Re: [Coworking] Question from Miami Beach
On 7 Jan 2010, at 18:18, Woodie Neiss wrote: 1) How important is ground location? Do you rely on walk-by traffic or office space on upper floors works just as well since most other co-workers find the place virally? At Fly The Coop, we spread the word via our contacts. What we found when we surveyed where people wanted to be, was that location in terms of geography in the city was *essential*, followed by feel/vibe of the space. We had proposed a site just two miles from where we are now, about 5 minutes from the busiest bus route in Europe, and we had no takers. We offered something in the trendy Northern Quarter which has zero parking and is 10 minutes walk from major transport hubs, and we ended up with a waiting list. So, like all property: location, location, location. I think most people find this space being on a middle floor actually means it's a bit quieter, although in future we wouldn't discount handling some kind of walk-in facility, although we don't do that right now. 2) Are credit checks standard and did you give a personal guarantee? Never did them, we just assumed people were good on their word and budgeted with the possibility of a %age going AWOL as part of the guarantee. 3) How many months security deposit did you leave? We only ask for deposits for keys to the space (as losing them would involved changing 5 locks in total, and about 8 sets of keys). We were not asked to put a deposit down on the space we occupied (in fact we got a month free to refurb), so felt it was a little unfair to ask members to front up. That said, several members (myself included), loaned/donated the project a fair bit of cash to help ease early cashflow problems. 4) Per the awesome suggestions on the board, we've got a core group of 5 that are going to be residents. Should we collectively form an LLC or should one of us (me) just take on the responsibility? I understand with more members there's more people to agree on action. We created a member-owned Co-op. This has advantages and disadvantages. Co-ops are popular with community groups in the UK because: a) It means the capital is owned by members so there is no profiteering possible, all the excess we make (if we do), is pushed back into the project b) If the founders need to move on at some point, the members can continue so in theory disputes are much easier to resolve if somebody wants to walk away c) It gives a real shared ownership to the space which helps with everything from running the space to helping recruit new occupiers On the flip-side, in the UK we're registered as an IPS which means regulation by the FSA. That's the UK version of the SEC. I don't know what the rules are elsewhere in the World, but such a configuration can mean a little bit more overhead in terms of admin, however because the members own it, it means it's easier to share out. -- Paul Robinson http://vagueware.com :: p...@vagueware.com :: +44 (0) 7740 465746 Vagueware Limited is registered in England/Wales, number 05700421 Registered Office: 3 Tivoli Place, Ilkley, W. Yorkshire, LS29 8SU Correspondence: 13 Crossland Road, Manchester, M21 9DU -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to cowork...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
Re: [Coworking] Question from Miami Beach
1) How important is ground location? Do you rely on walk-by traffic or office space on upper floors works just as well since most other co-workers find the place virally? We've been discovered nearly 100% word of mouth. Both of our offices have been 2nd floor. One was actually in an alley, whereas our new office is on a main (numbered) street. Either which way, we don't rely (or even really get) any walk-up traffic 2) Are credit checks standard and did you give a personal guarantee? If you're talking about with the landlord, absolutely. Renting commercial property typically involves some credit check (like renting residential). HOWEVER I strongly urge you to NOT guarantee personally. The lease should be in your coworking business's name to protect you and your personal assets should something go wrong. Our current landlord asked us to guarentee the lease personally and we declined, and still signed the lease anyway. 3) How many months security deposit did you leave? 2-3 is typical. We negotiated the ability to pay the 3rd month of security spread out over a our first few months of occupancy to reduce our startup costs, and they were totally cool with it. 4) Per the awesome suggestions on the board, we've got a core group of 5 that are going to be residents. Should we collectively form an LLC or should one of us (me) just take on the responsibility? I understand with more members there's more people to agree on action. It's my and Geoff's personal opinion that the purpose of forming an LLC is two-fold: a) to protect the partners b) to keep the business/decision making body lean and agile. We take ALL of our member input very seriously, and most of our innovation and growth is due to that. Them being partners in the LLC adds little to nothing for them, or us, since we're including them in that decision making process anyway. Since coworking businesses tend to be breakeven or low-profit, there's not buckets of money to be made being a partner. Geoff has said many times before being a partner of a coworking space is funny because it comes with all of the hard parts of owning a business (making decisions, holding the bag when something goes wrong) and very few of the good parts (like cash, private jets, and castles). 5 partners of an LLC sounds like too many to remain efficient in the long run to me, but that's just me. I'd pick one particularly aligned one who WANTS to be a partner so you have some checks and balances, and perhaps involve the rest in a less official advisory board that meets for lunch every month, -Alex /ah indyhall.org coworking in philadelphia The forum has really been beneficial for me, so I thank you! Regards, Woodie -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to cowork...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.comcoworking%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com . For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to cowork...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
Re: [Coworking] Re: Coworking on NPR
Summarized into five words: There is no silver bullet. :) -Mike Schinkel Ignition Alley Atlanta Coworking On Jan 7, 2010, at 10:38 PM, felicity at cubes wrote: Agreed...we have gotten lots of press over the past 2 years and most of it doesn't bring in long time members. It does seem to increase awareness and build brand validity, so there is something to be said for that. And of course, press on even one space is beneficial to all in terms of people learning about coworking options out there. All the best, Felicity CubesCrayons Outside the Cube On Jan 6, 2:27 pm, Liz Elam lizarde...@gmail.com wrote: Here is some more good press (please pass on to your mother): http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122252297sc=fb;... From: coworking@googlegroups.com [mailto:cowork...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Jacob Sayles Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 11:32 AM To: coworking@googlegroups.com Subject: Re: [Coworking] Re: Coworking Article in WSJ Big press makes my mother happy and improves our google ranking. All that aside, we haven't had anyone serious about signing up that said I heard about you in the WSJ. It does get us many interesting calls about opening in other locations. Being involved in the local community is orders of magnitude more effective. Sent from my iPhone in Brazil On Jan 6, 2010, at 1:38 PM, Rick rickm...@gmail.com wrote: Dave brings up a good point. Anyone using this press locally with members or prospective members? On Wed, Jan 6, 2010 at 11:09 AM, spacelogix dar...@spacelogix.com wrote: Well the hits just keep on coming. I like to free marketing that we can use to promote in our own markets with these articles. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122252297 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122252297sc=emaf sc=emaf Darryl Space Logix Greensboro NC On Jan 5, 3:34 pm, Rick rickm...@gmail.com wrote: Hello All, Rick Myers from Strongbox West in Atlanta GA. Maybe I missed it, but it doesn't seem anyone has mentioned it, so I thought I would pass along that there was a coworking piece in the WSJ on New Year's Eve. You can read it herehttp://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870415280457462825332226.. . if you like. -Rick Rick Myers Co-Founder Strongbox Westwww.StrongboxWest.comhttp://www.strongboxwest.com/ Twitter: @StrongboxWest -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to cowork...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to cowork...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG -www.avg.com Version: 9.0.725 / Virus Database: 270.14.126/2602 - Release Date: 01/05/10 13:35:00 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to cowork...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to cowork...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
Re: [Coworking] More coworking press out of CNN
On Jan 7, 2010, at 10:40 PM, felicity at cubes wrote: Going solo mentions coworking in CNN article. Includes Office Nomads, Beehive Baltimore, Sandbox Suites, and CubesCrayons... http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/worklife/01/07/on.the.go.office/ I think we need to sic the hyphen police on CNN NPR[1]. Where's Tara when you need her? ;) (Kudos to WSJ[2].) -Mike Schinkel Ignition Alley Atlanta Coworking http://ignitionalley.com [1] http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122252297 [2] http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704152804574628253322262872.html -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to cowork...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
Re: [Coworking] More coworking press out of CNN
The issue is that the dictionary marks the unhyphenated version as incorrect. If we could rally to get coworking into the dictionary this year (it being the year of coworking and all), the problem would start to sort itself out :) -Alex /ah indyhall.org coworking in philadelphia On Fri, Jan 8, 2010 at 9:51 AM, Mike Schinkel mikeschin...@newclarity.netwrote: On Jan 7, 2010, at 10:40 PM, felicity at cubes wrote: Going solo mentions coworking in CNN article. Includes Office Nomads, Beehive Baltimore, Sandbox Suites, and CubesCrayons... http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/worklife/01/07/on.the.go.office/ I think we need to sic the hyphen police on CNN NPR[1]. Where's Tara when you need her? ;) (Kudos to WSJ[2].) -Mike Schinkel Ignition Alley Atlanta Coworking http://ignitionalley.com [1] http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122252297 [2] http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704152804574628253322262872.html -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to cowork...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.comcoworking%2bunsubscr...@googlegroups.com . For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to cowork...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
Re: [Coworking] More coworking press out of CNN
If we could rally to get coworking into the dictionary this year (it being the year of coworking and all), the problem would start to sort itself out :) I like that idea. :) -Mike Schinkel Ignition Alley Atlanta Coworking http://ignitionalley.com On Jan 8, 2010, at 10:04 AM, Alex Hillman wrote: The issue is that the dictionary marks the unhyphenated version as incorrect. If we could rally to get coworking into the dictionary this year (it being the year of coworking and all), the problem would start to sort itself out :) -Alex /ah indyhall.org coworking in philadelphia On Fri, Jan 8, 2010 at 9:51 AM, Mike Schinkel mikeschin...@newclarity.net wrote: On Jan 7, 2010, at 10:40 PM, felicity at cubes wrote: Going solo mentions coworking in CNN article. Includes Office Nomads, Beehive Baltimore, Sandbox Suites, and CubesCrayons... http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/worklife/01/07/on.the.go.office/ I think we need to sic the hyphen police on CNN NPR[1]. Where's Tara when you need her? ;) (Kudos to WSJ[2].) -Mike Schinkel Ignition Alley Atlanta Coworking http://ignitionalley.com [1] http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122252297 [2] http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704152804574628253322262872.html -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to cowork...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to cowork...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to cowork...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
[Coworking] Looking for Coworking Space in Woodinville - Snohomish Area
Hi, I'm an independent worker looking for some coworking space in the Woodinville - Snohomish, Washington area. Sally -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to cowork...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
[Coworking] New member
Hi everyone, Just a short note to introduce myself as a new member of the Coworking Group. I am working as a freelance journalist (among other activities) in Cork City, Southern part of the Republic of Ireland. Being tired of working on my own in pajamas I am considering coworking (classic indeed). I could not find any Cork coworking group in the City Centre so I am now thinking about starting one. But if you belong to such a group, looking for coworkers, just email me. I am not in a hurry, I can wait 6 months. I have to apoligise in advance for not understanding half of the jokes and other important things: 1) I am not a geek, quite the contrary actually (no twitter, no facebook, no blog) 2) I am French Thanks for creating and contributing to this group. Elise _ Découvrez Windows 7 en 7 secondes ! http://clk.atdmt.com/FRM/go/181574577/direct/01/-- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group. To post to this group, send email to cowork...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
[Coworking] Re: Looking for Coworking Space in Woodinville - Snohomish Area
Sally, Check out eVenues.com, we're opening new spaces daily. Cheers! Nic Peterson Cofounder, eVenues.com On Jan 7, 10:58 pm, sallyking sallyk...@comcast.net wrote: Hi, I'm an independent worker looking for some coworking space in the Woodinville - Snohomish, Washington area. Sally -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to cowork...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
[Coworking] eVenues.com: Making an attempt at streamlining the Coworking Biz
Hey guys, I've spoken to many of you via email or on the phone and some of you are currently using our service. I wanted to make a quick post on here to inform the rest of you of what we are up to at eVenues.. A few years ago, my partner David Jennings and I were working for a Seattle education company that had 9000+ ft2 of underutilized space. We wanted to rent the space out, but had no where to post it and no method of finding renters beyond spending $$$ to advertise in local mags, sending out flyers, etc. The concept was there, but no one had executed it as of yet, thus the birth of eVenues. Our goal is to help promote spaces like yours in creating a one-stop community for the consumers who are out there looking for the space, but know not that it exists. We've heard from many a business traveler, entrepreneur, meeting/event planner, etc. that they are out there looking, but resorting to their nearest Starbucks or Hilton to find an adequate meeting/work spot. We aim to help those consumers find your unique spaces by creating a community of space, searchable and immediately bookable by consumers, nationwide. We've been working on the concept for nearly 2 years now, and launched our Beta in July. We now have over 120+ spaces listed in 20 states nationwide. Over 30+ coworking spots are using us, and have given us great feedback on how we can better mold the service to fit your biz. It's free to post, and only takes 15-20 minutes to get published on our live marketplace. By joining our network, you also receive free placement in our affiliate networks such as DeskSpaces.com, MeetingSpaces.com and 4 other targeted affiliates, with the goal of converting localized search (ex: we come up #1 for the search San Francisco Desk Spaces). We hope to expand this campaign as it grows and gains more traction within organic search (this happens as more spaces are added). We also plan to launch a paid search campaign in the coming months, as well as some more traditional print and media marketing as well. All of these efforts are going to be directed at bringing new consumers, and new revenue to your businesses. Lastly, we've recently hired a great PR firm who has been contacted by NPR, the Wall Street Journal, the NY Times, and various other media outlets about doing a story about eVenues. We hope to create tight relationships with many of you and bring your business all of the publicity it deserves. If anyone reading, has any questions or concerns.. or would like a quick demo of the service, please email me personally at: nic[at] evenues[dot]com. Thank you for your time, and Cheers to 2010! Nic Peterson Cofounder, eVenues.com http://www.eVenues.com -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups Coworking group. To post to this group, send email to cowork...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.
