost: Why at all? What is your motivation for this extensive project? What goal is closest to your heart?
Build a creative, vibrant community
The power of curiosity: Your intrinsic motivation often guides you in situations where you approach new people. You are socially competent and hospitable, a networker through and through. As a result, you feel most comfortable bringing together as many creative people as possible and experiencing their synergies. That's why you understand the immense potential of a workplace where diverse personalities come together to share knowledge and expertise.
Offer maximum flexibility at affordable prices
You're more of a pragmatist and - in addition to creative networking - want to give freelancers complete flexibility, including quiet rooms, office phone booths, event spaces for networking, and essential company presentations, workshops, or meetings. In the coworking space of your dreams, people will be collegial with each other, but you're primarily concerned with respecting each other's privacy and quiet.
Especially for freelancers or company founders, low costs and high flexibility in planning play a central role. At this point, you want to remedy the situation and refrain from high rents or long-term rental contracts. Hourly or daily passes are essential to you, but simultaneously, you also want to allow longer terms - and thus respond individually to professional needs. You value a solid technical infrastructure and professional equipment such as printers, scanners, or whiteboards that make life easier.
Achieve good return
If nothing else, the uncertainty fueled by the Corona pandemic has demonstrated: The traditional office is in retreat. The future of the coworking space, on the other hand, looks relatively bright. The number of people who prefer flexibility and lean leases is proliferating. Coworking spaces' mobility and dynamism are a perfect fit for our times - and industry leaders are predicting the same for the coming years.
You want to start here and become a creative entrepreneur with your business acumen and flair for innovation. There are several lucrative opportunities here, depending on the coworking model. More and more large companies are opting for satellite offices with attractive service packages, but you don't have to start in the luxury segment to generate decent profits. It's worth looking at existing concepts and coworking chains, some of which operate worldwide. Their figures speak for themselves: There has never been a better time to build a thriving coworking space that ideally meets the current needs of companies and freelancers.
Use interior design potential
Do you have a property at your disposal that you would like to use imaginatively and sensibly? Perhaps you work in an interior design profession and would like to develop your ideas. Do you have an excellent visual imagination? This significant prerequisite means you bring a fundamental understanding of the unique concerns of coworkers. The spatial separation between the cozy private home and a professional working environment is necessary. Yet, most people don't want to do without elements that convey a feeling of home, even in a coworking space.
You find it easy to track these needs and create great incentives. You may even bring expertise in workplace development to the proverbial table: you're fascinated by how a human-centered design approach can improve work quality, strengthen community cohesion and create a consistently comfortable atmosphere. Does the thought of a perfectly planned, visually appealing office or workspace make you feel like you're blossoming inside? Then let's go for it!
For all other questions, we will break down various vital topics in more detail in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
