Comments on: Coworking + Profit http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/ Coworking is a movement to create cafe-like community/collaboration spaces for developers, writers and independents. Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:09:14 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Imran Ali http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-24676 Imran Ali Thu, 22 Nov 2007 07:57:45 +0000 http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-24676 Maybe it's as simple as the coffee? We're trying to price low enough ($110/month) that we can be an almost invisible cost, but also that we have a lotta casual dropins, creating the sorta buzz and vibrancy from continual turnover of the people in the space each day. Maybe it’s as simple as the coffee? We’re trying to price low enough ($110/month) that we can be an almost invisible cost, but also that we have a lotta casual dropins, creating the sorta buzz and vibrancy from continual turnover of the people in the space each day.

]]> By: Montreal Coworking » Blog Archive » A Coworking Update http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-21516 Montreal Coworking » Blog Archive » A Coworking Update Fri, 26 Oct 2007 03:39:44 +0000 http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-21516 [...] to run the dream version and where else it could have—could be—spent on. Articles like this one and discussions with other coworking “principals” also have me [...] [...] to run the dream version and where else it could have—could be—spent on. Articles like this one and discussions with other coworking “principals” also have me [...]

]]> By:   Twitternetwerk on coworking wiki by Tribeminds http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-20695   Twitternetwerk on coworking wiki by Tribeminds Sat, 20 Oct 2007 14:31:44 +0000 http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-20695 [...] het Twitternetwerk. Raimo heeft ons aangemeld bij de Coworking wiki. Zie op het coworking blog de reactie van Raimo op het artikel coworking + profit. Misschien heb je zelf ook een idee, suggestie of opmerking op [...] [...] het Twitternetwerk. Raimo heeft ons aangemeld bij de Coworking wiki. Zie op het coworking blog de reactie van Raimo op het artikel coworking + profit. Misschien heb je zelf ook een idee, suggestie of opmerking op [...]

]]> By: Eric Bidwell http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-20646 Eric Bidwell Sat, 20 Oct 2007 07:50:48 +0000 http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-20646 Try setting up a place for free and sell stuff that people really need, like coffee (just make a pot and charge $1 a cup), snacks (25¢ Little Debbie's and granola bars for 50¢), hot meals (Cup-O-Noodles for $1, maybe even cook meals and charge a buck or two per portion), and the stuff people are making (do a 50%/50% split with the house). I'll be doing this if I can ever afford a place... Try setting up a place for free and sell stuff that people really need, like coffee (just make a pot and charge $1 a cup), snacks (25¢ Little Debbie’s and granola bars for 50¢), hot meals (Cup-O-Noodles for $1, maybe even cook meals and charge a buck or two per portion), and the stuff people are making (do a 50%/50% split with the house). I’ll be doing this if I can ever afford a place…

]]> By: Brad Neuberg http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-20571 Brad Neuberg Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:06:24 +0000 http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-20571 Coffee shops must be very profitable -- what exactly makes them profitable? Is it that they are fairly cheap to run, and coffee has a large profit attached to it? If the coffee+coworking idea is to be pursued, it would need to be a business since you don't tend to see non-profit coffee shops (though the Marsh coffee shop in San Francisco on Valencia is a kind of non-profit coffee shop, since it is attached to the Marsh Theatre next door). Coffee shops must be very profitable — what exactly makes them profitable? Is it that they are fairly cheap to run, and coffee has a large profit attached to it? If the coffee+coworking idea is to be pursued, it would need to be a business since you don’t tend to see non-profit coffee shops (though the Marsh coffee shop in San Francisco on Valencia is a kind of non-profit coffee shop, since it is attached to the Marsh Theatre next door).

]]> By: Brad Neuberg http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-20570 Brad Neuberg Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:04:10 +0000 http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-20570 It's interesting that the other coworking spaces are seeing a slow-down as well. Do you think it makes more sense to create a collaboration with coffee shops, similar to what you and Chris were trying to do with Ritual? Perhaps there is some other element we haven't hit on yet to make coworking spaces sustainable in the long run -- membership generation seems to be the hardest part. Should it be predominantly a coffee shop, but it might have a nice side room that is a bit quieter, like areas of a library, plus lockers that are fairly large to store items? I know for me I didn't like the overall commitment of the coworking space -- I wanted to be able to go when I wanted and not feel guilty when I didn't. I'm sure there is some magic key that when found will create a sustainable organizational/business model -- many new concepts and businesses have to iterate a bunch of different forms until a sustainable one is found, its just that we only tend to hear the final succesful one so we don't see the intermediate forms. If you guys ever want to brainstorm on this we can grab some grub -- I've been wanting to meetup anyway and see how you and Chris are doing. Best, Brad It’s interesting that the other coworking spaces are seeing a slow-down as well. Do you think it makes more sense to create a collaboration with coffee shops, similar to what you and Chris were trying to do with Ritual? Perhaps there is some other element we haven’t hit on yet to make coworking spaces sustainable in the long run — membership generation seems to be the hardest part. Should it be predominantly a coffee shop, but it might have a nice side room that is a bit quieter, like areas of a library, plus lockers that are fairly large to store items? I know for me I didn’t like the overall commitment of the coworking space — I wanted to be able to go when I wanted and not feel guilty when I didn’t. I’m sure there is some magic key that when found will create a sustainable organizational/business model — many new concepts and businesses have to iterate a bunch of different forms until a sustainable one is found, its just that we only tend to hear the final succesful one so we don’t see the intermediate forms. If you guys ever want to brainstorm on this we can grab some grub — I’ve been wanting to meetup anyway and see how you and Chris are doing.

Best,
Brad

]]> By: rjh http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-20352 rjh Wed, 17 Oct 2007 11:26:52 +0000 http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-20352 I understand the goal. I was giving my reaction after looking at a few of the referenced web sites, descriptions, and pricing. There is an image reaction problem. You want it to feel like a cafe that is suitable for working. But my quick emotional reaction was "an office". That is part of why it is not filling up. I'm not sure what it is about the web sites that made me react that way, but it was a very definite immediate reaction. I understand the goal. I was giving my reaction after looking at a few of the referenced web sites, descriptions, and pricing. There is an image reaction problem. You want it to feel like a cafe that is suitable for working. But my quick emotional reaction was “an office”.

That is part of why it is not filling up. I’m not sure what it is about the web sites that made me react that way, but it was a very definite immediate reaction.

]]> By: BrianR http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-20225 BrianR Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:41:52 +0000 http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-20225 Thanks Miss Rougue for all your thoughts. Its great to read about how ya'll think and FEEL. (not sure why I haven't joined in the google group debate on this topic...) Like others I am trying to get a Coworking space going as a for profit venture. Sustainability is important to me. But my heart is in to create a cool community. I do it for people. So to make it my full time job to nurture this community I look for a stable business model with real cash flow. Balance between community and profit is my main goal. I don't want to become rich. I love where I live and the people in it too much to put profit before people. :) Thinking out loud here... maybe the primary revenue stream for Coworking spaces should be something other than membership fees. Is it coffee? Big company anchor tenants? Something else? Maybe Coworking should be based on a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemium_business_model" rel="nofollow">freemium</a> and ads based business model like so many web 2.0 companies? Thanks again to you and Chris for all the inspiration. Thanks Miss Rougue for all your thoughts. Its great to read about how ya’ll think and FEEL. (not sure why I haven’t joined in the google group debate on this topic…)

Like others I am trying to get a Coworking space going as a for profit venture. Sustainability is important to me. But my heart is in to create a cool community. I do it for people. So to make it my full time job to nurture this community I look for a stable business model with real cash flow. Balance between community and profit is my main goal. I don’t want to become rich. I love where I live and the people in it too much to put profit before people. :)

Thinking out loud here… maybe the primary revenue stream for Coworking spaces should be something other than membership fees. Is it coffee? Big company anchor tenants? Something else? Maybe Coworking should be based on a freemium and ads based business model like so many web 2.0 companies?

Thanks again to you and Chris for all the inspiration.

]]> By: I never knew » Blog Archive » A Coworking Update http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-20224 I never knew » Blog Archive » A Coworking Update Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:19:03 +0000 http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-20224 [...] to run the dream version and where else it could have—could be—spent on. Articles like this one and discussions with other coworking “principals” also have me [...] [...] to run the dream version and where else it could have—could be—spent on. Articles like this one and discussions with other coworking “principals” also have me [...]

]]> By: Raimo http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-20203 Raimo Tue, 16 Oct 2007 10:25:55 +0000 http://blog.coworking.info/2007/10/14/coworking-profit/#comment-20203 Ahh the truth.. This makes me want to shuffle the businessmodels.. I feel a brainstorm session coming.. ;-) Ahh the truth..

This makes me want to shuffle the businessmodels..

I feel a brainstorm session coming.. ;-)

]]>