I agree, and I think that our edge can be staying aligned with what makes coworking unique. The first thing I think if looking for ways to implement add-ons in a way that doesn't feel transactional
t think we're on a different path with add-ons, given a bend away from "utility" and toward a "participation". Example: Many spaces are defining models for hosting events. On one end of the spectrum, you can provided space to host an event. But taking the participation angle, we can provide the space for a fee to members and partners who want to do things that contribute to the community: classes, workshops, brainstorms, presentations, lectures, etc. The former is consumptive. They utilize the space for a period of time, we get money in return. If we do a good job, they get value from having been hosted, and we get money for providing the opportunity. The latter is additive. In our case, we have members who have gained knowledge to share (+1 for the organizer for learning by teaching), other members within and outside of the community who want to gain that knowledge (+1 for the attendee for the professional/personal development), and we help communicate the experience in the context of our goals as a community (+1 for expression of common goals). Individually these three components would add value. Combining them, though, can be done so that the sum is greater than the parts. When that happens, the value can attract more value that doesn't consume the finite resources that we have to offer. -Alex -- /ah indyhall.org coworking in philadelphia pre-order the new eBook, "the business of community (http://book.businessofcommunity.com/?ref=email)" On Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 1:13 PM, Jerome Chang wrote: > FYI, the serviced office industry, aka, Regus et al, have provided other > revenue streams for decades, including said mail/phone, printing...even > internet access (which they sometimes call, "data plans" for combo laptops > and VoIP phones). They're all add-ons in their minds, even "kitchen access" > ($150/person!!!). > > Assuming some of these add'l revenue streams are ones we'd even consider, > note that have indeed been "fully developed" by them, just not by us...yet? > > > Jerome > ______________ > BLANKSPACES > "work FOR yourself, not BY yourself" > > www.blankspaces.com (http://www.blankspaces.com) > 5405 Wilshire Blvd (2 blocks west of La Brea) Los Angeles, CA 90036 > 323.330.9505 (office) > On Nov 14, 2012, at 8:39 AM, Craig Baute - Creative Density Coworking > <baut...@gmail.com (mailto:baut...@gmail.com)> wrote: > > I do think the coworking business model is immature but proven to work. The > > coworking world has many successful stories and many failures, but we are > > within the failure and success rates of any other business and in many > > cases doing better. What I think the coworking business model does need to > > explore is additional revenue sources beyond just memberships that benefit > > the members. There have been several previous discussions in this groups > > about alternative sources - sponsorships, classes, add ons like mail or > > printing - but these models and the process of launching them have not > > fully developed. I think these need to explored more in the open because I > > don't think a lot of us share these stories. > > > > I also think keeping new spaces expectations in check and doing a proper > > cost and revenue analysis combined with proper runway funding would be the > > biggest benefit to discuss. My gut instinct is that a coworking space is > > many space owners first time taking on a large sum of fixed expenses versus > > having a service based company and can have new challenges. > > > > I'm finishing up a book right now and Alex is working on one as well that > > discusses the business aspect of coworking to address some of these > > problems. I would be happy to contribute some of the spreadsheets and > > pricing models and insights that will be in the book to the conversation. > > > > Craig > > Creative Density > > > > -- > > Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com > > (http://discuss.coworking.com/) > > > > > > -- > Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com > > -- Visit this forum on the web at http://discuss.coworking.com
