Liberty Lake Coworking Celebrates Grand Opening
Complete with shared workspace, private offices, conference rooms and a podcast studio, Liberty Lake Coworking celebrated alongside new members during their grand opening this month. We spoke with cofounder Ann Long to learn how her coworking space is serving the entrepreneurs and remote workers in her community.
Why did you decide to open a coworking space?
I also have a consulting business and thought it would be awesome to have my own space to host my clients and conduct my workshops. I thought there must be a lot of people just like me wanting the same thing. So now I do both! We opened January 15 with several members and are increasing member activity each day.
Tell us about your space. What kinds of amenities does it have? What makes it unique?
We’re located between the two major commerce cities of Spokane, Washington and Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. This little city has many remote workers, freelancers and entrepreneurs. The City of Liberty Lake is so happy we’re here and we love this community.
What is your favorite thing about operating a coworking space?
Brainstorming with like-minded professionals—that totally pumps me up! Helping each other grow our businesses is so fun.
What’s your favorite story about one of your members?
We have a flex member who is here four times per month. She is over the moon at how much more productive she is when she’s here. It’s her first time using a coworking space. I LOVE hearing this. Those kinds of comments make my heart full.
What has been the most surprising or unexpected thing about operating a coworking space?
How much cabling and a network really costs! Get three bids on your network before you set your budget for it. Can I just say my network is awesome? We’re quite proud of it.
Learn more about Liberty Lake Coworking on Facebook and Instagram.
8 Essential Steps to Take Before You Open a Coworking Space
Thinking about opening a coworking space? You’ll have a unique opportunity to facilitate collaboration and entrepreneurial activity in your local community and provide a professional workspace for those who need another option besides home and the coffee shop. Here are eight steps that will help you move forward with opening a successful coworking space and building an engaged member community.
Solidify Your Value Proposition and Business Model
Your value proposition is a promise to deliver a product or solve a need for a target audience. Having a good grasp of your business model is also paramount to your success. It’s important to know who your target customers are, what unique value you provide, how your business will leverage these strengths to generate revenue and what expenses you’ll need to consider to keep your space running smoothly.
The Business Model Canvas is a visual roadmap to help you answer how you’re going to deliver your product and reach your customer, and a great tool to determine the key functions of your coworking space. Once you develop a clear picture of your ideal customers and options for creating revenue, you’ll more easily be able to make decisions about your location, your specific offerings, pricing and amenities.
Research and Identify Local Competition
To help you shape your offerings and pricing, research and identify local competition to better understand your market. Write out a list of direct and indirect competitors. Work out of coffee shops, the library, other coworking spaces and consider the times you’ve worked in a traditional office. Make note of the strengths and weaknesses of these options to understand the unique value your space can provide and to help you fine tune what your coworking space will offer.
More importantly, whether coworking is unheard of or extremely popular in your town, experience it for yourself and take time to connect with others space owners and community managers. These opportunities will help you learn from their experiences and influence the direction of your coworking space. In the end, collaboration over competition is the heart of coworking and will help enhance your community.
Search for a Location
When you’re thinking about opening a coworking space, it’s never too early to begin looking at all of the available spaces in your community. The amount you spend on your building (mortgage or lease) is going to be one of the most important factors in reaching profitability. You’ll need a location that is suitable for your target customers and you must also stay within a budget that supports business longevity.
When it comes to the lease, make sure it’s clear who will be responsible for any necessary buildout. Also be sure you understand all insurance requirements for the space you want to lease or purchase.
Most commercial leases are long-term (typically five years or more in length). When signing a lease, add a renewal option with specific provisions for extending the lease after the initial term at a fair rate agreed upon by both parties. This will help you avoid getting priced out of your location after your space is successfully up and running.
Create a Revenue Plan
What’s your initial budget? How many memberships do you need to sell in order to reach your break-even point for operating? Here are steps and considerations to help you work out the details of your offerings, pricing and target revenue.
Build a Pro Forma
A pro forma helps you identify your revenue potential as well as basic costs. It’s also used as a report for owners, investors and creditors to show how your business will reach profitability.
Determine Your Membership Types
A single membership type won’t fit every person who wants to work at your coworking space. That’s why drop-in, flex-desk and dedicated desks are all common membership types in the coworking industry. Offering each of these options allows flexibility for various work schedules and financial situations. Some individuals may only need a place to work occasionally, while others may want reliable, dedicated space they’ll return to each day. Keep your memberships simple and don’t overwhelm your customers with too many options.
Consider Dedicated Office Space
Office suites can be a hit or miss depending on the needs of your local community. Successfully leasing an office provides a strong revenue stream and is a must-have for many companies who want to join coworking spaces. However, offices can increase initial costs for buildout and furnishings. There’s also an opportunity cost when offices sit empty, so consider if potential office space could be better-utilized as a conference room or extra space for non-private, dedicated desks.
Offer Select Amenities for an Additional Charge
Conference room rentals, event room rentals, childcare, parking passes, lockers, sit-stand desks and mailing services are all options for amenities that generate revenue. Which of these are a good fit for your target customers? Consider how your community could best be supported and check out our Guide to Coworking Space Amenities for other ideas you can implement in your coworking space.
Start Building Your Community
Coworking spaces are first and foremost about community. If you can successfully build one before you open, it will be much easier to hit the ground running. Many successful space owners spend months hosting meetups and gathering people to connect and network before opening the doors of a coworking space.
When you host gatherings, collect email addresses of attendees and start to build an email list. As the plans for your coworking space come together, keep your network updated with your progress and encourage them to invite friends and colleagues to future events.
Manage Early Cash Flow and Expenses
Going above your initial budget is, unfortunately, very common when opening a new coworking space. Capture early interest to generate cash flow and reduce your initial expenses with these two tips:
Pre-Sell Memberships
Don’t wait to open before you start signing up members. As you build your community and generate interest in your project, offer a discount to members who are ready to join your space before you’re fully up and running. Do give members an opening date and don’t sell memberships if it’s too early to provide prospective customers with a clear idea of what they’ll get with a membership. Check out How to Pre-Sell Coworking Space Memberships for more tips.
Create Partnership Opportunities
As a coworking space owner, you’re going to create and grow a member community. There are undoubtedly many local organizations who will want to not only support your efforts, but also get relevant products and services in front of your members. Partnerships are a great way for other local businesses to be involved in the creation of your coworking space and have an opportunity to provide value to your members. Partners can provide resources such as branded office supplies, kitchenware or coffee that will reduce your initial costs and allow partners to represent their brand in your coworking space.
Prepare to Purchase Supplies
Create a detailed list of the supplies your members will need once you’re open. Consider items including:
- Kitchen appliances
- Variety of coffee and tea options
- Common office supplies (pens, printer paper, stapler, sticky notes)
- Bathroom supplies (toilet paper, bathroom spray, femenine products)
- Cleaning supplies (sponges, dish soap, multi-surface cleaner, mop)
- HDMI cables and various adapters
- Spare chargers for phones and laptops
Plan a Grand Opening Celebration
Throwing a grand opening party is not only fun, but it’s also a great way to generate buzz within your community. Opening a coworking space is a big deal and you want to give your community the opportunity to celebrate as well as educate them more broadly on what coworking is. Notify local partners such as your chamber of commerce, economic development leaders, city council or university. Write a media release and send it to your local news outlets at least one week prior to your event. Be sure to announce your event via email to your network, as well as on social media channels.
As you plan to open your coworking space and build your member community, Proximity is here to support you with free programs, resources and training that will spark new ideas, boost your skills, and provide useful information. Happy coworking!
This post was originally published on December 19, 2018 and updated on January 23 2020.
Historic Pennsylvania Building is New Home for Startups, Remote Workers and Freelancers
In an early 1900s building that formerly housed a fire station, the town jail and the town hall, Anne Timpe saw an opportunity to create a central hub for small businesses, freelancers and remote workers in the Kutztown, Pennsylvania community. We spoke with Anne to learn how kTown Hall transformed an old downtown building into a new gathering place for local professionals and traveling visitors.
Why did you decide to open a coworking space?
We initially had been looking for office space for my husband’s growing software company, but after finding out that the town’s 1915-era old Town Hall building was for sale, we saw a great opportunity to turn the rest of the commercial space into a coworking space. Our own travel experiences while working had shown us the value of coworking spaces. The community, which is a college town, is growing and providing more opportunities for businesses and families and coworking seemed like a natural fit for both the space and the location.
What kinds of amenities do you have? What makes your space unique?
We have approximately 2,500 square feet in our coworking space which includes a large open space, two small private offices and a conference room. We offer free, unlimited caffeine in our kitchen, ROOM pods for private conversations, live plants, airy and modern decor and mail service. We also have an old-fashioned phone booth taken from a local hotel, artwork murals designed and painted by an art student from the local university, and 20-foot long reclaimed chestnut tables that form the heart of the community space. There are original oil stains from fire trucks on the wood floors from the 1920s when the building was the fire station, bars on the back office windows from when it was the local jail, and the words “Town Hall” on the front facade of the building from when it housed the local municipality.
What is your favorite thing about operating a coworking space?
By far, my favorite aspect of operating kTown Hall has been building relationships with other business owners in the area. Their industry expertise, business acumen and community knowledge has been professionally helpful and personally gratifying. We’re looking forward to offering network events and business growth opportunities in order to further that sense of community with our members.
What has been the most surprising or unexpected thing about operating a coworking space?
The most surprising aspect about operating a coworking space has been the positive response from the community and offers of help. I guess surprised isn’t the right word—overwhelmed and touched, perhaps!
What advice do you have for someone who’d like to open a coworking space?
Think of your community first. Not only will it direct whether or not your business plan is a good fit for your location, but it will inform every decision you make, from how you decorate your space to what amenities you offer. Coworking has tons of different facets and amazing possibilities, but the most successful ones, and the ones that help your members most, will be what works for your individual community.
University and Local Community Partner to Support Entrepreneurs with a Coworking Space
Located in Hamilton, New York, the TIA Incubator is home to students and entrepreneurs developing their ideas with support from their local community. We spoke with Mary Galvez, Incubator Director for the Partnership for Community Development, about students who are running successful businesses from the coworking space, and how she's growing the member community to welcome more entrepreneurs.
Why did you decide to open a coworking space?
The Thought Into Action Entrepreneurship at Colgate program had been using the TIA Incubator space for about six years during the school year and for a summer business accelerator. But it sat empty for a lot of the time, especially during the daytime hours when students were on campus. We had a few local people ask us about using the space, and in coordination with the Partnership for Community Development we opened the space up to coworking.
Tell us about your space. What kinds of amenities does it have? What makes it unique?
Our space is in a former hardware store in the center of the village of Hamilton, New York. We have over 3,000 square feet with two private conference rooms, a phone booth, high speed internet, full printing/scanning capabilities, 24/7 access, a kitchenette, a stage for pitch presentations, and a projector for presentations or remote meetings.
One unique quality is our shared space between Colgate University students and local community members, which makes for a really nice dynamic. TIA and PCD also recently received a $625,000 grant to hire a full-time incubator director and increase the amount of programming and outreach we're able to do. We've been busy the last six months building up this initiative.
What is your favorite thing about operating a coworking space?
My favorite thing has to be the diversity of ventures that are here. We have an interior design company, an engineering consultant, a clothing business, and several other businesses. I also enjoy seeing the interaction between seasoned community business owners and students just starting out.
What's your favorite story about one of your members?
I have a story about three students who were in the space at the same time. One was on a Zoom meeting interviewing candidates for her marketing firm. The other one was on the phone with a client negotiating a contract. The third one was on a Zoom meeting with a designer for his clothing company. All of them were full-time students at a very prestigious university who also had classes to attend. I just sat there and thought to myself, "What have I been doing with my life?" I felt very unaccomplished sitting with these 'kids' who were operating real businesses while also being students! It was actually awe-inspiring and all three are still doing quite well.
What advice would you offer to someone wanting to open a coworking space?
Really plan out how you want your space to operate. You need to have amenities such as programming and good internet to draw people and build your community. Talk to business owners to find out what it is they want and need. I think building community is one of the most important parts of operating a coworking space—probably the most difficult, but definitely the most important. The one thing we've discovered from talking to people who have used the space is the opportunity to talk to someone at the next table who might have (or have had) the same problems you're having. It's all about making connections, networking, and building community.
Learn more about the TIA Incubator on Facebook.
Come for the Coworking, Stay for the Views at this Beautiful Vancouver Space
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia, the bright and modern Makeshift Work Space opened over the summer to provide a central coworking location with a great member experience. We spoke with founder Monique Cherrie to learn more about Makeshift and what this space is offering the local community.
Why did you decide to open a coworking space?
We decided to launch a coworking space because we were looking for a place that offered a professional environment. After visiting several locally we didn’t find the right fit for us, both in terms of community and location. We did the research and know that there has been an increase in demand for unique spaces, and we saw an opportunity to help support entrepreneurs, the small business market, and the local community.
What kinds of amenities do you have? What makes your space unique?
Makeshift Work Space offers everything a new team needs to grow in our 4,200 square foot space. Our main office space is climate-controlled, clean, and professionally appointed. There’s natural light from our north and south facing windows, spectacular views, and a vibrant living wall that brings a touch of green to the workspace.
We offer an executive board room with A/V equipment that can host conventional meetings for 10 to 30 people depending on configuration, three additional meeting rooms for groups between two and six people, and five dedicated call rooms.
Our community kitchen offers flat or sparkling water, and really great coffee ranging from a latte to a cappuccino or anything in between, and best of all, you don’t have to be an expert to get a great pour.
We are located in the Strathcona community, Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood, and are a part of East Vancouver which has a rich and vibrant arts community that is clearly visible from our front or back patio. Our back patio features a virtually unobstructed view of the Vancouver Harbour, the North Shore, and Vancouver’s Grouse, Seymour, and Cypress mountains. Our front patio provides a view of the neighborhood, including a community center, public library, several restaurants and a partial view of downtown Vancouver.
Because we live in such an active community, supporting our members that commute using pedal power or other ways, we also offer two showers, a secure bike lockup within the building, and lockers are available for members who need additional storage space. Vancouver is leading the way in becoming a more green city, and our location is well-situated for folks who prefer not to work downtown, but want to be close. Getting downtown is a 10-minute drive, or 15-minute bike or bus ride away.
One of the really great things about our community is the love for the arts, and that is reflected in the murals that are visible from within our space as well as the many, many murals in the neighbourhood visible from our patios, and those on the front and back of our building.
What is your favorite thing about operating a coworking space?
My favorite thing about operating a coworking space is the people that use it. There is such a diversity of business owners and giving them the experience they are looking for and the network that they can thrive in has been the most rewarding. Plus I’m a people person, so sharing in the entrepreneurial spirit that generally comes with being in a coworking space is motivational.
What has been the most surprising or unexpected thing about operating a coworking space?
Getting used to the comings and goings of people from your space. You spend time with people, get to know them, and then they move into their next phase. We’ve had customers move to the States and others go on maternity leave. And then you get a new customer that adds to your space’s dynamic. It really is a unique business experience.
What’s your favorite story about one of your members?
Discourse Media is our founding member at Makeshift Work Space. The Discourse helps independent journalists provide community-powered, local news. They have also been integral in helping us shape the Makeshift Work Space community. They recently went from one dedicated member to three full-time members and they have a monitor that they don’t use all the time. So they put it in a place where, when not in use, any member in the space is welcome to use it. I love having customers that help each other out!
What advice do you have for someone who’d like to open a coworking space?
Think long and hard on what your community is going to want. Will you have networking events? A Friday social? Monday meetups? Your space is also a reflection of you and what you want to create and the sky's the limit.
Learn more about Makeshift on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Tabbris Coworking Space and Incubator is New Hub for Charlotte Startups
A former factory buliding and Charlotte landmark has undergone major renovation to serve as home for Tabbris, a new coworking space and business incubator in North Carolina. Tabbris celebrated their grand opening last month, and we spoke with founder Jeff Brokaw to learn more about his coworking space and what impact he hopes to have on the local startup community.
Why did you decide to open a coworking space?
My business partner, John, visited Tech Village in Atlanta, and we got to wondering why Charlotte wasn’t on par with the innovative coworking going on there and in other cities. We wanted to fill that gap for that type of coworking—where you create a network and community within the space to better serve members.
Tell us about your space. What amenities do you have and what makes it special?
The space itself is 23,500 square feet. This includes 44 offices, three conference rooms, 75 dedicated seats and around 100 “hot” seats, meaning they’re not assigned to anyone. We have 9,000 square feet of convertible space for events, which remains a cafe/lounge area during the day. We have a full bar stocked with kegs, a snack and non-alcoholic drink bar complete with some locally-roasted coffee. We’ve got crazy fast fiber internet, a recording studio, all types of lounging space, showers, meditation room, lockers, all different kinds of small things to make work more enjoyable.
One of the best things about the space, I think, is its location. Geographically, we’re located in one of the most central parts of the city, but it’s more accessible than being right in the middle of Uptown Charlotte. We’re right off a lightrail line. We’ve got so much around us to do. The coolest quirk of the place, though, is that the building was home to the Lance snack company, an iconic Charlotte-based company. From 1926 to the early 60s, snack crackers were made there, and we did our best to preserve the history and original brickwork of the interior.
What is your favorite thing about operating a coworking space?
I think my favorite thing is meeting new people and hearing their ideas. There are so many cool companies out there that just need an environment to grow their ideas and execute them, and I love hearing from people and getting excited about their journey.
What has been the most surprising or unexpected thing about operating a coworking space?
How rewarding it is. We’ve created this huge local community, and it’s cool to see everything come into fruition. Also, the fact that we’re running something in a community and city we know incredibly well. I’ve lived in Charlotte for a long time and it’s cool to see this project take shape and form within a place I know and love.
What advice do you have for someone wanting to open a coworking space?
Go big or go home. Nothing is too crazy, because that’s what makes you stand out from all the other spaces out there. Not to be corny, but when you believe in your ideas there’s no use in hesitating on them.
Learn more about Tabbris on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
City-Led Effort Brings New Coworking Space to Lakeside Town
Located in the northern Michigan town of Charlevoix, The Vault opened in September to provide a new workspace to tourists, remote workers, and entrepreneurs in this picturesque community. We spoke with Lindsey J. Dotson, Executive Director of the Charlevoix Main Street Downtown Development Association, to learn more about the project and how The Vault is fostering new connections for local professionals.
Why did you decide to open a coworking space?
This started with a conversation at the Charlevoix Public Library to address a need in our community. The library is often overrun by remote workers who need to use wifi and fill the library’s private study rooms to the point where there is a waiting list.
Charlevoix is a small town in northern Michigan that draws in a lot of tourists. It also houses many resort homes that families come to for extended periods of time during the summer. Many of these people still need to work while on vacation but don't have reliable internet at their cottage or home if it's located outside of the city limits.
We also have a significant number of residents that are here year-round and work remotely for companies downstate or have home-based businesses. It was clear that many of these folks feel isolated in their homes and wished to make connections in an office environment. We've been exploring the demand of a coworking space in Charlevoix after seeing the success that The Loft coworking space has had in nearby Harbor Springs. A space downtown became available that was fully furnished and had affordable rent, so members of our Board of Directors thought it was a great place to launch the idea to see if it can succeed here. The Vault is operated and funded by the Charlevoix Main Street program.
Tell us about your space. What amenities do you have and what makes it special?
The Vault is about 2,000 square feet in downtown Charlevoix. It has off-street parking which can be a huge benefit to members during the busy summer months. It is walking distance to bustling Bridge Street which boasts a variety of shops, restaurants, and cafes. It's also steps away from several parks including Michigan Beach, Hoffman Park, Bridge Park, and award-winning East Park. Stroll to the shores of Lake Michigan during your lunch break, hit the in-town grocery store on your way home, or stay after work for a night of fun with outdoor concerts, the farmers market, and events galore. The walls are covered in local paintings and photography. There are three private offices, options for dedicated desks, drop-in space, and phone booths for confidential conversations or meetings. The Vault also has an actual old bank vault, which has been transformed into a meditation space for increased wellness while working. Features of The Vault that members especially appreciate are the large conference room equipped with a big-screen television for video conferencing and presentations plus a kitchen with complimentary, locally roasted coffee.
What is your favorite thing about operating a coworking space?
I love seeing people make connections and collaborating. Every person who uses the space has unique skills and talents and seeing how that can benefit others is wonderful.
What has been the most surprising or unexpected thing about operating a coworking space?
So far, the overwhelmingly positive community support that we've received has been heartwarming to say the least.
What’s your favorite story about one of your members?
A member renting a private office is moving from Nashville, Tennessee to Charlevoix and she stated that The Vault solved one of the biggest barriers she had to moving here! Her business thrives in the coworking environment and we are so glad she can relocate here thanks to this effort.
What is your biggest piece of advice for someone wanting to open a space?
I'd say getting the community involved from the beginning is crucial to success. We've been meeting with remote/home office workers for months talking about this need and have done our best to create a sense of ownership and pride among all of the collaborative's members so that they feel the space is something they had a part in creating.
Learn more about The Vault and the City of Charlevoix on Facebook.
Work and Play at Southern Florida's Coolest New Coworking Space
Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, The Hub Spark recently opened its doors to a community in which coworking is a relatively new concept. With a laid-back vibe, colorful space, and an after-hours lounge, The Hub Spark is supporting collaboration and social connection for creatives, entrepreneurs, and remote workers. We spoke with The Hub Spark’s Martin Volinsky about what makes his space a great place to work and play.
Why did you decide to open a coworking space?
We built a collaborative space in the heart of an amazingly new and artistic area of Fort Lauderdale, the MASS District/Flagler Village. The concept is pretty fresh in the area and one of our top priorities is educating the district on what coworking is and why they want to be part of this collaborative movement. The area is considered to be the next upcoming part of South Florida and we're excited to join the neighborhood. This is an area that is growing with a lot of development. We wanted to bring something new and unique.
What kinds of amenities do you have? What makes your coworking space special?
The Hub Spark is a coworking space by day and full bar at night. We basically don’t want our members to leave without a smile on their faces because not only were they productive during the day but can also enjoy a drink in the evening. When you walk in you are welcomed with every type of work environment you can possibly dream of, from work nests and fireplace couches, to a fire pit and bolted tables that are leveled for working while seated or standing. Our amenities include high-speed internet, coffee/water/tea, cold brew coffee on tap, printing/scanning, member happy hour rates, private member events, networking, free beer on Fridays, guest passes, and weekly food trucks for lunch.
What is your favorite thing about operating a coworking space?
Building a community of driven yet easy-going individuals. We are connecting and creating a movement that brings a whole new vision to coworking. We’re creating a family. We want our members to walk in through the doors and find their coworkers by day and friends by night.
What has been the most surprising or unexpected thing about operating a coworking space?
Lack of knowledge in the community about what a coworking space is, which is also an amazing challenge we are working on to educate our community.
What’s your favorite story about one of your members?
To be honest, the majority of our members are new in town and it’s been absolutely amazing hearing their stories of how they met at the space and now have friends in the neighborhood.
What is your biggest piece of advice for someone wanting to open a space?
Do lots and lots of research and of course, if you're an independent coworking space, to use Proximity software. They've provided us with lots of support and education since we got involved in the coworking industry.
Learn more about The Hubspark on Facebook and Instagram.
Coworking House Brings Workspace and Childcare to Small Community
Located in Milford, New Hampshire, Coworking House opened in July 2019 as a welcome addition to this small community with a growing entrepreneurial scene. For local professionals looking to upgrade their workspaces, CoHo has already filled a need for small business owners and remote workers. We spoke with co-founder Kristin Hardwick to learn more about her space and her member community.
Why did you decide to open a coworking space?
We saw a gap in the community where entrepreneurs and remote workers were struggling to find a place to work. We were congregating in coffee shops and libraries—not ideal.
Tell us about your space. What kinds of amenities do you have? What makes it special?
We have about 7,500 square feet broken up into large office suites, single private offices, open coworking space, and meeting space. We have a kids area because we understand that childcare is one of the trickiest things to navigate as a self-employed parent. Full-time daycare is expensive and often more than what parents most need, and part-time care or drop-in babysitting is often unreliable. We solved this problem by including a kids area in our space that is secure, safe, and separate from the offices. We’re also adding a podcasting room, and have a mothers' room for nursing/pumping, and of course, the expected coffee bar, wifi, and a beautiful library for our members.
What is your favorite thing about operating a coworking space?
The people we meet, and the camaraderie that we get from going to work every day.
What has been the most surprising or unexpected thing about operating a coworking space?
The variety of members that we attract. We have a strong base of health and wellness professionals, but also marketing consultants, PR experts, software developers, mortgage brokers, and more. It’s just so varied and we are loving it.
What is your biggest piece of advice for someone wanting to open a space?
Care about what your members need, ask them, and build a space based on that. Don’t just look at what other spaces are doing, but take the time to learn what your community needs.
Learn more about Coworking House on Facebook and Instagram.
Female-Focused Coworking has Arrived in Lincoln
Jenna Vitosh and Eva Prettyman recognized an opportunity to create more support for female entrepreneurs in Lincoln, Nebraska. After interviewing local women to learn what exactly they wanted and needed in a professional community, they opened Arrive Coworking to provide a space for women to not only work, but also support each other in growing their businesses. We spoke with Jenna to learn more about Arrive and how she's creating a strong community at her coworking space.
Why did you decide to open a coworking space?
We officially opened to the public August 1. Eva and I met in a networking group for female entrepreneurs a few years ago and realized the lack of support for women starting businesses in Lincoln. We wanted to do something about it, but we didn’t know what, and about a year ago the idea came to us to create a space for women to work together, empower and educate one another, and grow their businesses—all in a shared workspace.
Tell us about your space. What kinds of amenities do you have? What makes it special?
Our space is 3,200 square feet. We have several individual offices, a large conference room, a content studio, a mothers’ lounge, lots of drop-in desk space and living room seating, a kitchen, free coffee, free parking, fast WiFi, and mailing address availability for members’ businesses. The most special thing about our space is the community, which gathers in our twice-monthly networking meetings and our monthly education events to help empower fellow business owners.
What is your favorite thing about operating a coworking space?
The positive feedback from our community has been amazing. Everyone is so supportive of what we’re trying to accomplish! It feels so good to be contributing to our community and making a difference for our fellow entrepreneurs.
What has been the most surprising or unexpected thing about operating a coworking space?
The number of decisions you have to make! We did a lot of research before starting a coworking space which is how we found Proximity to help us with some of the logistics. But there are SO MANY other things you have to plan for and it can sometimes be overwhelming. Especially since we will both continue to run our other businesses, so we have to think about things like, "who’s gonna make the coffee?" which led us to conclude we definitely needed to hire a manager.
What is your biggest piece of advice for someone wanting to open a space?
Do your research! Make sure you know your target market and where the best location would be to reach them. Understand all the decisions you need to make as you’re opening the space. Make sure you understand the costs as well and if you need to hire a manager and how full your space needs to be to afford one. And make sure if you have a business partner that they are supportive and in it 100%! We’ve been lucky to have each other to work together on this and it’s been exciting.
Learn more about Arrive Coworking on Facebook and Instagram.
Introducing All + One
"Work better, live better." That's the mantra at all+one, a new coworking space in Portsmouth, New Hampshire we're excited to welcome to the Proximity Network. We spoke to owner Stephanie McLaughlin to learn more about her space, why wellness is such a priority for the community, and how she's reaching new members.
Why did you decide to open a coworking space?
We opened our doors on May 6th, 2019. I started this concept almost two years prior to the date (beginning of April 2017) after moving from inside sales to outside sales at my "day job." The first few months were great - no commute, no coordinated outfits (LOTS of yoga pants and messy buns), and I was finally in charge of how my day would be scheduled. The downside was, I became very lonely and isolated working alone. I'd go to coffee shops or have a working lunch at a cafe, but I found myself running to the bathroom every time my cell phone rang, and the internet was always SO slow and unreliable. That's when I started thinking about joining a coworking space, but ultimately I didn't find any that fit my vibe - so I decided to open one myself.
Tell us about your space. What amenities do you have? What makes it special?
We have about 6,000 square feet in an old brewery building located in Portsmouth, NH. We have 11 dedicated offices, 16 dedicated desks, 24 community seats (hot seats), one board room, one conference room, a soft-seating lounge, and a 750 square foot studio space. When people first walk in to all+one, we hear things like "welcoming", "warm", and "inviting." Our kitchen area probably gets the most instagram love, having a variety of beverages on tap: still and sparkling water, kombucha, cold brew, and beer. And believe it or not, the kombucha is the most popular out of all of them! Starting in October, we will launch our wellness program, an aspect of all+one that sets us apart from a lot of co-working spaces. We will offer yoga, meditation, reiki, and massage classes throughout the day for members and non-members. We strongly believe that success is not defined by how busy you are, and that when you work better, you live better.
What is your favorite thing about operating a coworking space?
Other than the opportunity to create a unique community of staff and members, it's waking up every day excited to come in, and then being told by your members how much they love coming in to work now. People spend far too much time unhappy with their jobs and/or commutes; it's nice to know that we're creating a space that people look forward to coming in to, regardless of what kind of work they are doing.
What has been the most surprising/unexpected thing about operating a coworking space?
The different types of requests we've gotten to use the space. I expected to have work conferences and team meetings, but we've hosted a three-day yoga teacher training, photo shoots for marketing and branding companies, essential oil sessions, and have even had an inquiry for a boutique pop-up. It has opened a whole new realm of event ideas for us to host ourselves.
What’s your favorite story about one of your members?
We have two members that work for a start-up company called LISNR, and they purchased motorized scooters that they use to ride around town (and the office sometimes!). They use them so much that people have commented on photos that we've posted, recognizing them from their "scoot scoot" adventures. There's always get a good laugh when the elevator dings open and two guys come scooting in.
What is your biggest piece of advice for someone wanting to open a space?
Hire an IT company before opening and get dedicated fiber for your internet - we tried having both and the regular coax wifi went down at least once a week. We've switched all of our members over to our dedicated fiber and haven't had an issue since. It was the biggest source of stress for the first few months while we tried to find an IT company to hire - something that I didn't think would be that hard to find once we were open.
Connect with all + one on Facebook and Instagram.