Everything Coworking: Recent Episodes

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The Everything Coworking podcast shares trends and how-tos for coworking operators and anyone following this exploding trend. Jamie owned coworking spaces in Chicago and Palo Alto under the brand Enerspace Coworking. She was the Executive Director of the Global Workspace Association for 5 years. Since 2018, she's been helping coworking spaces start and run profitable coworking spaces.

What if the real money in your coworking space isn't the desks at all?

That's exactly what Leslie Bailey discovered running Maven Space, a 15,000-square-foot coworking space, event venue, and social club she built in downtown Indianapolis with no private offices at all.

Leslie's background wasn't real estate or hospitality. Coworking operators come from all kinds of backgrounds, and hers was journalism, 15-plus years of it before she launched Indy Maven, a media company and community for women, and eventually built Maven Space around it.

In this episode, we explore how Leslie diversified her coworking revenue well beyond workspace: a full event venue, an in-house commercial kitchen, and a sponsorship program she ran like an old-school magazine ad department.

We talk about:

Why her 15,000-square-foot space never had a single private office
How a catering liquor license turned her event venue into a bigger draw
Running a full commercial kitchen that served the whole building, not just members
Selling sponsorships the way a magazine sells ad space, yes, even on the bathroom stalls
Why her membership community is still going, even though the physical space isn't

One insight that really stood out: sponsorship inventory exists in almost every coworking space, the newsletter, the walls, the events, even the stalls. Pricing it turns it into real revenue.

If you're only thinking about your coworking space in terms of desks and offices, Leslie's story is a reminder of how much revenue potential sits in the rest of the building.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Leslie's LinkedIn profile

Indy Maven website

Leslie Bailey's personal website

Leslie's 10 Lessons Learned article

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What happens when a coworking operator refuses to think small?

Gina Schreck has built far more than a coworking space. Over the years, she's transformed The Village from a 10,000-square-foot workspace into a 50,000-square-foot destination that combines coworking, wellness, events, and community under one roof.

In this conversation, Gina shares the story behind that growth, the risks that came with it, and the mindset that's helped her create one of the most unique coworking spaces in the industry.

In this episode, we cover:

How Gina expanded from 10,000 to 50,000 square feet—and why she nearly walked away from the opportunity
The unexpected role her daughter played in managing the expansion
Why event space has become an important part of her business model
How her podcast studio supports her community
What it takes to build a space that's more than just a place to work
How she thinks about hospitality, community, and creating an experience members want to come back to
Why understanding your ideal member shapes every decision she makes

Whether you're thinking about expanding your space, adding new revenue streams, or strengthening your community, Gina offers an honest look at what's worked, what hasn't, and the lessons she's learned along the way.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Gina on LinkedIn

The Village Workspace website

Connect with your Hosts:

Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn

Connect with Jamie on LinkedIn

Find Jamie on the Everything Coworking Podcast

What if your coworking website could become one of your biggest revenue drivers?

That's exactly what Eyal Lasker, Founder and CEO of Flexspace AI, is helping operators do.

While many operators focus almost entirely on filling offices, Eyal believes one of the biggest opportunities for growth is optimizing everything else: meeting rooms, day passes, event space, virtual mail, and other on-demand products.

In this episode, we explore why treating your website like an e-commerce platform—not just an online brochure—can dramatically increase both revenue and profitability.

We talk about:

Why meeting rooms are one of the most underutilized assets in coworking
How online booking removes friction and creates new revenue opportunities
Why great photography has a direct impact on conversion rates
The surprising booking patterns operators are missing, including how many reservations happen the same day
How dynamic pricing can increase revenue by balancing price and booking volume
Why repeat on-demand customers become some of the highest-value users over time
The role AI is playing in revenue optimization and pricing decisions
Why operators should think about their websites as e-commerce engines instead of digital brochures

One insight that really stood out: "Simplicity is hard to build, but it's what drives conversion."

The easier you make it for someone to discover, book, and pay online, the more opportunities you create to monetize the space you already have. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Eyal Lasker on LinkedIn Flexpace AI website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What would it look like if virtual mail made up 30% of your revenue instead of two or three percent?

That's the gap this episode of Everything Coworking is built around. The most profitable coworking operators aren't treating mail as a line item nobody revisits. They've built it into a real, growing piece of the business, and the difference in outcome is enormous.

I paint a picture of what that looks like, then get into what separates the operators who get there from the ones who stay stuck at two or three percent.

We cover:

Why virtual mail deserves its own real target, not a vague sense that it should grow
Why pricing every mail buyer the same flat rate leaves real money on the table, and what a good, better, best tier structure looks like instead
How your Google Business Profile and website can quietly become part of the product itself, not just a place to get found
Why "it's too much work" is a routine problem, not a volume problem, and the real number behind processing mail for 100 members

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What if one of the easiest ways to increase your coworking revenue… is already sitting empty in your space?

Many coworking operators have offices that are difficult to fill. Maybe they're a little too large, an interior office, or they've been sitting vacant for months. The default solution is often to list them as day offices and hope for a few bookings.

But there's a much more predictable way to generate revenue from those spaces.

In this episode, we break down why part-time private offices are one of the most underutilized products in coworking today, and how operators are turning a single office into recurring revenue instead of relying on one-off day office bookings.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why day offices leave revenue on the table
How part-time private offices create predictable recurring revenue
Who this product is designed for (and why demand is growing)
How operators are earning significantly more from the same office
The marketing, pricing, and operational considerations for launching this offer
Why this can be the perfect upgrade path for coworking members who need more privacy but aren't ready for a full-time office

If you have vacant offices—or members who are constantly living in your phone booths—this episode is full of practical ideas you can implement.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Most coworking operators think they have a sales problem.

What they actually have is a revenue mix problem.

If almost all of your revenue comes from private offices and coworking memberships, you're making it much harder to build a highly profitable business.

The most profitable operators I work with don't stop at workspace revenue. They build multiple revenue streams that continue to grow alongside their memberships.

In this episode, I break down:

Why the most profitable coworking spaces generate 30–40% of their revenue from non-workspace products
The revenue opportunities many operators are overlooking, including meeting rooms, virtual mail, and event space
A side-by-side comparison showing how two nearly identical coworking spaces can end up with dramatically different profit margins
Why optimizing your offices is only part of the equation if you want a high-margin business
The biggest mistakes operators make when selling ancillary products online
Practical ways to improve your e-commerce experience, SEO, Google Business Profile, and marketing so these revenue streams actually grow

The biggest takeaway? You don't need more square footage to increase profitability.

You need to maximize the revenue potential of the space you already have.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

I was traveling in Europe last week and found myself doing what I always end up doing on trips like this… quietly auditing hospitality systems everywhere I go.

Not in a formal way. Just noticing what works, what breaks, and what quietly shapes the experience. And a lot of it translates directly into coworking.

This episode is a little different — it's a solo reflection from the road — but I wanted to share a few observations that came up along the way.

In this episode, I talk about:

Why small hospitality gaps (like not actually offering a welcome drink that's sitting right there) change the entire first impression
What "good on paper" partnerships look like vs. what actually gets experienced on the ground (gyms, tours, amenities)
How easily premium spaces lose quality when no one is actively "seeing" the details anymore (dirty tables, unused areas, neglected touchpoints)
The difference between teams that are executing tasks vs. teams that are anticipating guest experience
A tour experience that felt completely transactional — and what was missing to turn it into real connection
A hotel that got the details right in a way you only notice when you slow down enough to pay attention

The overarching theme was simple: anticipation is what separates good hospitality from forgettable execution. And in coworking spaces, it shows up in the exact same way.

If you're running a space, this is worth a quiet audit of your own systems this week.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What does it really take to build a coworking space that becomes a community asset, not just another office?

That was one of my favorite conversations with Rob Archer, CEO of Codebase Coworking in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Rob has built something special. Codebase sits inside a larger entrepreneurial ecosystem designed to attract talent, support founders, and strengthen the local community. What struck me most was how intentional every decision has been.

We talked about the reality of balancing financial responsibility with a bigger mission. Rob doesn't shy away from the numbers. In fact, he broke down coworking economics better than most MBA professors. But he also understands that some of the most valuable parts of a coworking space can't be measured on a spreadsheet.

From giving more than 70 hard hat tours before opening, to building deep relationships throughout Charlottesville, to creating a member mix that reflects the broader business community, Rob has shown what's possible when you lead with both strategy and service.

We also dug into:

How to think about coworking profitability when your vision is bigger than revenue alone
Why understanding your market matters more than copying someone else's model
The lessons Rob learned launching a 20,000 sq. ft. coworking space
Building occupancy before opening day
Developing community managers and investing in your team
Creating a coworking experience that attracts and retains local talent

If you're building a coworking space, this episode is packed with practical insights on growth, positioning, community engagement, and long-term sustainability.

And if you've ever wondered whether coworking can be both profitable and deeply connected to its community, Rob's story is a masterclass.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Rob Archer on LinkedIn Codebase Coworking website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Some coworking operators close one space and swear they'll never do it again.

Matt Irvin closed his first coworking space during COVID...packed up his family, drove from California to Chicago in the middle of the pandemic...and opened another one anyway.

Matt and I go way back to our CrossFit days in the Bay Area. We used to do Murph together, and I still remember him air squatting faster than everyone else while we talked about his idea to open a coworking space in Menlo Park.

At the time, he and his wife Meg were trying to solve a very real problem: how do you create beautiful, welcoming workspace for therapists and small businesses without the cold, corporate feel?

That idea became Cocial in Menlo Park.

Then came COVID.

This episode is packed with gems for operators:

How Matt turned a massive curved-window flex space into an events business with 100+ events a year
Why community matters more than ever in suburban coworking markets
What operators miss when they focus only on desks and offices instead of creating a culture people want to belong to
How he bootstrapped both spaces, negotiated free rent and TI, and built the first location himself with "burritos and beers" labor

One of my favorite parts of this conversation is how much heart Matt brings to the business. You can feel how deeply he cares about creating spaces where people feel comfortable, connected, and supported.

If you're thinking about suburban coworking, events, hospitality, or simply what it takes to start over and build again, this one is worth your time.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Matt Irvin on LinkedIn Cocial website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

If your coworking space lost its Google Business Profile tomorrow… how long would it take before your pipeline dried up? That might sound dramatic, but after digging into Google's latest review policy changes, I don't think it is. Google quietly rolled out major updates in April that completely change how coworking operators can ask for reviews. And some of the tactics many of us have used for years? They now violate policy. This episode is a wake-up call for coworking operators because your Google Business Profile is not just another marketing channel. It is the top of the funnel for your business. It drives local search visibility, social proof, SEO, and ultimately leads. I recorded this episode immediately after learning about these changes because the implications are huge. If your automations, signage, onboarding materials, or team scripts are out of compliance, you could start losing reviews… or worse, lose review functionality altogether. In this episode, I walk through: - The 8 major Google review policy changes coworking operators need to know right now - Why common review strategies are suddenly risky - How to audit your automations, QR codes, onboarding materials, and CRM workflows - What Google's AI enforcement tools are actually looking for - The safer, compliant ways to continue generating reviews and protecting your search visibility If your coworking business depends on local search traffic (and it does), this is one of the most important episodes I've recorded this year. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Google's official review policy Google's Maps UGC policy overview

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What would you do if you bought a coworking space that was losing money… on purpose?

That's exactly what Lea Latham did.

She walked into a 13,000 square foot executive suite business that was underwater, knowing full well she'd likely have to take it over. And when the time came? She moved into her RV, parked it outside, and got to work.

I loved this conversation with Lea because it's such a real look at what it actually takes to turn a space around:

Making the hard call to replace a team member (and wishing you'd done it sooner)
Installing systems, structure, and accountability from scratch
Leaning into technology to create visibility and control
Understanding that relationships matter—but they're not everything
And focusing on the fundamentals that so many operators overlook (like actually responding to leads…)

I've had the privilege of working with Lea through our programs, and she is exactly the kind of operator you want in this industry: curious, decisive, and willing to take action.

If you've ever wondered whether you could take over an underperforming space and turn it into something profitable… this episode will give you a very honest look at what that actually requires.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Katy Elite Suites website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Most people don't start their coworking career thinking they'll become president of the company.

Jessie Hathcock did.

When I sat down with Jessie Hathcock from The Loading Dock, I couldn't stop thinking about how rare her story is. She started as a community coordinator… and six and a half years later, she's leading the entire company.

We talked about:

What it really looks like to grow up in the coworking industry (and why those career paths are finally becoming more common)
How their co-warehousing model is opening doors for entrepreneurs you might not expect… including tradespeople and small businesses that need space to grow
The messy, real behind-the-scenes of implementing EOS and building a healthy, aligned team (not as easy as it sounds)
Why "unreasonable hospitality" isn't just a philosophy for them… it's a budget line item
And how they're creating a level of connection that leads to 82.5% of members reporting improved wellbeing

One of my favorite parts of this conversation is how honest Jess is about the messy middle.

Rapid growth. Team tension. Launching new initiatives before you're fully ready. Learning (sometimes the hard way) how to lead at a higher level.

And still choosing to build something that puts people first.

If you've ever wondered what it actually takes to scale a coworking business without losing your culture… this episode is such a good one. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Jessie Hathcock on LinkedIn The Loading Dock website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

You don't have a lead problem. You have a follow-up problem.

Leads are coming in. Marketing is working. But deals aren't closing at the rate they should be and the issue is almost always the system behind the leads.

In this solo episode, Jamie breaks down where coworking sales funnels tend to fall apart and how to fix them.

You'll learn:

Why leads get stuck in your CRM and never convert
Where follow-up typically breaks down (especially mid-funnel)
How inconsistent systems cost you real revenue
The four essentials for optimizing your sales process

If your "needs follow up" column is overflowing or you feel like you should be closing more deals with the leads you already have, this episode will give you a clear path forward.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What happens when a coworking operator gets completely fed up with their tech stack… and decides to build their own solution?

That's exactly what Dan Wesson and Chelle Peterson did.

Dan and Chelle are the co-founders of The Post Workspace and CoLevel, and I've known them since they went through Coworking Startup School back in 2018. It has been so fun to watch their journey from launching their space in Tucson to building a platform that's now helping operators all over the world.

They didn't set out to create software. They just wanted to run a better coworking space.

But after juggling Calendly, DocuSign, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, social schedulers, answering services… and still missing leads, still feeling overwhelmed, still wondering what was falling through the cracks… they hit a breaking point.

So they fixed it.

We talk about:

– What they were actually dealing with behind the scenes before building CoLevel – The moment they realized their tech stack was holding them back – Why speed to lead is one of the biggest missed opportunities in coworking – How automation can increase hospitality (not replace it) – What it looks like to compete with larger operators without a big team

If you've ever felt like your tech stack is running you instead of the other way around… this one will hit home.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Daniel Wesson on LinkedIn Chelle Peterson on LinkedIn CoLevel

What Every Coworking Operator Needs to Know About Lease Renewals

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What if AI didn't replace your community manager… but actually made them better at their job?

That's exactly what Courtney Schwartz is doing at FireWorks Coworking—and it's such a refreshing take on a topic that can feel overwhelming (or even a little threatening) in our industry.

Courtney is deeply passionate about people, community, and creating meaningful connections. And instead of letting AI take over, she's using it to take admin work off her plate so she can spend more time doing what actually matters inside her space.

In this episode, we cover:

How Courtney uses AI to streamline time-consuming tasks like blog writing and content repurposing
Why "garbage in, garbage out" is the reality of AI—and how to get better outputs
How indie operators can use AI for local SEO and even demographic research
The role of AI in helping you identify and reach your ideal member
Why community managers who embrace AI will have a huge advantage
How to use AI as an extension of your voice, not a replacement

I've had the chance to work with the FireWorks team through Coworking Startup School and Community Manager University, and Courtney is such a great example of what happens when you invest in your people and give them space to grow.

She's curious, driven, and clearly all-in on her community—and this conversation is packed with practical ideas you can actually use.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Courtney Schwartz on LinkedIn FireWorks Coworking website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Most people don't spend 13 years quietly building one of the most comprehensive datasets in commercial real estate.

But that's exactly what Peter Kolaczynski has been doing at Yardi.

In this episode, Jamie sits down with Peter Kolaczynski, Associate Director of Yardi, to unpack what's really happening beneath the surface of the coworking and office markets.

And this one gets… data-heavy in the best way.

We get into:

Why coworking is still only ~2.3% of total office space—and why that number could 5x
How Yardi tracks over 80,000 office buildings and what that unlocks for the industry
The surprising reality of physical office occupancy (hint: it's still under 60%)
Why enterprise demand for flexible space keeps growing despite return-to-office pressure
How AI could reshape not just coworking—but total office demand

One of the most interesting takeaways: even if office demand shrinks overall, coworking may expand. Why? Because uncertainty drives flexibility—and flexibility is exactly what coworking offers.

We also get into:

Office-to-residential conversions. Why "downtown" may matter less than ever. The rise of smaller, hyper-local office hubs. And why building owners—not just operators—may drive the next wave of growth.

If you care about where the office market is actually heading (not just headlines), this is a must-listen.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Peter Kolaczynski on LinkedIn Yardi website U.S. Coworking Industry Report Q4 '25

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What if you built a coworking space… designed so you barely had to be there?

That's exactly what Glen Hicks did.

After 27 years in IT leadership and a life-changing heart attack at 34, Glen completely rethought how he worked. Instead of jumping into another executive role, he became what he calls a "digital independent."

But he couldn't find a workspace that actually fit the way he wanted to work.

So he built USTATION — a beautifully designed, mostly self-serve workspace in New Brunswick that runs with almost no staff (and Glen lives three hours away).

In this episode we talk about:

How he runs a 3,500 sq ft coworking space with almost no on-site staff
Why smaller spaces can actually create better community
The simple tech setup that avoids the dreaded 5-minute meeting room startup
Why he installed a private work pod in an airport

Glen is thoughtful, unconventional, and very intentional about how he spends his time (he works about 20 hours a week now).

If you're thinking about building a simpler, smarter coworking model — you'll enjoy this conversation.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Glen Hicks on LinkedIn USTATION website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What if the secret to running a thriving coworking space isn't fancy software or a massive team… but one incredibly grounded, genuinely caring community manager? I finally got to sit down with Nicole Antolino, Community Manager at Fireworks Coworking in Marietta, Georgia and this conversation was long overdue. Nicole has been part of our Community Manager University program since 2022 and I've watched her grow into one of those rare unicorn operators who can truly do it all. She talked about the real balancing act of this role. When to extend flexibility and when to hold the line. How to juggle task lists with real human connection. What it's like to be a working mom running a space. And why she believes customer service experience matters more than industry background when hiring. We also dig into:

Why 30 percent meeting room utilization might actually be normal
How she and her teammate divide and conquer to grow the business
The evolution of Fireworks' ideal customer profile
What it really takes to stay energized in this role year after year

If you're an owner wondering what makes a great community manager, or you are a community manager trying to figure out how to build longevity in this career, this one is for you.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Fireworks Coworking website Nicole Antolino on LinkedIn

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What's worse than overspending on things that don't deliver ROI? Underinvesting in the areas that actually make or break your business. This week, Jamie flips last week's episode on its head and tackles the critical areas where coworking operators consistently underspend—and pay the price in lost revenue, lower margins, and frustrated members. From soundproofing decisions during construction to the size of your private offices, Jamie breaks down the build-out choices that seem expensive upfront but deliver massive ROI over time. She explains why an 80-square-foot office will always outperform a 120-square-foot one when you're trying to hit $70 per square foot in revenue, and why phone booths aren't optional—they're essential to selling flex memberships. This episode is packed with specific, actionable advice on where to invest, how to evaluate ROI, and what trade-offs to consider based on your market, lease term, and access to capital. We talk about:

Why soundproofing should be built into construction from day one (and what to do if you're already open)
How small private offices (80 sq ft vs 120 sq ft) dramatically impact your revenue per square foot
Why phone booths are essential for selling flex memberships—and how to finance them if budget is tight
The critical importance of professional photography for meeting rooms and day offices (users buy visually online)
Why SEO is a must-have investment alongside paid ads—and how AI search is changing the game
How to use a CRM to track every lead and achieve "radical responsiveness" in 2026
The three audits every operator should run quarterly: customer journey, sales funnel, and competitive market
Why investing in your team's training and your own professional development always delivers ROI

If you're trying to figure out where to allocate budget, what's worth the investment, and how to avoid the costly mistake of underspending in critical areas—this episode is essential listening. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

CoLevel (CRM platform)

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What happens when good intentions meet bad ROI? This week, Jamie tackles the spending decisions that quietly drain coworking operators' margins—and shares what to do instead. Fresh from working with clients who are making these exact mistakes, Jamie breaks down the four most common areas where operators overspend: marketing agencies that don't understand local business, IT retainers that sit unused, social media managers in markets where Instagram doesn't drive leads, and $20,000 custom websites that look beautiful but don't convert. This episode is direct, practical, and yes—a little bit of a rant. But if you've ever wondered whether you should hire an agency, pay for an IT retainer, or invest in a custom site, you need to hear this. We talk about:

Why most marketing agencies can't deliver ROI for single-location operators (and the one exception)
How to set up your IT infrastructure once and stop paying monthly retainers
The truth about social media for coworking spaces—and when it actually works
What makes a website convert versus just look pretty
Why studying marketing as a business owner will save you tens of thousands of dollars

If you're a new operator trying to figure out where to invest—or an experienced one wondering why your margins feel tight—this episode will help you make smarter decisions with your budget. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: SpaceFully

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

This week, Jamie Russo tackles a slightly uncomfortable question—especially for someone who runs a program called Community Manager University. But if you're struggling to find quality candidates when you post that job title, this episode might change how you think about recruiting. Here's the problem: the community manager title anchors candidates on member interaction and engagement. But the actual job? It's pipeline management, CRM updates, billing follow-up, vendor coordination, office turnovers, social media, sales tours, and—oh yeah—also community building. When you hire someone expecting to spend their day chatting with members and they end up spending three hours in HubSpot, you've got a mismatch. And that mismatch starts with the title. We talk about:

Why "Location Manager" might attract better candidates (and who's testing it successfully)
How to prioritize the five hats: operations, community building, sales & marketing, finance, and leadership
The front-of-house vs back-of-house split when you have two people on site
Why the biggest gap is CRM use—and how the title sets the wrong expectations
How to design a daily schedule based on what actually matters most in your business right now
When community manager IS the right title (and when it's not)
The downloadable template to help you prioritize hats and write a job description that matches reality

This conversation is for operators who are tired of hiring people who don't fit the role—or who lose great team members because the job wasn't what they expected. If you're about to post a job or wondering why your last hire didn't work out, this episode will help you rethink your approach. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Profit Accelerator Program

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

IWG (the parent company of Regus) just cold called you about turning your office building into a coworking space—and you have no idea how to evaluate their offer. This week, Jamie Russo breaks down exactly what landlords and building owners need to know before signing a management agreement with IWG, Regus, or any other operator offering a partnership model. Spoiler: they're not calling because your building is special. They're calling because you own a building. And that distinction matters—a lot. Jamie walks through the IWG partnership model, why they're pursuing landlords so aggressively right now, and the 13 critical questions you need to ask before even considering their offer. Because while IWG is incredibly good at sales, marketing, and designing efficient spaces, their incentives are not the same as yours. We talk about:

Why IWG wants dots on the map—and what that means for your building
How management fees work (and why they get paid even if you don't make profit)
Why smaller spaces (under 15,000 sq ft) rarely work under a management agreement
What happens if the space loses money—and who covers operating expenses
The termination clause question you absolutely must ask
How to evaluate demand assumptions, pricing, and occupancy ramp in their proforma
Why you need to validate their numbers with a third party (and how to do that)
When an IWG partnership might actually make sense
What other options exist beyond IWG—and why you should explore them

This episode is essential listening if you're a building owner considering flex, an operator who's been approached about a partnership, or anyone trying to understand how management agreements actually work in the coworking industry. Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Revenue Playbook Membership Profit Accelerator Program

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

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What happens when a small business coach realizes her clients need more than advice—they need a place to actually work? She converts the loft she's been living in with her family into a coworking space. This week, Jamie Russo sits down with Sue Reardon, co-founder and community connector at Suite Spotte in Forest Park and La Grange, Illinois, for one of the most fascinating origin stories we've heard on this podcast. In this episode, we talk about:

How Sue went from coaching micropreneurs to realizing coworking was the missing piece
Why it took two years to get the Forest Park location rezoned
Her "test and invest" mindset—constantly experimenting with flexible memberships
Why she stopped doing evening events and started showing up with soup and wine instead
The "Team Mashup" concept—bringing remote and in-office teams together

This conversation is proof that coworking works best when you stay curious, listen to your members, and aren't afraid to test unconventional ideas. If you're an operator wondering how to create authentic community without forcing it, or navigating flexible memberships, this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Sue Reardon on LinkedIn Suite Spotte Coworking website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What happens when a coworking expert walks into a national coworking brand as a day pass user—and the experience falls flat?

This week, Jamie shares her recent day pass experience and turns it into a practical checklist for operators who want to treat every day passer like a potential long-term member (because they might be).

It's the holiday season, which means travelers are staying with family, needing to get work done, and looking for a place to escape for the day. Day passers might be transient—or they might become your next member, referral source, or meeting room regular. But if your onboarding process is clunky, your team isn't asking questions, and nobody offers a tour, you're leaving money (and relationships) on the table.

Jamie walks through exactly what went wrong in her experience and what should have happened instead—from the moment she walked in the door to the moment she left without anyone noticing.

We talk about:

Why signage, parking info, and wifi instructions should be crystal clear on your website
The Shop app effect: why consumers expect frictionless checkout (and how Flexspace.ai makes this possible)
Why your day pass booking process should never require 20 minutes and multiple steps
The power of a simple tour—even if someone's rushing to a call
How to read the room and offer help without being pushy
Why introducing day passers to members creates instant belonging
The one question your team should always ask: "Has this person been here before?"
How to use your CRM to track referral potential and pain points
Why seasonal offers and meeting room packages are perfect day pass conversion tools
The Enneagram lens: why some people want to be seen and others want to be left alone
Designing your space so people have to pass the front desk (and why that matters)

If you've been treating day passes as transient revenue instead of relationship opportunities, this episode will shift how you think about every single person who walks through your door.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

The Revenue Playbook (Operator Membership)

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What happens when a flex workspace veteran with decades of global experience decides the future isn't about branded coworking takeovers—but about making flex invisible so the building itself can thrive? In this episode, Andrea Pirrotti, Head of Real Estate at infinitSpace, shares her unconventional approach to helping landlords activate underutilized space without heavy CapEx, long lease-up timelines, or the friction that comes with traditional flex operators. Andrea's background is extensive—she ran global marketing for IWG across 65 countries, led operations at Office Evolution, and now she's bringing a Dutch operator's profitable, partnership-first model to the Americas. We cover:

Why spec suites look like a solution but often lose money for landlords
How infinitSpace's semi-white-label model (Beyond) blends into a building's existing design and brand
The fatal mistakes operators make that Andrea's team capitalizes on when taking over failed spaces
Why "high optics, low friction" (like a barista at the entrance) creates outsized value without blowing budgets
The magic 10% rule: why every building should dedicate at least 10% of inventory to flex
Why banks still don't know how to value flex revenue—and what needs to change

If you're a landlord wondering whether flex makes sense for your building, or an operator curious about partnership models that actually work, this conversation is essential listening. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Andrea Pirrotti on LinkedIn infinitSpace website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What happens when a lifelong hairstylist-turned-life-coach steps away from the salon and builds one of the most flexible, hyper-local coworking models I've ever seen?

You get The Foundry Workspaces, created and operated by Vena Boddy, who brings an action-oriented, community-centered approach to coworking that works beautifully in her Michigan suburb.

In this episode, Vena shares her unexpected journey into coworking, how her husband's early entrepreneurial experiences inspired their model, and why she leaned fully into fractional private offices instead of the typical dedicated office or open coworking setup. If you've ever wondered whether part-time private offices can actually work, Vena is proof that they can—not only functionally, but profitably.

We talk about:

How her background as a hairstylist and certified life coach shaped her philosophy as an operator
How she runs a mostly unstaffed space while still delivering a boutique, high-touch experience
Why her day passes and conference room rentals have become an unexpectedly strong revenue driver
The power of being embedded in the local community—especially in smaller markets
Why her 24 five-star Google reviews in year one are no accident
The Foundry Workspaces' next chapter: a new workshop space coming in 2026

Vena's story is such a refreshing reminder that coworking doesn't have to look one certain way. You can take the space you already have, design around the needs of the people in your community, and create something that is profitable, personal, and sustainable.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Vena Boddy on LI

The Foundry Workspaces' website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What happens when a lifelong marketer and multi-business entrepreneur realizes she's tired of working alone — and decides to build the space she wishes existed?

In this episode, Jodie Gallant, CEO of WORK Lakes Region, shares the remarkable story behind launching the first coworking space of its kind in New Hampshire's Lakes Region — and why the idea lived in her for nearly a decade before becoming real.

Jodie's journey is full of surprising turns, smart marketing insights, and honest lessons about opening a coworking space in a smaller market.

We cover:

How growing up inside a family-run corporate environment shaped her entrepreneurial instincts
The marketing tactics that actually work in small markets (including radio and direct mail)
How chambers, connectors, and partnerships accelerated her visibility
What she learned about the fears people bring into coworking spaces (including what to wear)
Why 60 percent of her revenue comes from day passes and meeting rooms — and how she nurtures those users

If you want to understand what it really takes to open a coworking space outside a major metro — and do it with heart, clarity, and creativity — this episode is a must-listen.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Q1 2026 Planning Workshop

Jodie Gallant on LI

Work Lakes Region

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, Jamie shares the key themes she's taking into her 2026 planning — and why now is the moment to shift from working in your business to working on it. She also walks through what to expect in this year's Q1 planning workshop and pop-up community.

In this episode you'll learn: • Why "radical responsiveness" is becoming a major differentiator • How to plan for outcomes instead of tactics • What owners should keep close instead of delegating • Why carving out R&D time (especially around AI) matters • How to think realistically about projects, KPIs, and capacity

Join the Q1 2026 Planning Workshop: everythingcoworking.com/quarterly

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Q1 2026 Planning Workshop: everythingcoworking.com/quarterly Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What do antiques and coworking have in common? For Carol DiGiovanni, more than you'd think.

Carol never set out to run a coworking space. With a degree in material culture and a long career as an accredited antiques appraiser, she loved researching the stories behind old treasures—not managing HVAC contractors or setting up a member portal. But when the pandemic hit, Carol and her husband—owners of a full city block of office space in downtown Chico, California—knew they'd need to pivot.

In this episode, Carol shares her journey from antique expert to community builder, and how she's doubled the size of onFlume Coworking while keeping it intentionally local, friendly, and low-fuss. We talk about:

Why her quiet, dog-friendly coworking model works perfectly in her market
How she expanded from 5,000 to 10,000 square feet (and filled it fast)
Why pre-marketing matters—and what she'd do differently next time
How owning the building changes her approach to pricing and expansion
What she learned about patience, marketing, and negotiating from the operator's seat

If you've ever wondered what it looks like when a building owner takes coworking into their own hands—and falls in love with it—this episode is a must-listen. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: onFlume Coworking's website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, Jamie dives deep into how to choose the right business coach for where you are in your coworking journey — whether you're just dreaming about opening your first space or you're years in and ready to grow profitably. She shares personal stories from her own coaching experiences, from mindset breakthroughs to painful early mistakes that could've been avoided with coworking-specific guidance.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why the type of coach you choose depends on your stage of business
The difference between general business coaching and industry-specific coaching
How a coach can accelerate decision-making, confidence, and ROI
When one-on-one coaching makes sense — and when a group program is a better investment
How Jamie's early coaching experiences shaped her approach to helping coworking operators today

Jamie also introduces two new coaching programs — the Revenue Playbook and the Profit Accelerator — designed specifically for coworking operators who want hands-on support, accountability, and a proven roadmap to grow and optimize their spaces.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

The Revenue Playbook and Profit Accelerator Coaching Memberships Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Most coworking operators didn't open their doors because they love spreadsheets — but the truth is, what gets focus gets results.

In this episode, Jamie Russo breaks down the essential rhythm every coworking business needs for reviewing its numbers. You'll learn what to track weekly, monthly, and quarterly so you can make better decisions, spot opportunities early, and grow profit with intention.

No spreadsheets, no overwhelm — just a practical framework that helps you stay connected to your business and confident in your next move.

In This Episode: * Why your numbers aren't something to fear — they're your clearest path to clarity and control. * The simple weekly metrics that keep you connected to your pipeline and cash flow. * The monthly insights that reveal trends and show where your biggest opportunities lie. * The quarterly reviews that help you see the big picture and plan with confidence. * How to build a tracking habit that empowers your team and keeps you focused on results.

If you're ready to make smarter, data-informed decisions about your coworking business, join Jamie for The Coworking Scorecard: Measure What Matters, a free live event happening on October 23 at 1 PM ET.

You'll learn how your space stacks up against industry benchmarks and where to focus next for sustainable growth.

👉 Save your seat at everythingcoworking.com/scorecard

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

The Coworking Scorecard: Measure What Matters Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Most coworking operators make decisions based on instinct — pricing, marketing spend, staffing, space allocation — all guided by gut feel. But when you dig into the data, it often tells a completely different story.

In this episode, Jamie shares examples of how metrics can reveal blind spots that gut feel misses — like when vacant offices aren’t the real problem, or when ad spend is working but lead follow-up isn’t. You’ll learn why the right data brings confidence and clarity to your decision-making and helps you prioritize what will actually move the needle.

If you’re ready to make smarter, data-informed decisions about your coworking business, join Jamie for The Coworking Scorecard: Measure What Matters, a free live event happening on October 23 at 1 PM ET.

You’ll learn how your space stacks up against industry benchmarks and where to focus next for sustainable growth.

👉 Save your seat at everythingcoworking.com/scorecard

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

The Coworking Scorecard: Measure What Matters Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Ever wondered how to build a successful coworking business in smaller markets that the big players ignore? Jeff Goronkin cracked the code by targeting overlooked cities and mastering the art of community-first growth.

Key Topics Covered:

How Jeff leveraged a "sandbox period" to learn coworking before committing to major investments
Why targeting smaller markets (populations 50-70k) can be more profitable than competing in saturated metros
The power of revenue-share lease agreements and how to negotiate them with landlords
Building relationships with economic development offices to secure grants and support
Why PR and community engagement are secret weapons for coworking success
Smart hiring strategies for community managers who can truly own their role
The importance of downtown revitalization as a core business strategy
Lessons learned from expanding to three locations across NY, PA, and MA

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Jeffrey's LinkedIn profile

Urban Co-Works website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Switchyards has become one of the most talked-about concepts in the coworking world, a self-described “neighborhood work club” that blends the feel of a coffee shop, library, and boutique hotel lobby. The model looks simple, affordable, and wildly attractive. But is it really as easy and profitable as it seems?

In this episode, I sit down with Kane Willmott, CEO of IQ Offices, to reverse-engineer the Switchyards model. We walk through their pricing, staffing, buildout approach, and growth strategy to uncover what works, what’s risky, and whether this is a concept you should try at home.

We cover:

What makes Switchyards different from traditional coworking spaces.
Their $100/month membership model, no offices, and minimal staffing.
Why the aesthetics and “cool factor” are central to their brand success.
The financial realities of launching and sustaining this model at scale.
Risks operators should consider before trying to replicate Switchyards.

If you’ve been intrigued by Switchyards’ rapid growth and cult-like following, this episode gives you the numbers, context, and reality check you need before testing the model yourself.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Switchyards

Swithyards on LinkedIn

Kane's LinkedIn profile

iQ Offices website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Coworking operators often assume that flex desks and memberships will drive the business model, but what if that’s not actually true?

In this episode, I share insights from boutique gyms and play cafes that reveal how different business models generate sustainable revenue. These parallels highlight why private offices, events, and other add-ons are often the true engines of coworking profitability.

What we cover:

Why flex desks are often overestimated in pro formas, and why they rarely drive long-term revenue.
The boutique fitness analogy: why high-value services (like private offices) outperform low-cost memberships.
What play cafes teach us about add-ons and event revenue as reliable income streams.
The challenge of churn in coworking memberships and how to offset it with longer-term commitments.
Why operators need to look under the hood of successful models instead of assuming what’s working from the outside.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Balancing career and parenthood isn’t easy, and for many parents, traditional childcare options just don’t fit. Megan Donovan, founder of Shift Work and Play, set out to change that. After leaving a career in policy and advocacy, Megan built a coworking model that offers parents dedicated work time while their kids enjoy structured play sessions, filling a gap most childcare and coworking models miss.

In this episode, Megan shares her journey, the challenges of running a coworking + childcare business, and why her members say the model has been life-changing.

We cover:

Megan’s unconventional career path and the “lightbulb moment” that led to Shift Work and Play.
How the childcare model works, and how she balances staffing with flexibility for parents.
Why part-time, flexible childcare is such a missing piece in most communities.
The types of members attracted to this model, and how it impacts their mental health and productivity.
What she’s learned about programming, community building, and diversifying revenue streams.

Megan’s story is a great reminder that coworking is at its best when it solves a very real problem for its community.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Megan's LinkedIn profile

SHIFT Work + Play website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What happens when a dietitian starts a private practice, sees a gap in support for clinicians, and decides to fix it herself? You get The Practice Collective - a coworking model built specifically for practitioners in nutrition, wellness, and mental health.

In this episode, Samantha Barash shares how she went from running her own nutrition practice to creating a thriving coworking community for private practice professionals. Her story shows how powerful niche coworking can be, and how keeping things simple and community-focused leads to strong growth.

We cover:

How Samantha’s nutrition practice inspired her to launch a coworking space designed for private practice professionals.
Why focusing on authentic connections and referrals beats traditional marketing.
How she reached 45 members in just 800 square feet with a mix of in-person and virtual memberships.
The unexpected role of virtual offices in her business model.
Key lessons from completing the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and how it shaped her growth plan.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Samantha's LinkedIn profile

The Practice Collective website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

One of the toughest parts of running a coworking space is managing people. What do you do when your community manager—or any team member—isn’t living up to expectations? Do you settle, or is it time to make a transition?

In this episode of the Everything Coworking Podcast, Jamie Russo walks through the signs that your team member may not be a fit, what to check before you make a change, and how to confidently prepare for a transition without losing your sanity—or your members’ trust.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

The common symptoms of underperformance (SOPs ignored, leads lost, disorganization, poor service).
How to evaluate whether the problem is training and leadership—or true misalignment.
Why “settling” for a mediocre fit costs more than you think.
Options for outsourcing parts of the role if only 20% isn’t working.
How to make SOP documentation a requirement to protect your business.
Why the community manager role is often a two-year position—and how to plan for turnover.
Steps to take when preparing for a transition, including consulting with an employment attorney.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Transitioning to a new team member doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Community Manager University is your easy button for onboarding and developing new CMs. The program:

Trains on industry standards and role expectations.
Connects your CM to a global network of peers.
Provides expert coaching and real-world support.

Learn more at everythingcoworking.com/communitymanager.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

If you’re launching a coworking space and feel like you’re doing everything out of order, welcome to the club. In this episode, I share the “chicken or egg” paradox of starting a space. That messy, exhilarating, and sometimes disorienting phase where you’re working on your vision, talking to brokers, crunching numbers, and trying to figure out what comes first.

Whether you’re just getting started or expanding, you’ll hear why feeling uncertain is actually a sign you’re on the right track, and what you do need in place before committing to a lease.

What we cover:

Why the early stages of launching a coworking space will always feel messy, and why that’s normal.
The essential pieces to have in place before you start looking for space.
How to work with brokers who understand the coworking model.
Balancing your vision, budget, and capital with your ideal product mix.
The role of due diligence, test fits, and realistic build-out estimates in avoiding costly mistakes.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Your sales funnel can only work if you know where your leads are coming from — and how to make the most of each source.

But for many operators, coworking marketplaces, lead gen partners, and even Google Business Profiles feel like a confusing alphabet soup of options. In this episode, I break down the four core lead source categories, demystify the biggest marketplace players, and help you prioritize what’s worth your time (and what isn’t).

We cover:

The four main types of coworking lead sources: organic traffic, member referrals, brokers, and marketplaces
What platforms like Deskpass, LiquidSpace, Gable, and Peerspace actually do — and who they’re best for
Why your Google Business Profile may be your most valuable (and underutilized) lead source
The truth about Flexspace.ai, how it works, and how it’s not a lead gen platform
How to track your lead sources effectively and decide which platforms deserve your attention

If you’ve ever wondered whether marketplaces are worth it or how to build a lead strategy that actually converts — this episode is your roadmap.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Syncaroo

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

You’ve nailed your location. Your marketing’s dialed in. But if your leads aren’t turning into members… there’s a good chance your speed to lead is the culprit.

In this episode, Jamie breaks down why fast lead response is more than a “nice to have”; it’s one of the biggest drivers of sales success (or failure) in your coworking business. And it’s one of the easiest things to improve without adding headcount.

We cover:

Why slow response time might be quietly killing your conversion rate — even if you’re getting leads.
How to optimize lead response without hiring a full-time salesperson.
Practical tools (like AI chatbots and SMS automation) to bridge the gap.
Why phone and text should beat email every time when responding to inquiries.
How to help your team prioritize lead response, even if they wear all the hats.

If you’ve ever wondered why your sales funnel feels leaky, this episode will help you plug the holes — and close more deals.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, I talk with Leslie Bailey, founder and CEO of Indy Maven and the powerhouse behind Maven Space, a coworking space that was as bold and layered as Leslie herself.

Leslie never set out to run a coworking space. What began as a media company and newsletter for women in Indianapolis quickly snowballed into a full-on community, and eventually a physical space with coworking, a cafe, a gym, an event venue, and yes, cauliflower soup that apparently had a fan club.

We talk about:

How Leslie went from lifestyle editor to community builder and coworking operator, almost by accident.
The business model behind Maven Space: combining coworking, hospitality, events, and sponsorships into one seamless experience.
What worked (and didn’t) in her 15,000 sq ft downtown space, and what she planned to change in her next location.
How she used sponsorships and her media background to unlock non-traditional coworking revenue streams.
Why her digital membership community is still going strong, and what the future looks like post-coworking.

Whether you’re dreaming about layering more revenue streams into your coworking business or wondering how to build community with or without a physical space, this one’s packed with takeaways you can use.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Leslie's LinkedIn profile

Indy Maven website

Leslie Bailey’s personal website

Leslie’s 10 Lessons Learned article

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Ever wonder what it’s like to build a coworking space outside the U.S. from scratch, in another language, with a whole new playbook?

Joel Ballew is the Chief People Officer at Coventus Space in Barranquilla, Colombia, and he’s not your average operator. He moved his family from Georgia to Colombia, sold his dream business, learned Spanish from the ground up, and launched what is now the largest privately held coworking space in a city of nearly 2 million people.

In this episode, Joel shares the highs, the lows, and the “wait, you did what?” moments of creating a thriving, purpose-driven business in an emerging market.

We talk about:

The cultural and operational curveballs of launching a coworking space in Colombia—including why recurring payments aren’t really a thing.
How Joel built lead volume through WhatsApp, Instagram, and literal flyers on car windshields (and why it's working).
What it takes to educate a market on coworking while creating a strong local brand.
How his space combines private offices, day passes, event rentals, and even a coffee shop run by a third party.
Why doing good while doing well isn’t just a tagline—it’s a business model that fuels impact and sustainability.

Whether you're a seasoned operator or dreaming of launching in a new market, this conversation is a masterclass in adapting, listening to your audience, and building community on your own terms.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Joel's LinkedIn profile

Coventus Space website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

How Kim Lee Turned Virtual Mail into a High-Value Revenue Stream

Kim Lee has been in the coworking game since 2017—and she’s one of those operators who’s truly in it. From understanding her numbers to tweaking her team structure to building out a profitable mail program, Kim brings equal parts heart and hustle to the table.

In this episode, Kim walks us through her journey with virtual mail—from opening with it in place, to running the numbers year after year to make sure it still makes sense (spoiler: it does). She now has over 200 virtual mail clients, including some premium customers that contribute thousands per month.

Kim is also one of our coaches in the Mailbox Moneymaker Challenge, and she shares why even seasoned operators can find big wins by putting focus on their mail program.

What we cover:

Why Kim almost didn’t add a second mail platform—and how it paid off
The tweaks that helped her team cut mail processing time in half
The customer who brought in 40+ pieces of mail a day—and how they handled it
How to keep your team from burning out on details (hint: structure matters)
Why virtual mail is one of the most scalable revenue streams for coworking spaces
Her secret to tracking ROI and knowing when to pivot on event space vs. office conversions
What changed when she added IPostal—and why that was the right move

Thinking about launching or optimizing your virtual mail program? Kim’s story is the perfect combo of honest insight, operator-tested tips, and encouragement to just get started.

And if you're ready to finally put this on your “done” list, join us for the Mailbox Moneymaker Challenge. Registration closes Friday, June 13th.

👉 www.mailboxchallenge.co

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

MoneyMaker Mailbox Challenge

Kim's LinkedIn profile

Forge website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Christine Tosi didn’t just open a coworking space—she invented one out of necessity. What started as a creative way to use extra space in a building she and her husband David bought for their first business has grown into a full-on coworking success story in Tucson, Arizona. Now, they’re gearing up to open a second location—this time under a management agreement—with a pipeline full of mail clients, a waitlist for dedicated desks, and a family-run team that includes their college-aged daughter (and some pretty savvy Canva support from their son).

In this episode, Christine shares how she turned her virtual mailbox business into a revenue stream that’s bringing in up to $195/month per customer—with no paid marketing. Plus, how a landlord partnership that was almost too good to be true opened the door (literally) to their second location.

What we cover:

Why Christine and David traded snow shovels in Wisconsin for solar glare in Tucson
How a side business turned into a full-time coworking brand
The landing page tweaks that took their virtual mail business from 0 to 50+ customers
How they got 10 members at $195/month… and hardly ever see them 👀
The “mail-only” customer bundle that actually works (and the perks they threw in)
A referral partner that sent them 50 clients—yes, 5-0
Their new management agreement deal: what the landlord’s handling, and how Christine negotiated it
Why their team structure (and travel goals!) made hiring early a smart move
How a family of introverts built Tucson’s friendliest coworking community

Plus: 9 HVAC units, Duolingo-induced competitiveness, and how Christine wins massage swaps through creative bartering. You’re going to love this one.

🚨 Heads-up: Mailbox Moneymaker Challenge registration closes Friday, June 13th. If Christine’s story got your wheels turning, this is your nudge to get in there before doors close.

🎧 Tune in now and get inspired to grow your own virtual mail revenue—and maybe snag a massage along the way.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Register for the Mailbox Moneymaker Challenge

Christine's LinkedIn profile

Spoke Coworking website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

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Summer is here—and while the kids are out of school, your pipeline might be slowing down too. But don’t worry, I’ve got three ideas to help you bring in extra revenue during the slower months, and even build momentum heading into fall.

Whether you’ve got open offices sitting empty, a virtual mail program that’s been collecting dust, or phone booths that aren’t pulling their weight, I walk you through how to turn these underused assets into revenue-generating machines. I also share some creative packaging and pricing ideas and how to test new concepts without getting stuck in analysis paralysis.

What You’ll Learn:

Why now is the perfect time to start—or focus on—your virtual mail program
How to turn an unused office into a styled-up part-time rental for parents and travelers
A clever way to monetize your phone booths (yes, really)
How to sublet your members’ offices while they’re out of town—win-win
The importance of clearly communicating your phone call setup to prospective members

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Register for The Mailbox Moneymaker Challenge

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Craig Baute is a familiar name in the coworking world—and he’s got a big update.

After 13 years of running Creative Density, he made the leap and merged his coworking brand with Thrive, another local Denver operator. In this super candid chat, Craig dishes on what led him to walk away from day-to-day operations, what the structure looks like now, and why he’s finally embracing weekly meetings.

Whether you’ve hit the scale ceiling or you’re just wondering what it looks like to not be the boss anymore, this episode is a must-listen.

What we get into:

Life with two kids, four coworking locations, and one burnt-out founder
Why losing a trusted team member forced Craig to rethink everything
The call that changed it all: how a casual “Let’s do lunch” turned into a merger
The power of middle management (yes, it’s a thing in coworking now)
Thrive’s operating structure and how Craig fits in post-merger
The mental shift from “owner” to “team member” — and how that changes everything
Why most spaces stall at 2–3 locations and how combining forces helps you scale
68 fake plants, a $6,500 coffee machine, and why Switchyards has everyone’s attention

Thinking about selling? Merging? Scaling beyond your comfort zone? This episode might be the nudge (or reality check) you need.

Bonus: Yes, Craig and Jamie share a birthday. Yes, that makes this episode extra fun.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Get on the Waitlist For The Mailbox Money Maker Challenge

Craig's LinkedIn profile

Creative Density website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

If you're still asking people to "fill out a form" to book a meeting room—this episode is for you.

I’m joined by Miro Miroslavov, CEO and co-founder of OfficeRnD, to talk about why e-commerce is no longer optional for coworking spaces, and how their new Growth Hub is making it easier than ever to meet customer expectations—and convert website visitors into paying members.

We cover how consumer expectations have shifted, why friction kills revenue, and how the most successful operators are rethinking their websites and booking flows for today’s demand.

In this episode, we cover:

Why meeting room bookings, day passes, and even small offices need to be available for instant online purchase.
The two user personas your coworking website must serve—and how to optimize for both.
Why booking friction is leaving money on the table, and how to reduce it.
How OfficeRnD’s Growth Hub helps operators capture and convert demand in a competitive market.
What’s changing in demand gen as users move from Google to AI-powered search—and how to stay visible.

Miro also shares how operators are already using the Growth Hub to boost bookings and better measure ROI, and what features (like dynamic pricing and deeper CRM integration) are coming next.

If your goals include better marketing performance, more bookings, and a more profitable bottom line—you don’t want to miss this conversation.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Miro's LinkedIn profile

OfficeRnD website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

If you’re not optimizing your coworking space for quick, seamless online bookings—especially for meeting rooms and day passes—you’re leaving serious money on the table.

In this solo episode, I break down the real numbers behind poor user experiences, what the latest coworking tech can actually do for your bottom line, and why every single operator needs to rethink how they serve the on-demand customer.

Whether you're in a small market or managing multiple locations, this episode will help you see your website, your phone booths, and your meeting rooms in a whole new light.

We cover:

Why conversion rate optimization on your website is the fastest path to more revenue—and what’s getting in the way
Real math on what a 5% improvement in booking conversions can do for your bottom line
How operators are using new tools like Elumo and Growth Hub to monetize amenities and eliminate friction
Why the traditional “tours-first” mindset doesn’t match today’s on-demand buyer behavior
Why your meeting rooms (and phone booths) should be treated like products with real dollar value—and how to make that happen with minimal effort

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Operators are seeing growing demand for meeting rooms and private call space—but squatting, no-shows, and friction-filled booking systems continue to cost time and revenue. James Shannon and Kurt Patrick from Essensys join the podcast to share how they’re tackling those pain points with Elumo, a new product that simplifies access, booking, and billing in one smart, user-friendly system.

In this conversation, we cover:

The real cost of squatting and how much revenue is lost from underutilized shared space.
Why Essensys built Elumo and how it's solving both revenue leakage and poor user experience.
How Elumo uses Apple and Google Wallet integration to streamline access and eliminate the friction of traditional booking systems.
The role of dynamic pricing and data-driven utilization in maximizing revenue from shared spaces.
How Elumo works with (not against) your existing tech stack, including OfficeRnD and other booking platforms.

If you’ve ever wondered how to monetize your meeting rooms without creating more headaches for your community managers, this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Kurt's LinkedIn profile

James’ LinkedIn profile

essensys website

elumo by essensys website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Roseline and Merlinn are the sister-duo behind Holistic Executive Suites in Boynton Beach, Florida. With backgrounds in healthcare and project management, they took their unique coworking model from concept to reality—serving holistic health practitioners and wellness-focused professionals.

In this episode, they share how they built a space that goes beyond office rentals, creating a supportive business environment tailored to their members' needs. We dive into their journey, the challenges of launching a niche coworking space, and the strategies that have helped them grow.

We cover:

How they turned their personal need for space into a thriving coworking business.
Why they chose a "wellness-first" niche and how it impacts their operations.
The challenges of marketing a specialized coworking space—and what actually works.
Lessons learned about community-building before and after opening.
Why they chose not to list pricing on their website and how they guide prospects to the right membership.

If you’re thinking about launching (or refining) a niche coworking space, this episode is packed with valuable insights!

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

GCUC discount code: EVERYGCUC for 20% off - https://na.gcuc.co/

Roseline's LinkedIn profile

Merlinn’s LinkedIn profile

Holistic Executive Suites website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

The biggest real estate operator in the world—the U.S. federal government—is making a bold move toward flexible work. Mark Gilbreath, CEO of LiquidSpace, joins us to break down what this means for the coworking industry, why it signals a major shift in how large organizations view their real estate portfolios, and what coworking operators should be doing right now to prepare.

In this episode, we cover:

How the GSA’s new enterprise-wide marketplace for flexible work could change the coworking industry.
What it means when a government agency starts thinking like an enterprise occupier.
How coworking operators can position themselves to capture demand from this shift.
Why flexible office space is becoming a critical piece of workplace strategy for major organizations.
Mark’s insights on how the coworking industry is evolving—and what’s next.

This is a huge step forward for the coworking and flex space industry. Don’t miss this conversation!

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

GCUC discount code: EVERYGCUC for 20% off - https://na.gcuc.co/

Mark on LinkedIn

LiquidSpace website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Coworking spaces often promise community—but what does it really take to build one that’s engaged, vibrant, and truly member-driven?

Liz Barney, Director of Marketing & Community at Cahoots in Ann Arbor, Michigan, joins us to share how her journey from remote worker to coworking leader led to a game-changing experiment: a member-led approach to building community and social events.

In this episode, we dive into:

How Cahoots launched its “Community Committee” and empowered members to take ownership of events and initiatives.
Why structured, member-led engagement can be more effective than traditional coworking social events.
Lessons learned from different types of community-building experiments (what worked and what didn’t!).
The surprising ways introverts and extroverts engage in coworking spaces—and why a variety of offerings matters.
How this approach fosters deeper connections, improves retention, and makes coworking spaces truly feel like home.

This episode is packed with practical takeaways for coworking operators who want to level up their community strategy—without putting everything on their community team.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

GCUC discount code: EVERYGCUC for 20% off - https://na.gcuc.co/

Liz's LinkedIn profile

Blog post describing the experiment: How Shared Purpose Creates Community For Remote Workers

Cahoots website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What happens when a seasoned real estate investor decides to dive into coworking? James Westbrook, co-owner of Magnolia Woods, shares his journey from corporate sales to running two successful coworking spaces in the Houston suburbs. We talk about the challenges of expansion, why office-heavy coworking models work in his market, and the strategies that keep his spaces full.

In this episode: * How James transitioned from real estate investing to launching coworking spaces * The pros and cons of owning vs. leasing coworking properties * Why private offices are the key revenue driver in his suburban market * Marketing and lead generation strategies that actually work (including what didn’t) * The power of community in coworking—without forcing happy hours

If you’re an operator thinking about expansion or a real estate investor eyeing coworking, this episode is packed with insights!

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

GCUC discount code: EVERYGCUC for 20% off - https://na.gcuc.co/

James' LinkedIn profile

Magnolia Woods website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

If summer has ever meant fewer members, lower revenue, and way too much empty space in your coworking business, this episode is for you.

A seasonal slowdown can feel inevitable—but smart coworking operators know how to stay ahead of the dip. In this episode, we’re diving into three powerful, low-lift strategies that can help you:

Create predictable revenue (even if members pause their coworking plans).
Leverage creative offers to attract new members who actually need space in the summer.
Lock in cash flow now so you’re not scrambling when June rolls around.

Plus, we cover:

The most underrated coworking growth strategy that gyms have been using for years—and why it works even better in a coworking space.
A simple tweak to your current membership model that could add thousands in revenue before summer even starts.
How to make sure your summer marketing connects with the right people - so you’re filling desks, not just throwing out random discounts.

Don’t wait until your space is half-empty—tune in now and set yourself up for a strong, profitable summer!

Want a custom plan to avoid the summer slump? Book a call with a mentor at CoworkingMentorship.com and build a strategy that works for your space!

Hit play and let’s make this your most profitable summer yet!

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

**GCUC discount code: EVERYGCUC for 20% off >> https://na.gcuc.co/

Get on the waitlist for the Mailbox Moneymaker Challenge!

Join the coworking mentorship program: CoworkingMentorship.com

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode of the Everything Coworking podcast, I’m joined by Leslie M. Bosserman, the powerhouse Co-Founder and Community Manager at The Makers Place™ in Sacramento. Leslie has blended coworking with licensed childcare, creating a unique and welcoming space for working parents. With a background in education, leadership coaching, and a passion for intentional community, Leslie has taken coworking to a new level.

Join us as she shares the journey of building The Makers Place™, lessons from creating a family-friendly coworking environment, and the value of staying connected to core values.

We talked about:

How Leslie’s diverse background in education, coaching, and community-building informed The Makers Place™ model
The journey from idea to reality – including buying a building in record time and finding the ideal setup for childcare and coworking
Designing a childcare program that prioritizes flexibility and quality, allowing parents to work confidently
Valuable insights into operating a coworking space that supports both parents and children
Balancing work, family, and the daily demands of running a coworking space

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

**GCUC discount code: EVERYGCUC for 20% off >> https://na.gcuc.co/

Leslie's LinkedIn profile

The Makers Place™ website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

If you’ve ever thought, Maybe I should switch my space management platform…—this episode is for you.

Your space management software is the backbone of your coworking business. It handles bookings, invoicing, door access, reporting—basically, everything that keeps your space running smoothly. But what happens when it’s not running smoothly?

Before you hit the eject button and sign up for the latest and greatest platform, let’s talk about what’s really involved in switching. Because spoiler alert: It’s not just a quick flip of a switch.

In this episode, I cover: ✅ How to decide if switching is actually worth it—or if you’re just experiencing software envy ✅ The painful parts of migrating to a new system (including the fact that your members will have to re-enter their credit cards—yep, all of them) ✅ The importance of choosing a platform that will grow with you—not just one that solves today’s problems ✅ Why building your own platform is probably not the answer (trust me, it’s a massive undertaking) ✅ Why none of these platforms have a real CRM—and what you need to do about it

Plus, I’ll share the #1 thing operators forget to ask about their new platform—and why it can make or break your experience.

Thinking about switching platforms? Listen in before you make the move!

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

**GCUC discount code: EVERYGCUC for 20% off >> https://na.gcuc.co/

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Your Google Business Profile is more than just a listing—it’s the front door to your coworking space online. And if it’s not up to date, you’re missing out on members. In this episode, we’re diving deep into why your profile matters, how Google ranks coworking spaces, and what you can do right now to increase your visibility and bookings.

We cover:

Why your Google Business Profile is the top of your coworking sales funnel
How fresh reviews can push you ahead of the competition
The must-have details that make or break your listing
The Google Review Challenge—why it’s time to automate the process
Pro tips for keeping your profile active, engaging, and optimized for conversions

If you’re ready to bring in more members without increasing your ad spend, this episode is a must-listen.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

**GCUC discount code: EVERYGCUC for 20% off >> https://na.gcuc.co/

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Starting a private practice is hard. Doing it alone? Even harder. That’s why Laura Spiller, PhD, founder of Practice Age Therapist Collective, created a shared workspace that supports therapists in their entrepreneurial journeys. Laura shares her story of launching a coworking space designed specifically for mental health professionals, the lessons she’s learned, and the community she’s building in Houston.

In this episode, we talk about:

How Laura’s experience as a relationship therapist led her to entrepreneurship.
Why shared workspace is the future for therapists balancing in-person and virtual practices.
The unique needs of therapists and how Laura designed her space to meet them.
Building an online community alongside a physical space for deeper connections and support.
Lessons learned from navigating leasing, marketing, and launching a hyperlocal niche space.

Laura’s story will inspire you to think creatively about building community and sustainable business models.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

**GCUC discount code: EVERYGCUC for 20% off >> https://na.gcuc.co/

Laura's LinkedIn profile

PractiSage website

PractiSage Instagram

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, Jamie talks with Amanda Findlay, Executive Director at Matchbox Studios in Lafayette, Indiana, about leading a coworking space that is more than just a place to work.

Matchbox Studios thrives as a nonprofit organization, blending coworking, innovation, and community-building in a town with a population of just 70,000. Amanda shares how their unique approach has fostered a loyal and diverse membership base while supporting local economic development.

We talk about:

How Matchbox Studios evolved into a thriving nonprofit coworking space.
Why their model focuses on community and shared spaces rather than private offices.
Strategies for engaging local HR departments to attract and retain talent.
The value of offering unique resources like a makerspace and acceleration programs.
How Matchbox Studios keeps their mission-driven business sustainable.

This episode is packed with inspiration and actionable insights for anyone interested in coworking, community building, or nonprofit innovation. Don't miss Amanda’s story of growth and impact at Matchbox Studios

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Amanda's LinkedIn profile

MatchBOX Coworking Studio website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, Jamie is joined by Emanuele Sisti, founder of Innovation Campus, a coworking brand with locations in Spain and Italy. Emanuele shares his inspiring transition from engineering to entrepreneurship and his journey to create vibrant coworking spaces tailored for international communities. With an emphasis on connection, design, and adaptability, Innovation Campus thrives in competitive markets while fostering a global community.

In this episode, we cover:

How Emanuele’s engineering background shaped his approach to launching Innovation Campus.
The unique challenges and opportunities of serving expats in coworking spaces.
Balancing growth and consolidation while maintaining community-focused values.
The competitive coworking landscape in Spain and strategies for standing out.
Creative partnerships and expanding into new markets on a budget.

Emanuele’s story is a must-listen for anyone looking to grow their coworking space or gain inspiration for building a global community!

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Emanuele's LinkedIn profile

Innovation Campus website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Are your community managers ready to help your coworking space accomplish goals with less friction in 2025? In this episode, we’re diving into the four key strategies to align, empower, and strengthen your team for success.

🎯 Here’s what we cover: 1️⃣ Setting Inspiring, Actionable Goals: Learn how to break big-picture objectives into meaningful, measurable steps your team can rally around. 2️⃣ Fostering Accountability Without Micromanaging: Discover the secret to building trust and encouraging ownership in your team’s day-to-day work. 3️⃣ Investing in Training & Development: Why ongoing education and mentorship are critical to boosting confidence and performance. 4️⃣ Encouraging Peer Engagement: Simple ways to foster connection and collaboration within your team to boost morale and productivity.

Whether you’re focused on increasing member retention, closing more tours, or creating a culture of accountability, these strategies will help your team hit their goals faster—and with less friction.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Community Manager University

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Follow Us on YouTube

Tamara Payne is a multi-passionate, human-centered entrepreneur and a master connector...it makes sense that she ended up in coworking! Tamara owns Ensemble Coworking, along with a coaching business. This episode is full of gold nuggets on how she structures a team that allows her to work on the business, not in it, and how she has created a profitable business that is still community-first (check out her Google reviews!)

In this episode, Tamara shares:

The transition from a marketing business to launching a coworking space in Fort Worth and the challenges she faced.
Why a strong, community-focused culture is at the heart of Ensemble Coworking's success and how it impacts member retention.
The role of a visionary and integrator in a coworking business partnership and how to work through early-stage challenges.
How they leveraged organic marketing and word-of-mouth to grow their business and build a loyal community.
Insight into their diverse revenue streams, including meeting room rentals, virtual memberships, and dedicated desk options.

Tamara’s journey proves that, with the right mindset and a community-first approach, a coworking space can thrive.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Q1 2025 Planning Session - Join us!

Tamara's LinkedIn profile

Ensemble Coworking website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Hope is not a strategy. One of the pitfalls of being an entrepreneur is that we tend to like to just keep moving. But actions taken at random will not get us closer to our goal as fast as focused actions taken against a plan.

In this episode, we introduce a "12 Week Year" planning framework and invite you to our Q1 2025 planning workshop.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

The Q1 2025 Planning Workshop for Coworking Space Owners

The Twelve Week Year book

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months

Aligning incentives is critical...unfortunately, our intuitiion sometimes leads us to bonus performance that should be intrinsically rewarded....and we end up sending a signal that table stakes behaviors are actuall going above and beyond the call of duty.

On this episode, we go through some unexpected findings on how to do bonuses right and walk through coworking-specific applications.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Harvard Business Review Article: Research: When Bonuses Backfire

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode of the Everything Coworking Podcast, I’m joined by Dorothy Rogers-Bullis and Dan Bullis, founders of Saratoga CoWorks. Known for their community-focused approach, Dorothy and Dan are experts in creating coworking spaces that blend functional design with personal touches. Together, they discuss their philosophy on coworking design, the power of local connections, and how they’ve used their own design backgrounds to cultivate an inviting environment at Saratoga CoWorks.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How Dorothy and Dan’s background in business interiors led to their unique approach to coworking space design.
Key design elements that set Saratoga CoWorks apart, including flexible layouts and personal touches.
Strategies for balancing aesthetics and functionality to create a welcoming yet practical environment.
Insights into how they build relationships with members, making coworking spaces feel like a true community.
Practical tips on using design to cater to the evolving needs of coworking members.

Whether you're designing your own coworking space or looking for ways to enhance community-building, this episode with Dorothy and Dan offers valuable insights into building coworking environments that support both form and function.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Dorothy's LinkedIn profile

Daniel's LinkedIn profile

Elisabeth LaPierre on LinkedIn

Saratoga CoWorks website

drb Business Interiors

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, Jamie chats with Amanda Lewan, CEO and co-founder of Bamboo, about her journey from a grassroots coworking concept in Detroit to leading three thriving locations across Michigan. Amanda shares invaluable lessons on building sustainable, hyperlocal coworking communities, and how community support, private offices, and strategic expansion can drive success.

We talked about:

How Amanda built Bamboo from a small pop-up to three high-demand locations, starting with $5,000 and a passion for community
Insights on navigating the coworking needs of different markets and why hyperlocal adaptability matters
The importance of small private offices for stabilizing revenue and meeting community needs
Bamboo’s approach to forming a launch committee to integrate authentically into new markets
Leveraging community-driven initiatives and strategic property ownership to create a sustainable coworking model

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Amanda's LinkedIn profile

Bamboo website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this solo episode, Jamie breaks down the critical elements of sales funnel automation and member onboarding, drawing from personal experiences outside the coworking world. Jamie explores the power of creating a frictionless sales funnel and dives deep into how a strategic onboarding process can drive member retention.

Here’s what she covers:

The role of automation in streamlining your sales funnel to convert leads without missing a beat
How to use text messaging and email automation effectively to engage potential members
Why first impressions during the onboarding process are key to creating a lasting member relationship
Simple strategies to gather feedback from new members and improve your space’s experience
Practical tips for avoiding the common pitfalls of automation, from broken links to inappropriate messaging tone

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, I’m excited to chat with Sarah Athanas, Co-Founder of Groundwork Coworking in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Sarah's story of starting and growing a coworking space in a smaller market is inspiring, full of persistence, creativity, and community building. She shares how her experience living in Argentina planted the seed for Groundwork and how she navigated the challenges of building a business from scratch in a city that needed it.

Here’s what we dive into:

How Sarah’s experience at an Argentine coworking space inspired her to bring the concept to New Bedford
The unique journey of partnering with the city and using grant funding to get Groundwork off the ground
What it’s like to grow a coworking business in a smaller market and how patience and persistence paid off
Insights on expanding to a second location and the importance of finding the right partners
The evolving role of nonprofits and the offshore wind industry as key members of Groundwork

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Sarah's LinkedIn profile

Groundwork website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, I chat with Evan Preslopsky, Senior Sales Manager at Venture X and Office Evolution, about his unique path from fitness to coworking sales. Evan shares how his background in fitness and construction sales has influenced his approach to building broker relationships and scaling sales across multiple coworking locations.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Evan’s journey from the fitness industry into coworking and sales
How to cultivate strong broker relationships to close larger coworking deals
The role fitness plays in maintaining discipline and focus in the sales process
Key strategies for managing multiple coworking locations efficiently
Tips on automating and tracking sales processes to support coworking growth

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Evan's LinkedIn profile

Venture X - Charlotte – The Refinery website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, I sit down with Kristin Hardwick, the Founder and CEO of CoHo, a thriving coworking space in Milford, New Hampshire. Kristin shares her journey from corporate life to photography, and eventually, the creation of CoHo—a coworking space that prioritizes community, connection, and the needs of small business owners and remote workers.

Tune in as Kristin breaks down her philosophy on creating a welcoming environment and the unique challenges of opening a coworking space right before the pandemic.

We talked about:

How Kristin’s experience in photography and corporate life influenced her approach to building CoHo.
The unexpected benefits of launching a coworking space in a smaller town.
The importance of building personal connections with members to foster a thriving coworking community.
How Kristin has adapted her space and operations to meet the post-pandemic demand for private offices.
Marketing strategies that have worked for CoHo.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Kristin's LinkedIn profile

The Coworking House website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, I sit down with Karen Tait, founder of The Residence Coworking in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire. Karen shares her inspiring journey from a career in investment banking to creating a high-end coworking space that caters to the needs of suburban professionals. With a vision for blending luxury with functionality, Karen has turned The Residence into a thriving hub for the local business community, providing more than just desks—it's a space that fosters connections, collaboration, and a sense of belonging. We talked about: * How Karen transitioned from investment banking to launching The Residence Coworking * The unique challenges and opportunities of building a high-end coworking space in the suburbs * Why community and customer experience are crucial for coworking success * How The Residence caters to the needs of suburban professionals and remote workers * Insights from scaling up The Residence during and after the pandemic

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Karen's LinkedIn profile

The Residence Coworking website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, I chat with Alison Rogers, the founder of Blush Cowork, a coworking space that combines professional workspace with onsite childcare services. Alison shares her journey from corporate marketing to entrepreneurship, addressing a gap for working parents. Her story highlights how Blush Cowork is reshaping the coworking landscape for families, especially for parents seeking a balance between professional life and parenting.

What you'll learn in this episode:

Alison’s background and what inspired her to create Blush Cowork.
How coworking and childcare can coexist and support working parents.
Challenges Alison faced in building a business that serves both professionals and parents.
Effective strategies for creating flexible, sustainable childcare models.
How Blush Cowork fosters entrepreneurship, with a special focus on supporting women.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Alison's LinkedIn profile

Blush Cowork website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Q4 is right around the corner and on this episode, I share three ideas for Q4 goals that you can set to add profit to your business.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Mailbox Moneymaker Challenge

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What does it take to leave a high-stakes career in investment banking and build a thriving coworking community in the suburbs? Mark Fornasiero, co-founder of ACE Coworking in Oakville, shares his unexpected journey from the trading floor to coworking.

Mark reveals how he and his wife, Nancy, went from dreaming about coworking spaces to opening two successful locations. They navigated the ups and downs of building in a suburban market, including surviving the challenges of COVID-19.

In this episode, we cover:

The pivotal decisions that led Mark from investment banking to coworking.
Why picking the right location is everything—and how they found theirs.
How ACE Coworking became a local favorite and attracted key partners like the Chamber of Commerce.
The strategies Mark uses to keep ACE Coworking running smoothly and profitably.

Whether you’re looking to expand your coworking business or just getting started, Mark’s insights will help you think strategically and make the right moves.

Tune in to hear Mark’s real-life experiences and get practical tips you can use in your own coworking journey!

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Mailbox Money Maker Challenge Waitlist
Mark's LinkedIn profile
ACE Coworking website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Mailbox Money Maker Challenge Waitlist

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

On this episode, we're sharing some nuggets from our recent Community Manager University roundtable on 2024 Coworking Trends.

The group discussed the "hospitality" trend in coworking and shared a few simple ideas to integrate daily hospitality into your coworking space.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Mailbox Money Maker Challenge

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

While recurring memberships are the gold standard, the reality is that more and more users are seeking flexibility. In this episode, we explore how to adapt to this shift and capitalize on the opportunities it presents.

We talk about:

The Rise of On-Demand Users: Understanding the increasing demand for flexible, on-demand coworking options and how to cater to this market segment.
Types of On-Demand Products: An overview of popular on-demand offerings, including day passes, meeting room bookings, day offices, and punch cards, and how they can fit into your business model.
Pricing Strategies: Tips on setting premium prices for on-demand services to ensure profitability while meeting user needs.
Mindset Shift: Encouraging operators to embrace on-demand users and view them as a valuable revenue stream rather than a disruption to traditional membership models.
Implementing On-Demand Services: Practical advice on how to integrate on-demand booking options into your website, ensuring a seamless and user-friendly experience for potential customers.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

https://www.mindspace.me/
https://theyard.com/our-offer/
https://nomadworks.com/
https://www.wework.com/solutions
Is Your Coworking Space Ready for Enterprise Clients? (episode with Phil Kirschner)
Podcast episode on part-time private office memberships

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

A recent trip to the groomer got me thinking about balancing tech-enabled coworking purchases and onboarding with on-site customer service and hospitality.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Live Masterclass: on August 15th: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

To Staff or Not to Staff. That is the question we explore in this episode.

Here’s what we dive into:

Staffed vs. Unstaffed Spaces: Why might an operator choose to run a space without staff? What are the trade-offs?

Real-Life Experiences: Hear about operators that successfully operate unstaffed spades.

Coffee Culture: Learn creative ways to manage coffee service in unstaffed coworking environments—because let’s face it, coffee is the lifeblood of productivity!

Hybrid Models: Explore how some coworking spaces are blending staffed and unstaffed models to maximize flexibility and efficiency for their members.

Decision-Making Tips: Get practical advice on choosing the right model for your coworking space based on target audience, location, budget, and long-term goals.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

AltSpace

Bishop Coworking

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

You love a little extra revenue...flex memberships are hard to sell, so you're happy to have a little more buzz in the space with the day passers...but day passers can be high maintenance, it can be challenging to make sure they have a great experience, and sometimes it feels like they are more work than they're worth.

Day passes create the ultimate flexibility for the commitment-phobic user. So if you offer them at an attractive price, you might get repeat day pass users who never upgrade to a recurring membership, helping you to sleep a little easier at night.

Who does not offer them?

Lucid Private Offices

Gather

Here are a few tips to encourage day passers to upgrade to recurring memberships:

Raise the price of your day pass. If the daily rate of your lowest recurring membership is not significantly less than your day pass, you won't get your day pass users to upgrade. There's both a monetary cost and a mental cost to committing to a recurring fee. You have to make it attractive enough to overcome that resistance.
Create a more compelling "fence" between your day pass and a recurring membership. If you don't want to encourage repeat day pass purchases, don't give them the benefits of membership.
Run periodic promotions to create urgency and scarcity. Humans generally operate on inertia. You have to give them a really compelling reason to change their behavior. Encourage the upgrade by offering new-members-only promotions with a compelling discount on a recurring membership for a short period. You could put a minimum membership commitment on the promo such as 3 months, to avoid having day passers upgrade for one month only.

And if the admin cost of offering day passes is just too high, don't do it.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What gets focus gets better.

If you want to improve your coworking business, define your KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), track them, pull levers to make them better, and grow your coworking business.

In this episode, I walk through 3 of my 5 favorite KPIs for coworking businesses.

If you missed the first two KPIs, scroll back to episode #351.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Feasibility study for landlords - evaluate a coworking business or partnership with clarity and confidence with industry-benchmarked coworking financial metrics and a pro forma customized to your market and your project.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

What gets focus gets better.

If you want to improve your coworking business, define your KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), track them, pull levers to make them better, and grow your coworking business.

In this episode, I walk through 2 of my 5 favorite KPIs for coworking businesses.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Feasibility study for landlords - evaluate a coworking business or partnership with clarity and confidence with industry-benchmarked coworking financial metrics and a pro forma customized to your market and your project.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Maryann Baldwin opened a 2400 square foot coworking space in Lansing Iowa, population 1,000. This is her third year in business and this year she will turn a profit.

She owns the building and doesn’t staff full time.

Her “Whys” in no particular order include: economic development, connecting like-minded people, coaching new business owners, helping the local community keep their minds healthy through lifelong learning, and providing Internet and a great place to work for visitors.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Maryann's LinkedIn profile

The Works website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Sam's LinkedIn profile

Incendium Consulting website

The Instant Group website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

Felicia founded HAYVN to support local women in business and make an impact in the community. Being a B Corp Certified business is an external signal of the values she leads at HAYVN from recruiting practices to vendor selection, to the programming she hosts to drive local economic development.

She and her B-Corp Certification consultant, Kerrie McDevitt, share what it means to be B-Corp certified, why a business might want to become certified, how much time it takes, and what it costs.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Felicia's LinkedIn profile

Hayvn website

Connect with Kerrie at Impact Growth Partners: kerrie@impactgrowthpartners.com

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Wes Walker, Laura Fisher, and Ashleigh Ramsay share the details on their virtual service revenue - what they offer, how they price, lead sources, how long it takes them to process the mail, the impact it has on their revenue, and more.

Deadline: May 12: Register for the Everything Coworking Club's Quarterly Revenue Challenge: Start or Grow your Virtual Mailbox Service

Get on your email address to learn more about the quarterly revenue challenge.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

Virtual Mailbox demand is growing - see our "Why Mail" video. Virtual Mailbox services can create a significant revenue stream for coworking spaces. This video walks through a simple forecasting model for how virtual mail adds revenue to your coworking business over time.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

The video version of this episode on YouTube

Get on your email address to learn more about the challenge.

Deadline: May 12!! Register for the May Mail Money Maker Challenge

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

Is it a head-scratcher to you as to why someone might buy a virtual mailbox at a coworking space?

Or do you get it but you just think it’s got to be too much work to make it worth it?

Have you launched a mail program half-heartedly and had lukewarm results?

In this episode, we dive into why people buy mail packages, why you should consider launching a mail program, and how our upcoming challenge will help you start or optimize a money-making mail program.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Get on your email address to learn more about the challenge.

Deadline: May 12!! Register for the May Mail Money Maker Challenge

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

Welcome to another episode of the Everything Coworking Podcast! Today, I’m joined by Tracy Beavers, a business visibility and strategy coach who specializes in turning strategies into actionable success. We dive into a crucial topic for any coworking space owner looking to boost their business—email marketing.

Want to join Tracy’s FREE, live masterclass coming up next week? https://www.tracybeavers.com/masterclass

What We Discuss:

The Power of Email Marketing: Tracy explains why email marketing remains a powerful tool for coworking spaces, helping to promote memberships, event spaces, meeting rooms, and special events effectively.
Building Your Email List: We cover strategies for not just creating but also growing a marketing email list—a vital asset for any business. Tracy shares insights on how to attract the right subscribers who are genuinely interested in what your coworking space offers.
Consistency is Key: Tracy emphasizes the importance of consistency in emailing, recommending that coworking owners send out communications at least twice a month. We talk about how regular updates can keep your community engaged and informed.
Content That Converts: Learn what types of emails have been most successful in converting inquiries into memberships and event participants. Tracy provides examples of content that resonates with audiences and drives engagement.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Tracy’s Free, live masterclass (week of 4/15 and 4/22)

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

Brandon Houston, founder of the Collingwood Foundry shares his entrepreneurial journey from running a web development agency to pioneering a coworking space that has grown into a central hub of community and innovation in Collingwood, Ontario.

Key topics include:

The power of starting small and building a connection and reputation with the local community.
The evolution of Collingwood Foundry into a space that members don’t just work in, but genuinely love and support.
The challenges and triumphs of bringing coworking to a smaller town and the vision for expanding the Foundry's influence.
An exploration of culture-setting and hospitality in coworking, with creative initiatives like the use of the Donut plugin to foster member interactions.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Brandon's LinkedIn profile

Collingwood Foundry website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Free Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

In the latest episode of Everything Coworking, we’re unpacking a truth bomb about the entrepreneurial life, especially in our world of coworking. Taking a page from Brooke Castillo, we’re exploring the idea that our journeys are a healthy mix of wins and challenges – yes, it's a 50/50 split of highs and lows.

I’m diving into why expecting a smooth sail can throw us off course and how those inevitable tough times actually shore up our resilience and push our growth. It’s all about embracing every bit of the ride, knowing that each twist and turn is shaping us and our coworking ventures.

If this conversation hits home for you, do me a favor – drop by Apple Podcasts and share your thoughts with a review. It helps spread the word and gets more folks in on our coworking convos.

Tune in and let's get real about the ebb and flow that keeps us on our toes and makes this whole journey worthwhile.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

This episode explores how we might apply some examples of hospitality to elements of hospitality offered at a coworking space.

Episode Highlights:

Introduction to Hospitality in Coworking: We kick things off by exploring why hospitality is just as crucial in our coworking spaces as it is in the hotel industry. It's about creating experiences that stick and spaces where people feel truly welcomed.
A Personal Tale of Hotel Hospitality: I share my own story of incredible service during a hotel stay - from the effortless help with finding the best local sandwiches to sorting out ski rentals and even snagging a ride to the airport. It was service with a smile, but more importantly, it was personal and responsive.
Drawing Parallels: How do these moments of thoughtful hospitality translate to the coworking world? We dive deep into the similarities between the services provided by hotels and those we can offer in coworking spaces. It’s all about elevating the member experience.
Lessons for Coworking Spaces: Learn how we can apply these hotel hospitality hacks to make our coworking spaces more responsive, personable, and ultimately, more successful. From communication tools to staff training and creating personalized member experiences, we cover it all.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Interview with Grant Barnhill, CEO of Shift Workspaces

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

Are you leveraging the full potential of digital ads for your coworking space? Dive into our latest episode where we decode the mysteries of Google vs. Facebook ads, tailored specifically for coworking entrepreneurs. Discover which platform aligns best with your marketing goals, whether you're targeting active searchers or building brand awareness. Plus, get insider tips on using the Facebook Ads Library to spy on competitors’ strategies!

🔑 What You'll Learn:

The unique advantages of Google and Facebook ads for coworking spaces
How to capitalize on user intent to tailor your ad strategy
Practical tips and case studies on crafting winning ad campaigns

Perfect for coworking space owners ready to elevate their digital marketing game. Tune in now and turn those ad dollars into memberships!

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Free Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

John Egan Director of Operations at Lucid Private Offices, shares:

His approach to hiring, including specific questions he asks
How he screens for “joy” in his hiring process
How his career as a Camp Director and an Insurance Advisor prepared him for his role at Lucid Private Offices

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

John's LinkedIn profile

Lucid Private Offices website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Free Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

This episode is all about testing the conversion rate on your offer/landing page before scaling up the traffic to the campaign. We talk about:

The Importance of Marketing Conversion for Coworking Spaces: We define marketing conversion in the context of coworking spaces and discuss the significance of setting clear conversion goals for each campaign.
Landing Pages Explained: Discover what a landing page is, its role in your marketing strategy, and best practices for creating landing pages that convert.
Best Practices for Effective Landing Pages: Learn the key elements of high-converting landing pages, including clear headlines, compelling calls to action, benefit-oriented copy, high-quality imagery, social proof, mobile optimization, and the importance of speed.
Introduction to Testing and Optimization: Understand the basics of A/B testing and other optimization methods to improve your marketing campaigns' conversion rates.
A Case Study on Facebook Ads: We walk through a hypothetical case study of a coworking space testing its Facebook ad campaigns, emphasizing the importance of starting with a small budget and gradually increasing spend based on performance.
Key Metrics to Watch: Learn about the crucial performance indicators for digital marketing in the coworking sector, such as cost per lead, conversion rate, and return on ad spend (ROAS).
Scaling Up Successful Marketing Efforts: Tips on how to scale your marketing efforts once you've identified successful strategies, including reallocating budget and exploring new platforms.

Episode Resources:

13 Tips for Creating Better Landing Pages
Hotjar - Understand how users behave on your site

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Free Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

Want to make sure you get access to our special Community Manager University offer on March 4th? Go to the bottom of our home page and opt-in to our mailing list!

This week I dive into the art of creating urgency to boost sales and memberships in the coworking world. Inspired by the annual Container Store's 30% off Elfa sale, this episode explores how similar strategies can be effectively applied to coworking spaces, especially when launching a founding member campaign.

Here's what we covered:

The Psychology Behind The Container Store's Elfa Sale: An overview of the Elfa sale and why it's so successful at driving purchases.
Principles of Creating Urgency: How urgency influences customer behavior and decision-making.
Applying Retail Strategies to Coworking Spaces: Insights into adapting retail marketing strategies, like The Container Store's Elfa sale, for coworking spaces.
Launching a Founding Member Campaign: A step-by-step guide to creating an effective founding member campaign for your coworking space.
Case Studies and Success Stories: Real-world examples of coworking spaces that have successfully implemented founding member campaigns and other urgency-driven promotions.

Key Takeaways:

Creating urgency can help convert indecisive potential members into members.
Founding member campaigns, when executed well, can build a strong initial community and ensure your space's success from the start.
The principles of urgency and scarcity, common in retail, are also powerful tools in the coworking industry.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

The Container Store

Get on our mailing list to get our special Community Manager University Offer on March 4th! Go to our home page, scroll to the bottom, and opt-in!

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

Seth Rosenblum is the Managing Director at Hone Coworks & Principal at The Rosenblum Companies. He considers the Rosenblum Companies to be “operators” at heart. Yes, they own the underlying real estate, but their business is to create the solutions that their customers are looking for…which has led them to create their own coworking and co-warehousing brands.

Here’s what we covered in our conversation:

Seth’s team understands the need to diversify real estate assets for sustainability.
Seth’s team believes that traditional long-term office leases need to evolve to cater to immediate space needs.
Landlords face challenges with funding tenant improvements….every 5 years.
Space Readiness: The trend towards providing furnished, serviced office spaces.

5.'Hospitality Focus: The importance of incorporating hospitality into real estate operations.

Accountability Standard': Implementing standardized operations across various business types.
Team Development: Building an efficient team to manage diverse property types.
Operational Evolution: Continuous improvement and operational flexibility are critical.
Leadership Growth: The necessity for leaders to adapt and grow within a changing industry.
Community Engagement: Engaging with the community to successfully adapt to market needs.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Seth's LinkedIn profile

Hone Coworks website

Rosenblum Companies website

Launchbox website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Register for our upcoming class: Funding a Coworking Space in 2024

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

Dr. Christina Hansen was on what seemed like a fruitless search for office space for her therapist practice when it suddenly hit her on her drive home one day that she could solve her own problem and create a shared office space designed for mental health practitioners.

On this episode, we talk through her journey from concept to one year after opening.

How she serves her unique Ideal Customer Avatar
How she got a turn-key buildout (and funded some upgrades)
How she staffs her space
The tech she uses to support her members
What her member event approach looks like
and more...

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Christina's LinkedIn profile
Therapy Suites website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Register for our upcoming class: Funding a Coworking Space in 2024

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

We get into A LOT of details on the childcare + coworking model:

Combining Childcare with Coworking: A discussion on the integrated model of co-working and childcare.
Marketing Approaches: The importance of social media and referrals for business growth.
Business Model Considerations: Balancing challenges in child safety with coworking space demands.
Expansion and Community Presence
Le Village's plans for growth in Chicago, Austin, and Atlanta.
Targeting neighborhood markets for localized presence.
Demographic Impact and Social Goals: The increase in father participation, and tackling the motherhood penalty.
Financial Viability and Real Estate: Addressing the intertwining of profitability with real estate and labor costs.
Structure and Curriculum: Details on the childcare layout, staffing, and standardized curriculum.
Compliance and Operations: Emphasis on regulatory knowledge and compliance for franchisees.

…and more!

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Daniella's LinkedIn profile

Le Village website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Register for our upcoming class: Funding a Coworking Space in 2024

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

On this episode, I nerd out with my favorite Google Product Expert Amy Toman, as we dissect the fine print of Google listings and the importance of accurate information - both for #coworking spaces and small businesses alike.

This episode dives into real-world SEO strategies, the challenges of business listings, and the power of authentic visuals in the digital arena.

Episode Highlights:

The interplay between local rankings and business hours.
The intricacies of listing multiple businesses at a single location.
The significance of human-centered visuals in online business profiles.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Amy's LinkedIn profile

Digital Law Marketing website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Register for our upcoming FREE masterclass: Funding a Coworking Space in 2024

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

What’s on the horizon for 2024? We don’t have a crystal ball, but we do get pretty deep exposure to what’s going on in the industry through the work we do with operators all year long. So, we think we have some pretty good insights into 2024!

What does Gio do all year? Gio is a commercial office leasing broker focusing exclusively on coworking/flex deals for operators and landlords. He has the largest coworking industry network of anyone I know (besides me) and therefore really has his pulse on how markets are performing, deals getting done, and industry innovation.

What does Jamie do all day besides keeping up with two podcasts a week? She manages the Coworking Startup School, and Community Manager University, and works with asset owners on the feasibility of adding flex to their own portfolio.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Register for our upcoming FREE masterclass: Funding a Coworking Space in 2024

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Register for our upcoming FREE masterclass: Funding a Coworking Space in 2024

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Register for our upcoming class: Funding a Coworking Space in 2024

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, I walk through 10 criteria that should be considered by a buyer of a coworking space....and by an operator that wants to build to sell...or that want to run a profitable coworking space that cash flows for their financial benefit.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School - Phase I: Validate

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The Flex Academy Coworking Bootcamp - Unlock the full potential of Your Coworking Space With Proven Insights from Industry Experts in This Exclusive Video Series.

This episode on YouTube

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

Every coworking space has (hopefully great) coffee, but most spaces don't have a coffee business in their coworking space. This concept is becoming more popular as coworking spaces focus more on hospitality and integrating a food and beverage offering.

Jace is a Coworking Startup School™ alumnus so I got to be a part of his coworking journey and in this conversation, we get into the details and go behind-the-scenes on his coworking + coffee shop business model.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Jace’s LinkedIn profile
Common Good Co. website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space
Coworking Startup School - Phase I: Validate
Community Manager University
The Everything Coworking Academy
Follow Us on YouTube

We originally aired this episode in 2022…and it has more relevance today than ever.

Pre-pandemic, we tried to avoid 10-day passes and custom plans. We wanted full-time memberships and operational simplicity. Well…today’s coworking space user has changed our tune.

In this episode, we talk about:

Looking at the 10 day pass as a “healthy” option for end users that needs to be sold in volume
Designing access packages for teams - how to give them the access they need and getting the recurring revenue and predictability that your business needs.
Testing meeting room access plans that build loyalty and recurring revenue
Leveraging meeting room demand

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space
Coworking Startup School - Phase I: Validate
Community Manager University
The Everything Coworking Academy
Follow Us on YouTube

Scott Tillitt has a strong “why” around coworking. A PR/Communication Consultant by day, he also ran a not-for-profit supporting Localism and sees coworking as the intersection of community engagement, economic development, and supporting local. As a matter of fact, he’s not very worried about his coffee game because the mile-long main street Beahive is located on has no fewer than six local coffee shops.

Scott is a true coworking OG - he opened his first location in 2009 in Beacon, NY, a little over an hour out of NYC by train. Over the years he was a pioneer in experimenting with multiple locations and creative partnership agreements.

He shared his coworking journey, lessons learned in his fourteen years in business, and he also gave us a little BTS on his Coworking Ambassador program. Scott runs his primary location, but his second and third locations are staffed by responsible members, a very part-time Community Activator, and some Coworking Community Ambassadors.

If you’re trying to figure out how to manage staffing in smaller locations, you’ll get some good nuggets and perspective from Scott.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

The Everything Coworking Academy

Scott's LinkedIn profile

Beahive website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School - Phase I: Validate

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

Neighbourgood is about great places to live, stay, work, connect, and experience. They've created a dense ecosystem of neighbourhood hotels, apartments, and workspaces that connect communities across Cape Town...and their mission is to do this around the world.

Murray was one of our very first Coworking Startup School™ students and he's taking coworking and community to the next level! He shares the Neighbourgood story to date and their vision for the future.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Murray's LinkedIn profile

Neighbourgood website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School - Phase I: Validate

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

Tricia Teague is a multi-passionate entrepreneur.

She moved back to her hometown of Danville, IL after 20 years away and knew she needed to bring coworking to the community.

If you're interested in small-town coworking or leveraging grants to support your space and/or members, this one is for you.

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast

Tricia's LinkedIn profile

Soar Space website

The Trep School website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School - Phase I: Validate

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

Are potential members trying to get you to talk about cost per square foot? Shift the conversation to "total cost of occupancy" and compare the total cost of a traditional lease, or even a sublease, to a coworking option.

In this episode:

We explore the concept of TCO, which goes beyond initial rent costs to consider all expenses associated with office space.
We break down the TCO for coworking and subleasing, emphasizing the importance of hidden costs, flexibility, and included amenities.
Learn how to use TCO as a powerful tool in conversations with potential customers, helping them understand the true value of coworking for their businesses.

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast

The Total Cost of Occupancy Blog Post

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School - Phase I: Validate

Community Manager University

The Everything Coworking Academy

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, we explore one operator’s assumption that organic social media is critical to the success of a coworking business.

We talk about:

Low organic reach (2% - 10%)
The concept that we advertise on Google to get found by active searchers and we show up on social media to interrupt potential customers that may not even know about coworking
Outsourcing social media vs. handling it in-house
Investing in paid ads on either Google or Facebook
Tracking your lead sources so that you can let the numbers tell you where to focus and what to spend money on!

Resources Mentioned in This Podcast

The Facebook Ads library

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

This episode focuses on aligning your coworking space size with your goals. It covers topics such as the importance of understanding your business model, considering different goals for your space, diversifying income sources, and understanding the profitability of small spaces.

Highlights:

Considerations regarding the cost and profitability of small coworking spaces.
Learning from Brian Watson and his experience with smaller, automated locations.-
Different goals for creating a coworking space, such as fostering community or generating profit.
The need to align your business model and strategy with your desired goals.
The importance of understanding real estate costs, pricing, staffing, and unexpected expenses.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Brian Watson episode on automating small coworking spaces

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Coworking Startup School

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

Jen Luby is the founder and CEO of Dayhouse Coworking in Highland Park, a suburb of Chicago.

Jen's story might sound familiar....one day, while trying to do deep creative work with a three year old interrupting her every 45 seconds, she thought there must be a better way. Enter Dayhouse. Dayhouse was designed to serve members like Jen who needed a professional, but family-friendly place to get work done.

Jen and her team have experimented with various kid-friendly models and landed on a version where there's an enclosed, kid-friendly area in the space that is often used by therapists who work with kids and gets booked for school-day-off activities and day camps.

Here are some questions that I ask Jen:

Who is your ideal customer? What do they want out of your coworking space?

How do your values align with what your Ideal Customer wants as well as the type of business that you want to run?

What does being family-friendly look like for you? What have you experimented with?

What has worked/not worked?

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Jen's LinkedIn profile

Dayhouse Coworking website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

I like to call myself a chronic DIY’er. This mindset has its place…that place is not in staining three decks with spindle railings…nor does it belong in creating a coworking business that could bankrupt you in mistakes made before you even open your doors.

Let’s talk about what can go well and what can derail us when we attempt to DIY a significant project.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Coworking Startup School

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, we talk about why WeWork failed (the simplified version) and why WeWork’s failure isn’t correlated to the ability of an independent operator to be profitable and successful.

We cover:

The short version of the rise and fall of WeWork
WeWork’s historical focus on growth over unit economics.
How independent operators and asset owners can focus on unit economics, local market knowledge and sustainable growth to create and grow a profitable business

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

WeCrashed

How I Did This: Expanded to Multiple Locations

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

“And for us since day one, we realized that even though we have competitors in the sense of office space. We're really competing against people in their homes. If we can't bring people out of their houses and into a better experience at GP, then people aren't going to churn, right?”

Tim Hasse, the founder of General Provision, gives us the inside look into a space that identifies as a “work club,” not as an office or even a coworking space.

His intuition long before COVID was to create an experience that wasn’t just about work. “The mantra very early was that anybody could come in and outbuild us, but they'll never be able to outservice us. And that's the, the culture that still lives on, you know, nine years later.”

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Tim's LinkedIn profile

General Provision website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

This is a bonus episode and it will be most relevant to those of you that are still thinking about or working on opening a coworking space.

On this episode I share the new format that we're testing for the Coworking Startup School with the goal to get you more clear and confident on the first few steps of our 12-Step Profitable Coworking Framework because these matter the most...and this is where the most operators make the biggest, most expensive mistakes.

Get the details on our live cohort - registration closes Friday, September 1st.

On this episode, Dror Poleg delves into the transformative shift in how we perceive and design office spaces. Gone are the days when developers had a clear roadmap for constructing workplaces. Today, with the rise of remote work and the shift of considering 'home' as the baseline, the game is changing. Poleg discusses the uncertainties leaders face, especially as emerging AI technologies stand to reshape the work dynamic even further.

A central idea presented is the concept of the office of the future. Not confined by a physical location, it’s envisioned as a network. Instead of static places, the focus is on enabling employees to access what they need, whenever and wherever. Poleg presents the idea that while offices will continue to exist, they’ll differ in design, accessibility, and financial agreements. He emphasizes the importance of adaptability in future designs, suggesting the ability for spaces to be easily reconfigured, moving beyond furniture adjustments to transforming entire wall structures.

The episode also highlights regional distinctions in office dynamics, underscoring differences between places like Austin, Texas, and San Francisco. In a rapidly changing world, Poleg suggests we may not settle on a standardized answer about workspaces for decades to come.

Dive in to explore the future of office spaces, understand the contrasts of macro vs. micro views, and see how work environments are perpetually evolving.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Dror on LinkedIn
Hype Free website
Dror’s book Rethinking Real Estate
Global Workspace Association Annual Conference

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

Rethinking Real Estate: A Roadmap to Technology’s Impact on the World’s Largest Asset Class

Michelle Ottey is the Managing Director of CIC in Philadelphia.

The facility hosts 140,000 square feet of workspace, lab space, and more.

How do you stay focused on member experience and community building in 140,000 square feet…well…the Treat Trolleys stocking Klondike bars are a good start 🙂

But seriously, CIC Philadelphia is an incredible ecosystem that supports your “typical” solopreneur, as well as startups looking to commercialize life science technology.

They also have a strong focus on DEI and one of their OKRs is to help their member companies build a culture of inclusiveness.

This episode is a great case study on the diversity of shared space users and business models.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Michelle Ottey on LI

CIC Philadelphia

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

Marina McCoy closed her own sustainability consulting practice and brick and mortar businesses to take the role of Community Manager at Hula coworking and hasn’t looked back. Hula is just that kind of place.

Located on the shores of Lake Champlain in Burlington, VT, Hula was created to give entrepreneurs and remote workers a reason to stay in Burlington. The complex is 150,000 square feet with 20,000 of it dedicated to “air desks” and dedicated desks” and the rest private offices and large suites.

When asked to rank order the value of their membership, they put community first and a place to work third.

Hula has a four-year waiting list for their private offices and five hundred air desk members.

WHAT? Yes. Have a listen for all of the details.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Marina’s LinkedIn profile

Hula website

Hula on Instagram

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

If you are offering a mail service to either physical or virtual members, there are updates to the CMRA requirements that you must comply with.

This episode covers the updates.

The new rules apply to anyone providing mail service to physical and/or virtual members.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Matt Going on LinkedIn

AnyTime Mailbox Website

New CMRA Rules

New PS1583 Form

Article from Allwork on the changes

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

With 25% commercial office vacancy rates in major markets in the US, we may assume that landlords will sell US on being their tenant and throw ample tenant improvement dollars and months of free rent our way....but that is not the case.

Landlords are more risk-averse than ever, and they likely perceive you and your startup business to be risky.

If you want to increase the chances of winning an ideal location for your coworking business, you'll want to be prepared to sell the landlord on your business model, and you as the owner of the business.

In this episode, we walk through the steps to take to do that.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

Shannon and Emiliano Lerda founded a cowarehousing space in Omaha, Nebraska. In less than a year, they have 58 business members, 70% of which are women or minority-owned. Elevator serves small to medium-sized businesses, e-commerce companies, and makers through co-warehousing & community.

Shannon and Emiliano dive into their version of the cowarehousing business model, their real estate model, fundraising, their tech stack, their business journey, lessons learned, and more.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Shannon’s LinkedIn profile

Emiliano’s LinkedIn profile

Elevator website

Elevator on Instagram

Elevator on Facebook

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Access the Replay of the How I Did This Session on Cowarehousing with the Loading Dock, ECOM Spaces and Palletized

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, explore the end-to-end process of selling a coworking space. We dive into when to sell, preparing your space, valuing your business, identifying potential buyers, and negotiating the deal. Whether you're considering selling due to personal life changes, retirement, or a shift in business interests, this episode is designed to prepare you for each stage of the process.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Business Made Simple Podcast on Selling your Business

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

This podcast episode is Part II of a two-part series. If you missed Part I, go back to episode 307!

Brian Watson is the founder of Alt Space.

Alt Space has 7 locations, no employees, and hundreds of happy customers...

In Part II of this series on automation, I talk with Brian about how automation makes sub- 5,000 sq/ft coworking financially sustainable while increasing reliability and consistency for customers.

He walks through the four customer types that the Alt Space automation program ideally serves.

He describes how the automation frees up the human ambassador or Community Manager to focus on hospitality, community building, etc.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Brian’s LinkedIn profile

Alt Space Coworking website

Book a Demo: https://altspacecowork.com/early-access

Brian and Everything Coworking’s first episode on Youtube: Making Small Coworking Spaces Sustainable Through On-Site Automation

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

HIDT Series - Register Now!

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

Brian Watson has been iterating an approach to "ambassador" staffed coworking. He centralizies and automates as much of the sales process, operations, marketing, etc. as possible and lets his on-site ambassador focus on meaningful human interactions.

The template for a coworking business model includes a full-time Community Manager.

But we know that Community Managers spend a lot of time on things that aren't...community-related. In our conversation, we talk about the systems and technology Brian is putting in place to create alternative staffing models.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Brian’s LinkedIn profile

Alt Space Coworking website

Book a Demo: https://altspacecowork.com/early-access

Brian and Everything Coworking’s first episode on Youtube: Making Small Coworking Spaces Sustainable Through On-Site Automation

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

HIDT Series - Register Now!

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, we feature a special guest: a female coworking space owner who has created a coworking space specifically for women. Join us as we explore her journey, discussing the motivations behind her space, the unique offerings it provides, and the challenges she has faced. Gain valuable insights into the benefits of coworking for professional and entrepreneurial women, and discover how this dedicated space fosters a supportive and empowering environment.

Whether you're a coworking space operator, an entrepreneur, or simply interested in the coworking phenomenon, this episode offers a glimpse into the experiences and successes of a woman who is making her mark in the industry. Tune in for an insightful conversation about the evolving landscape of coworking and the impact it has on women in the workforce.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Jeanette’s LinkedIn profile

Vision & Heels website

Jeanette’s lock system

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

HIDT Series - Register Now!

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

🎙️ On this episode, I sit down with Lance Amato, an esteemed architect and industry expert, to explore how Canoa Supply is revolutionizing furniture purchasing for coworking space operators.

💺 Lance shares his invaluable insights on how Canoa Supply can help operators buy better furniture that offers superior quality, innovative design, and sustainability. With his background in architecture and experience in designing numerous WeWork locations, Lance brings a wealth of knowledge to the conversation.

🌿 We delve into Canoa Supply's commitment to sustainability, discussing their efforts to offer eco-friendly furniture options. Learn how incorporating environmentally conscious choices into your coworking space can create a positive impact on both the environment and the member experience.

LinkedIn Promo

Fun fact: Lance Amato’s Dad was a Professional Basketball Player.

More serious fact: 🪑 Furnitue selection is a serious topic for #coworking space owners.

It’s a huge portion of the start-up budget.

It has to draw in your Ideal Community Avatar - an ICA that probably demands beauty, comfort AND sustainability….

✨ Get ready to unlock a few secrets to buying better furniture for your coworking space in our latest podcast episode! 🪑💼

🎧 Listen in to my conversation with Lance Amato, an architect by training turned expert in furniture procurement, to explore how Canoa Supply is revolutionizing the game. With Lance's extensive experience in designing WeWork locations and his dedication to quality, design, and sustainability, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to elevate their coworking space.

🚀 Get the link to the full episode in the comments

#CoworkingSpaces #FurnitureProcurement #DesignInspiration #PodcastEpisode

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Lance’s LinkedIn profile

The Canoa Supply Co. PBC website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

If you’re thinking about a non-traditional deal structure as a landlord or operator, join us for our upcoming webinar on June 9th: Three Things Landlords and Operators Should Know Before they Start Negotiating a Creative Deal Structure for a Coworking Space.

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, we dive deep into the dynamic world of commercial property ownership and the opportunities it presents for creating and managing coworking spaces. Jerry shares his wealth of knowledge, discussing the emerging trends, challenges, and strategies he's observed in the industry.

Discover the advantages and considerations of owning the property that houses a coworking space, and how it can impact the overall business model and success. Jerry sheds light on the symbiotic relationship between commercial property ownership and the coworking ecosystem.

Gain valuable insights into optimizing space utilization, designing flexible environments, and attracting and retaining members in a competitive market.

LinkedIn Promo

🤑 What if you operated a coworking space AND you were your own landlord? 🏢

In this episode, we dive deep into the dynamic world of commercial property ownership and operating a coworking space within that asset. 💼🏢

Jerry Alexander, a seasoned professional in the field, and uncover his invaluable insights on the latest trends and strategies for success. 🎧💡

Discover the advantages and considerations of owning the property that houses a coworking space, and gain valuable insights into optimizing space utilization, designing flexible environments, and attracting and retaining members in a competitive market. 🏢💪

Link to the full episode is in the comments! 👇

#PodcastEpisode #CoworkingTrends #CommercialProperty #WorkspaceSuccess

Regenerate response

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Jerry on LinkedIn

Jerry’s Website: Commercial Property Investor

Jerry’s Links:

https://www.instagram.com/jerryalexander.commercial/

https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/commercial-property-investor-podcast/id1502254406

https://libertyspace.co.uk/

https://flourmilldundee.co.uk/

https://commercialpropertyinvestor.co.uk/

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

HIDT Series - Register Now!

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

Have you thought of adding a course or membership as a new revenue stream?

In their upcoming workshop for coworking space owners, Jess Bommarrito and her business partner Crystal are going to share

Our simple 5-step recipe to create and launch your course like a pro with zero time and money wasted

How to fast-track your results by avoiding common pitfalls in the early stages, and what to focus on instead

The secrets to selling your course before it's even created (nothing lights a fire under your butt to get it done like eager fans waiting for your course to drop!)

BONUS: Discover how a coworking space owner used flex and dedicated desks to skyrocket their business. No private offices needed (psst: this is a game changer!)

Date: Wed May 17, 2023

Time: 1-2pm ET

Link to register: https://messybutdone.com/everythingcoworking

Resources mentioned in this podcast:

Messybutdone Workshop

Groundswell Coworking

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

HIDT Series - Register Now!

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

I think we’re going to see demand for third spaces that are more of a work club approach than the traditional coworking/flexible office space that we see today.

Questions I’m asking:

How strong will the demand for third places that are not just designed for work, but designed for social/play/community events?
How will this business model work? What will drive profitability?
What will the offer mix look like? Food and beverage? Event space? Lounge space that looks more like the lobby at the Hoxton?
What markets will support social/work clubs?
What’s the minimum viable size for a social/work club model?
Who will take the risk and experiment with these models?

Resources mentioned in this podcast:

Soho Works

Groundfloor club

https://www.groundfloorclub.com/membership/

From Here

Colette Club

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

HIDT Series - Register Now!

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

HIDT Series - Register Now!

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

Wondering how Community Manager University works and who it’s best for?

This bonus episode is for you.

You can get all of the details about the Community Manager University program and register for it here.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

HIDT Series - Register Now!

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

If you’re a coworking space owner, or thinking about starting one, attending a conference can be a great way to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in the industry. But how do you measure the return on investment of attending a conference? That's what we'll be exploring today.

Benefits of attending a coworking industry conference:

Learning about the latest trends and best practices in coworking.
Getting access to insights and actionable tips that can be applied to your own coworking space.
Networking with peers in the industry, including other coworking space operators, vendors, and investors.
Potential for new business opportunities, such as partnerships and collaborations.

Costs of attending a coworking industry conference:

Registration fees: GCUC and the GWA are in the $500 to $800 range for early bird tickets.
Travel expenses: If the conference is out of town, you'll need to factor in the cost of airfare or transportation, as well as lodging and meals.
Time away from work: Attending a conference can mean taking time off from your regular duties, which can impact your business operations.

Calculating the ROI of attending a coworking industry conference:

To calculate the ROI of attending a coworking industry conference, consider both the costs and the potential benefits. Some factors to consider include:

Cost of attendance: How much did you spend on registration fees, travel, and lodging?
Value of knowledge gained: What new skills, insights, or best practices did you learn that can be applied to your own coworking space?
Potential for new business opportunities: Did you make any new connections that could lead to partnerships or collaborations?

Case studies:

I share a few case studies from coworking conferences that I’ve attended - partnerships formed, collaboration ideas sparked, and introductions that led to new job opportunities

Tips for maximizing the ROI of attending a coworking industry conference:

Plan ahead - Set specific goals for what you want to achieve at the conference.
Go beyond the content - attend social events and make connections with other attendees.
Schedule time to follow up with new connections after the conference to maintain those relationships.

Sometimes you know the “what” but not the “how.” Jamie and David Orr knew they wanted to expand their original CoWork Tahoe coworking concept started in South Lake Tahoe in 2012…but they didn’t know where or how until they encountered a local entrepreneur that was buying a building and wanted to bring coworking to a gem of a town about 20 minutes from South Lake Tahoe. Jamie & David entered into a management agreement with the owner to create Untethered - Outdoor Inspired Workspace. In this episode, Jamie shares their journey on how they’ve created their second thriving coworking space in a small market.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Jamie Orr on LinkedIn

Untethered

Cowork Tahoe website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

HIDT Series - Register Now!

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, we talk about:

The total addressable market for coworking is larger than ever with remote employees free to decide where they work and small businesses giving up their long-term leases.
Even with this influx of potential customers, some coworking spaces are struggling to fill dedicated desks and flex memberships.
That is likely because these new potential customers aren’t aware that there are solutions to the challenges they feel in their current working environment. They don’t know that feelings of loneliness, loss of productivity, lack of mojo, etc. can be improved by joining a coworking space (and not paying for an office).
They aren’t solution-aware and therefore aren’t searching for you…
So how do we connect the dots?

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Part I: Why the Best Business Models are Known Prescriptions for Known Problems

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Coworking Startup School

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

HIDT Series - Register Now!

The SEO Action Guide

Follow Us on YouTube

In this episode, we talk about:

Why your coworking business needs to focus on solving a problem for a customer that they are aware they have.
Why your solution set should be grounded in solutions that they are already aware of.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Save 50% on your first year with OfficeRnD Flex and grow your coworking space. Apply now!

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Coworking Startup School

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

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Ryan Simonetti is the CEO and co-founder of Convene.

Convene is a leading hospitality company founded off the simple question: “What if you ran an office building like a hotel?”

Convene’s model is more relevant than ever in a post-COVID world…I think it’s interesting to focus on how they are serving today’s modern landlord.

We talked with Ryan about

Convene’s recovery from the pandemic.
How the reception to Convene from landlords has changed over the past few years.
Convene’s recent acquisition of etc.venues and what that means for their high-end meeting business.
How Ryan’s mom’s love of antiques and his dad’s entrepreneurial drive shaped his journey.

Convene supports modern landlords by offering flexible workspace solutions that meet the evolving needs of tenants and the market. With a focus on creating modern, flexible, and tech-enabled spaces, Convene helps landlords optimize their real estate portfolios and attract top tenants.

Through its partnerships with landlords, Convene also helps drive demand for the building, increasing occupancy rates and revenue for the landlord. With a focus on creating flexible and dynamic spaces, Convene helps landlords future-proof their portfolios and adapt to the changing needs of the market.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Convene
Ryan Simonetti on LI

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Coworking Startup School

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

HIDT Series - Register Now!

The SEO Action Guide

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The LiquidSpace Hybrid Workplace Index provides unique insight into actual employee behaviour when afforded the freedom to work from anywhere.

The LiquidSpace user-base is comprised of organizations of all sizes - F1000 multinational enterprises, dynamic startups, small businesses and solopreneurs - representing a diverse cross-section of industry verticals – including federal, state and local government, finance, insurance, real estate, healthcare, technology, professional services, legal and education.

The report explores:

Continued employee engagement with flexible working
Collaboration driving hybrid workplace spend
The average cost of flexible workplace transactions and how they are trending upwards
The shift in bookings from Central Business District to the suburbs
Hybrid workplace activity by day of the week

Get your copy here.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Mark Gilbreath on LinkedIn

The Hybrid Workplace Index

LiquidSpace

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

HIDT Series - Register Now!

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

There’s a “typical” model in Coworking that, when combined with a great location, design, product mix, and marketing that aligns with a clearly defined ideal member, is optimized for profit.

A lot of folks drawn to starting “Coworking spaces” are inspired by a shared workspace model centered around a thriving community….but they have a specific end-user in mind that is not your typical freelancer or remote user. They are serving a unique audience. Their offerings will be “different.” We see a LOT of those folks in our Coworking Startup School and Accelerator program.

There’s so much room for diversity of spaces and approaches in coworking. But there’s also a lot of room to end up with a model that isn’t financially sustainable.

In this episode, we talk about how to pursue a variation on the “typical” Coworking model and find success.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

HIDT Series - Register Now!

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

HIDT Series - Register Now!

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

David Andras is a serial entrepreneur who, like many of you, opened a Coworking space to solve a personal pain point. He opened it right next to a gym that he owns…and then he added a public-facing coffee kiosk that adds a service for members as well as a meaningful revenue stream on top of the typical Coworking sources of income.

David shares how he balances operating and innovating, running multiple businesses at once (and starting new ones!) and how he keeps his coworking spaces lean and profitable while providing a great member experience.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

David Andras on LI

David’s Coworking Space

The Coffee Kiosk Licensing Info

David’s Podcast - Scaling your Business

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

HIDT Series - Register Now!

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

Alex Neil was early to Coworking…fuelled by his desire to work for an Indianapolis company…in Denver.

He worked on the operator side for about 7 years and then joined Proximity.

Alex spends his days talking with operators and finding solutions to their challenges through technology.

Alex shares his behind-the-scenes perspective on what Coworking trends are starting to bubble to the surface in 2023.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Alex Neil on LI

alex@beinproximity.com

Proximity.space

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

HIDT Series - Register Now!

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

Creative Cubes is the model for the future of work.

Tobi and his team have created an ecosystem that delivers great design, high-end design, unparalleled workplace hospitality, the hottest fitness options, event space, and more. I predict that what Tobi is already doing at Creative Cubes is where most of the industry will ultimately go. I don’t think there’s a long-term desire for “just office space.” In the age of the experience economy, we simply want more.

On this episode, Tobi covers:

How he got into coworking
How over time, he created an ecosystem including work space, wellness, and hospitailty through CreativeCubes, Orange Theory, and Timber and Greens
How the Happyness Team came to be and how they serve the CreativeCubes members

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Tobi Skovron on LinkedIn

CreativeCubes.Co website

Toby’s visit with Shaquille O’Neil

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

HIDT Series - Register Now!

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

On this episode, I share what I’m thinking about/what questions I’m asking at the beginning of 2023.

What are the big themes in flex/coworking this year?

How will we see these trends play out?

How will these trends impact operators and other flex constituents?

How can I embed more access drivers into my curriculum?

And more!

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Mark Gilbreath’s “Postcard from the Future” blog post

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

HIDT Series - Register Now!

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

Dorothy had to talk Dan into turning the building they had just bought from Skidmore College into a Coworking space. It took convincing over one, maybe two, bottles of wine….and then it took six months to get members. But here they are, a few years later, filling up space #3, and this one is another addition to their LL portfolio.

Insights from Dorothy and Dan:

It is possible to build a multi-site Coworking portfolio and run another significant business.
There is no one-size fits all model - they own 2 locations and lease another.
Always be learning - they’re super stoked about the new platform they’ve used to fit out their latest location - see the link below to learn more. The future of flex is flexible…and good for the environment.
You don’t have to be 100% sure before you take the leap, but you have to know what’s at stake.
Sometimes you have to negotiate with your business/life partner over wine to get your way.
You can have multiple locations in a smaller market if you get the product/market fit right.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Dorothy Rogers Bullis on LI

Dan Bullis on LI

Saratoga CoWorks

dRb Business Interiors

Faulk Built

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

HIDT Series - Register Now!

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

John Wallace on LI

Workbox

John Wallace, Co-founder and CEO at Workbox, started his real estate career on the asset management and investment management side. Now he’s on the operating side, betting on an asset-light model differentiated by a platform that provides services to growing companies.

John shares the Workbox journey to date, how the Workbox team executes its asset-light, service-heavy model, his vision for Workbox for the next few years, and how they’re differentiating themselves in the flex industry.

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

In this episode, I recommend three books that will impact your coworking business or your entrepreneurial life.

Unreasonable Hospitality - The Remarkable Power of Giving People More than They Expect

Quit - The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away

Four Thousand Weeks - Time Management for Mortals

Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals

Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Alaethea Hankins on LI

Common Desk, a WeWork Company

Alathea Hankins is the VP of Operations at CommonDesk. She started as a part-time Community Manager after surviving six interviews and a happy hour to get the job.

Through Alaethea’s six-year tenure, CommonDesk has grown to 20+ locations and been acquired by WeWork.

In this episode we talk about:

How life has changed since the WeWork acquisition
The relentless focus on culture and customer experience that is part of the CommonDesk DNA
What it means to be a “DayMaker”
How the CommonDesk membership has changed post-COVID

….and more.

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Peter Chee on LI

Think Space

Peter Chee founded Thinkspace in 2008. He had bought a 40,000-square-foot building with his dad and wanted to re-create the collaborative environment he'd enjoyed during his startup days.

He turned half of the building into the original Thinkspace location. He now also leases space in Redmond, Washington for his 2nd location.

His spaces focus mostly on the tech startup community and are office heavy because that's what his members want... but they're also modern and community-focused.

Peter recently had some reckoning to do with himself about where to focus his time and he decided to get some perspective, he'd buy one-way flights to different cities until he was tired of being on the road. He worked from coworking spaces around the US for three months with a stopover in Chicago to run a marathon.

He shares his story, what's working today in his business model, and his unique approach to getting clarity on what's next.

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Gina Schreck on LI

The Village Workspace

Gina Schreck is the owner of Village Workspace, a Coworking space in Centennial, Colorado that opened in March 2020.
The space has 30 offices in 11,000 square feet
She has always been entrepreneurial, starting her first business at age 23.
Prior to opening her Coworking space, Gina ran a marketing agency for 26 years.
Gina's background in marketing has helped her to build a successful Coworking business by attracting customers and hosting events.
Not only is the Village Workspace a strong community, but it’s a bit of a family affair - Gina’s daughter is on her executive team :)

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Ben Wales on LI

The Wilderness website

In today's business world, more and more people are working remotely. And while this can have its perks, it can also be quite isolating. That's why coworking spaces have become so popular in recent years. They provide a place for remote workers to come together, share ideas, and collaborate.

But what if you could take the concept of a coworking space one step further? That's what Ben Wales is doing with his new project, which combines a coworking space with a gym. By providing members with access to both physical and mental health facilities, Wales is hoping to create a space that will not only boost productivity, but also promote wellness.

So far, the response has been positive and Wales is optimistic about the future of his hybrid model.

Listen in to our conversation to hear Ben’s lessons learned in his first few months of business.

Resources: Please list these at the top of the Libsyn Show Notes

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Chelsea Siver on LI

Workspace Collective Ocala

Workspace Collective on Instagram

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Designed to Thrive in 2023

William Edmundson on LI

William’s email address: williamledmunson@gmail.com

Traction the book

What the Heck is EOS?

Global Workspace Association

Rocketfuel

William Edmunson brings a unique background to today’s coworking industry. He has roots in hospitality, he’s been deeply involved in C-Suite level operations and marketing for leading hotel and coworking franchise brands. William was recently the COO of Office Evolution, one of the largest operators in the coworking industry, and the Global Workspace Association Executive Director.

One of his passions, which grew out of the success he had with the system at Office Evolution and the GWA, is growing businesses using EOS.

In this episode, we get into:

William’s unique background combining hospitality, franchising, and coworking
A couple of case studies on the success he’s had applying the EOS to coworking businesses
What size/stages of businesses can benefit from EOS
How EOS can help keep visionary fouders focused on driving results

Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business

Rocket Fuel: The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More of What You Want from Your Business

What the Heck Is EOS?: A Complete Guide for Employees in Companies Running on EOS

Looking for simple software to run your coworking space that was built by coworking space operators for coworking space operators? Reach out to Proximity today

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

In this episode, I walk through a 9-step framework for 2023 planning for your coworking business.

If you'd like the accountability of planing with friends, join us for a two-part live workshop series in early December 2023.

If you are an Everything Coworking Academy member, you’ll get an invitation to the workshop via email.

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

To be featured in the Noumena community and give your members access to a whole library of entrepreneurial resources and financial education programming, all at no cost to you by the way, visit noumena.pro/coworking to fill out an interest form

Learn more about SUCCESS Space, a coworking franchise model with three revenue streams; recurring and on-demand revenue from coworking memberships, a full-service cafe, and Success Certified business coaching.

Scott Chambers on LI

Pacific Workplaces

Scott Chambers is the COO of Pacific Workplaces. PAC (for short) has locations all over the San Francisco Bay Area and has recently expanded to Las Vegas, NV and Phonix, AZ.

Scott has been in the industry for 20 years.

I asked Scott to share his experience on how to grow a team to support location expansion while maintaining profitability. But we covered a number of topics including:

What he’s most excited about 20+ years into this business?
What the PAC portfolio looks like - size, product mix, locations, etc.
What the PAC team structure look like at the location level.
What the PAC team structure looks like at the corporate level.
The systems the PAC team has in place to stay focused on their goals.
Some of the things they do to build a strong culture including their quarterly manager meetings adn their annual PAC day.

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

To be featured in the Noumena community and give your members access to a whole library of entrepreneurial resources and financial education programming, all at no cost to you by the way, visit noumena.pro/coworking to fill out an interest form

Learn more about SUCCESS Space, a coworking franchise model with three revenue streams; recurring and on-demand revenue from coworking memberships, a full-service cafe, and Success Certified business coaching.

We are well into Q4 with the end of 2022 right around the corner.

On this episode, we dive into three things you should get done before the end of the year:

Make sure you have an automatic rate increase in your (office) membership agreements.
Do a competitive pricing analysis so that you can compare price/seat across different offerings (flex desks, dedicated desks, small offices, large offices) and decide your pricing strategy for 2023.
Determine what revenue stream you will focus on in 2023 and work it into your annual planning. Dedicate time and budget to invest in building up your virtual office program or your meeting room revenue.

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

To be featured in the Noumena community and give your members access to a whole library of entrepreneurial resources and financial education programming, all at no cost to you by the way, visit noumena.pro/coworking to fill out an interest form

Learn more about SUCCESS Space, a coworking franchise model with three revenue streams; recurring and on-demand revenue from coworking memberships, a full-service cafe, and Success Certified business coaching.

Dana Bergrenn on LI

The Coop Coworking

Dana Bergrenn opened her first coworking space, The Coop Cowork, in 2017 - 4,000 square feet of primarily offices with some community space. In December 2021, she closed her agreement for her second space which is just over 20,000 square feet.

We talk about:

What her mindset was when she grew her coworking business from 4,000 feet to a total of 24,000 feet.
How she structured her real estate deal for her first location to include equity in the building
How the real estate market has shifted in Las Vegas from 2017 to 2022 and how that has impacted her business.
How she’s learning to delegate now that she requires team members to run her business.

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

To be featured in the Noumena community and give your members access to a whole library of entrepreneurial resources and financial education programming, all at no cost to you by the way, visit noumena.pro/coworking to fill out an interest form

Learn more about SUCCESS Space, a coworking franchise model with three revenue streams; recurring and on-demand revenue from coworking memberships, a full-service cafe, and Success Certified business coaching.

Coworking spaces have become a popular option for hosting events. These versatile venues can be easily customized to accommodate a wide range of events, from small team meetings to large corporate functions. These spaces offer several advantages over traditional event venues, such as hotel meeting rooms.

First, Coworking spaces are more flexible and can be customized to meet the specific needs of each event. Second, Coworking spaces are designed to promote collaboration and creativity, making events more productive and enjoyable. Finally, these spaces are typically more affordable than traditional event venues.

In this episode, we cover how Coworking spaces are an increasingly popular option for businesses of all sizes!

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

To be featured in the Noumena community and give your members access to a whole library of entrepreneurial resources and financial education programming, all at no cost to you by the way, visit noumena.pro/coworking to fill out an interest form

Learn more about SUCCESS Space, a coworking franchise model with three revenue streams; recurring and on-demand revenue from coworking memberships, a full-service cafe, and Success Certified business coaching.

The Wing abruptly closed its doors a few weeks ago.

The lack of transition time for its members is one topic.

The other aspect to examine is how a brand now owned by the largest public flexible workspace brand, IWG (parent of Regus, SPACES and others), failed.

If you’ve only followed The Wing on social media and in the press, you might be surprised by their failure. They quickly built a compelling brand and a network of high-end, boutque, bespoke-designed spaces in major markets, and garnered a lot of press for their efforts and focus on girl power.

If you’ve run a coworking business and visited a Wing, you probably saw past the social media stories.

I visited two of their locations—one in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., and one in San Francisco.

I was a card-carrying member of the San Francisco location as of the San Francisco location for about a month. I joined in March 2020.

Our company accelerates the launch and growth of coworking spaces. We help operators decide how big their space should've and what their product mix should be based on their profit goals and access to startup capital. Unless someone joins our Coworking Startup School after they've signed a lease, we would strongly warn against 10,000 square feet of purely open plan seating, open on the weekends, staffed to the max, in high-rent districts.

Could the Wing succeed without COVID dragging down its balance sheet, and in about 2,000 square feet in first and second-tier markets? We think so.

We break down their breakdown on this episode.

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

To be featured in the Noumena community and give your members access to a whole library of entrepreneurial resources and financial education programming, all at no cost to you by the way, visit noumena.pro/coworking to fill out an interest form

Learn more about SUCCESS Space, a coworking franchise model with three revenue streams; recurring and on-demand revenue from coworking memberships, a full-service cafe, and Success Certified business coaching.

The profits from your coworking space are usually highly correlated to the size of your coworking space…until your supply is too large for your market demand.
Smaller spaces can be more profitable with diversified revenue streams such as business identity packages, events, f&B offerings (uber eats originator) and specialized/niche memberships
Smaller spaces don’t work for management agreements. If the LL is trying to beat market rent, but has to pay out a management fee in addition to paying the opex….the premium to market rent is not usually high enough to make it work.
If you are running a small space and you are getting to your take-home pay goal by being the community manager, make sure that it makes sense for you to be doing that job. 1) I hope you love it if you’re doing it. 2) The community Manager role is generally a $20-$27/hour job. If you can make more per hour, you should consider doing something else. Example - all of the space owners that run other businesses.
It’s hard to create the diversity of workspaces that people want in a small space. The intentional design will matter a lot.

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

SUCESS Space Youtube channel

Ted Laatz on LI

Learn more about SUCCESS Space

To be featured in the Noumena community and give your members access to a whole library of entrepreneurial resources and financial education programming, all at no cost to you by the way, visit noumena.pro/coworking to fill out an interest form

Learn more about SUCCESS Space, a coworking franchise model with three revenue streams; recurring and on-demand revenue from coworking memberships, a full-service cafe, and Success Certified business coaching.

Coworking has long been seen as a solution for the mobile worker, and that demand has only increased in recent years. coworking spaces offer a variety of membership plans that allow users to cowork when it's convenient for them, and businesses have coworking spaces to thank for an increase in productivity and creativity. However, the coworking landscape has shifted in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, and it's important for coworking businesses to adapt their models to fit the new market. SUCCESS Space is one such example, and their President Ted Laatz shares why they've gone with a unique approach that he believes will serve their customers well in the post-Covid world

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

To be featured in the Noumena community and give your members access to a whole library of entrepreneurial resources and financial education programming, all at no cost to you by the way, visit noumena.pro/coworking to fill out an interest form

Learn more about Success Space, a coworking franchise model with three revenue streams; recurring and on-demand revenue from coworking memberships, a full-service cafe, and Success Certified business coaching.

Find Amy Toman on:

LinkedIn

Her bio

on Twitter

Amy Toman, works as a Local SEO Specialist for Digital Law Marketing, and she has her own business, Pet Sitter SEO (but she specializes in working with all small businesses).

She is also a Google Product Expert for Google Business Profiles. She spends her spare time volunteering to help business owners by answering their questions on the Google Business Profile forum.

In this conversation, Amy demystifies some of the top questions that coworking space owners have about protecting their Google Business Profiles if they allow their members to use their addresses for their own GBP listings.

Here are some questions that I posed to Amy:

Can I let members use THE SAME address as mine for their GMB listing?
Businesses that don’t need a commercial address
Is there a risk that our listings get taken down if they are duplicate addresses or does Google understand?
What does Google require of the member company (and me) for the listing to be legit? Do they need to spend time in the space? Do they need signage? What if they are virtual members that are not actually ever in the space?
How does Google enforce its rules?
What are the consequences for me as an owner if I don't follow Google's rules? What about the member using my address?

What if...

What do I do if I have a virtual member that signs up through a third party lead generator and I get a Google Business verification card in the mail from them...they have no signage, they haven't paid
What if a member uses my address and then discontinues membership but their Google Business address is still active and they're still using my address?
What if somehow someone using my address gets control of my Google Business listing and it becomes theirs? (I saw this happen to a very established operator)

What else should we know about protecting my Google Business Profile?

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

To be featured in the Noumena community and give your members access to a whole library of entrepreneurial resources and financial education programming, all at no cost to you by the way, visit noumena.pro/coworking to fill out an interest form

Learn more about Success Space, a coworking franchise model with three revenue streams; recurring and on-demand revenue from coworking memberships, a full-service cafe, and Success Certified business coaching.

Taylor on LinkedIn

Taylor’s website - subscribe to his newsletter

Taylor’s offer for a free website audit: www.talemaker.ca/audit

Related Podcast Episodes:

Kevin Whelan’s podcast episode on Google Ads

Reuben Lau on the podcast talking about SEO and SEM

Taylor Mason is a marketing expert for the coworking industry. On this podcast episode, he shares his framework for auditing coworking websites to identify ways to improve them. He begins by explaining why an effective website is so critical for a coworking business. He then dives into his website audit framework, which includes aspects such as design, user experience, content, and SEO. He provides detailed explanations of each of these elements and offers tips on how coworking websites can improve in each area. Finally, he shares some general tips for optimizing coworking websites. This episode is packed with valuable information for anyone who wants to improve their coworking website.

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

To be featured in the Noumena community and give your members access to a whole library of entrepreneurial resources and financial education programming, all at no cost to you by the way, visit noumena.pro/coworking to fill out an interest form

Learn more about Success Space, a coworking franchise model with three revenue streams; recurring and on-demand revenue from coworking memberships, a full-service cafe, and Success Certified business coaching.

The Post Workspaces

Dan Wesson on LI

Chelle Peterson on LI

Taylor Masyon (Content Marketing)

Libsyn Description/Show Notes:

Dan Wesson and Chelle Pederson are the co-founders The Post Workspaces in northwest Tucson.

The Post just celebrated its 2nd year anniversary. The Post has had a major comback after losing most of it’s pre-sold offices upon opening in March of 2020.

Dan and Chelle went through our Coworking Startup School™, are members of our Flight Group Academy, our Community Manager University and went through our Creative Coworking Partnerships course. You can get more info on these programs here.

When asked what they’d do differently on their next space, they responded “honestly, not much.” Not many first-time operators will say that…but Dan and Chelle were really intentional from the beginning about everything from their business model to their product mix, to their member wall.

In this episode, we talk about:

How they got into coworking to solve a problem on a first-floor Class A building.
What their partnership structure looks like with their landlord.
Who they serve in their suburban Tucson area and how they designed a space with their ideal member in mind.
How they’ve added suites to their offerings - that act as normal tenants, but have access to the Post (in their 90,000 feet Class A building).
How they’ve successfully used FaceBook ads to market their memberships
Their commitment to content marketing and how that’s served their business
Their recent Community Manager hire from the hospitality industry and how that’s served their business.
Why private, part-time offices are generating a significant premium over a typical office

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

To be featured in the Noumena community and give your members access to a whole library of entrepreneurial resources and financial education programming, all at no cost to you by the way, visit noumena.pro/coworking to fill out an interest form

Learn more about Success Space, a coworking franchise model with three revenue streams; recurring and on-demand revenue from coworking memberships, a full-service cafe, and Success Certified business coaching.

Did you know….

A typical buyer requires 6-7 touch points before a sale.
Your organic social media reach is only10% of your audience
Your marketing newsletter open rate should be above 20%...ideally much higher with a “clean” list

A newsletter can be a simple and effective part of your marketing mix.

One simple, consistent format can serve both your existing members and your potential members (anyone on your email list that is not already a member).

On this episode, we cover:

Why newsletters should be an effective part of your marketing mix
Who should get your newsletter
What should go in your newsletter
How often to send your newsletter.

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

To be featured in the Noumena community and give your members access to a whole library of entrepreneurial resources and financial education programming, all at no cost to you by the way, visit noumena.pro/coworking to fill out an interest form

Learn more about Success Space, a coworking franchise model with three revenue streams; recurring and on-demand revenue from coworking memberships, a full-service cafe, and Success Certified business coaching.

In this episode, we’re diving into the ROI of organic social media for coworking spaces.

Social media may not be the best marketing tactic for coworking spaces.

Coworking spaces generate more revenue by:

Adding more members
Getting each member to spend more with them, or
Getting members to stay longer.

Social media isn't the best marketing tactic to get these results.

Instead, focus on strategies that will directly boost your bottom line. For example, invest in online ads that target your ideal customer or offer discounts to members who refer new people to your space.

Write 1-2 monthly blog posts optimized for SEO to make sure you are found by active searchers.

Send consistent newsletters to your members and to your marketing list.

By spending your time and resources on more effective marketing tactics, you'll be more likely to see a positive return on investment for your coworking space.

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Good Space

Groundworks

David Brown on LinkedIn

David Brown moved his family of 5 to London from North Carolina in 2019 and attempted to open his first coworking space in a London neighborhood in 2020. That didn’t go well until mid-2020 when neighborhood members needed Good Space and good community.

Here are my key takeaways from my conversation with David:

He had a clear vision of what he wanted to create and didn’t waiver
The success of Good Space (in terms of attracting members) is part art and part science. David and his team have a deep focus on building relationships with their 112 members. They want their members to feel seen and known in their space. They also pulled off that je ne sais quoi that you sense when you walk into a space that is “for you.” The vibe, the design, the coffee, the lighting.
David and his team are intentional about what they’re creating. They take time to zoom out and reconnect with their mission and values.
They make decisions based on their mission and values. He gave a great example around phone booths. More phone booths would get used, but would not align with the culture they have built.
A lease on a small space is challenging, even with 112 members. David’s real estate structure going forward will be creating partnerships with landlords.
David broke the week up into percentages and put pressure on the 28% that is Saturday + Sunday to earn their keep. They go all-in on evening and weekend events of all shapes and sizes and their event revenue is a significant and growing portion of their overall revenue.

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Good Space

Groundworks

David Brown on LinkedIn

David Brown moved his family of 5 to London from North Carolina in 2019 and attempted to open his first coworking space in a London neighborhood in 2020. That didn’t go well until mid-2020 when neighborhood members needed Good Space and good community.

Here are my key takeaways from my conversation with David:

He had a clear vision of what he wanted to create and didn’t waiver
The success of Good Space (in terms of attracting members) is part art and part science. David and his team have a deep focus on building relationships with their 112 members. They want their members to feel seen and known in their space. They also pulled off that je ne sais quoi that you sense when you walk into a space that is “for you.” The vibe, the design, the coffee, the lighting.
David and his team are intentional about what they’re creating. They take time to zoom out and reconnect with their mission and values.
They make decisions based on their mission and values. He gave a great example around phone booths. More phone booths would get used, but would not align with the culture they have built.
A lease on a small space is challenging, even with 112 members. David’s real estate structure going forward will be creating partnerships with landlords.
David broke the week up into percentages and put pressure on the 28% that is Saturday + Sunday to earn their keep. They go all-in on evening and weekend events of all shapes and sizes and their event revenue is a significant and growing portion of their overall revenue.

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

If you are working on a first location or an expansion, there are a few things you need to get right to position your coworking business for success.

Four of the most common mistakes that lead to space failure are decisions that are made before you even open a space. You can’t out-market or out-operate these mistakes.

The location and/or product mix don’t align with the demand in your market and your ideal customer avatar
The real estate deal is bad. The buildout is too expensive, your free rent period is too short, and your rent is too high.
Your space is too small to align with your profit goals.
You’re not capitalized well enough to get through the fill-up phase.
You don’t have a marketing budget (this is the easiest problem to solve).

Listen to the full episode for a deep dive into each mistake.

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Fiona Mayor on LI

The Thrive Network

Flexible Workspace Australia

Thrive’s Instagram Grid

Fiona Mayor is the Founder at The Thrive Network. Director of Pop Media - Web Design & Social Media Agency.

She is also the Co-Chairperson of Flexible Workspace Australia.

We talk about:

Her best lead source
What’s selling today
Her focus on meeting room revenue
Why she doesn’t spend a lot of time on social media even though she’s a social media strategist
Government support for Melbourne’s 15 minute city
The next phase of Australia’s Flexible Workspace association

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

In this episode, we talk through a common question - how many flex desks should I have...and.. how many times can I oversell them?

We talk about the importance of validating your market demand for flex desks, what assumptions to include in your pro forma (if you're just starting) and what you might do if you have an existing space with too many flex desks.

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Mark Gilbreath on LI

Liquidspace

Mark Gilbreath is the CEO of Liquidspace, a Hybrid Workplace Management Platform.

We talk about the core premise that whether you're a one-person startup company in Berlin, or whether you're Stripe or Spotify or the U S government, companies are challenging their workplace and real estate and HR organizations to be radically more agile.

We also talk about:

How companies need to be agile and be able to deliver “a great workplace, great collaboration, great culture opportunities to our employees, not in five or 10 more regions where we might put regional offices as was our pace pre-pandemic, but in hundreds or thousands of locations.”
How HR and Real Estate teams realize “they need to be more personalized in how you deliver workplace experiences,” but also “radically efficient.”
How HR and real estate teams are having a light bulb moment around the fact that coworking exists and it is flexible, experienced-focused and exists ion most places that their employees want to work.
That Liquidspace recognized the need to “equip companies with the mechanisms to be able to make the discovery, the evaluation, and the transaction of coworking spaces by their employees more structured more regimented.”

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

The Everything Coworking Academy

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Business E Suites

Laura’s Podcast - Small Business Insights

Meet Laura and Dave Fisher - the quintessential EOS visionary and integrator.

They opened their first 15,000 square foot coworking space in 2020 on top of a self-storage facility in Sugar Land, TX in a building they built from the ground up.

They are now working on a 50,000 square foot co-warehousing facility in Houston, TX.

They are in the space as a service business.

They share:

The story of how they ended up in the coworking business.
Why they like to “own the dirt.”
Some lessons learned and happy surprises in their first two years of business.
What drives their 31 5-star Google reviews.
Why Laura started her own podcast and whether or not their podcast studio generates revenue.
Favorite part of running a shared office business.
What they’re most excited about in the next 5 years.

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

The Everything Coworking Academy

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Discounted Blueprint Offer

Reuben’s Website

Launch Coworking - high end virtual tour

Reuben Lau is an online marketing strategist who does a lot of SEM and SEO work for coworking businesses. Reuben was first on episode #195 of the podcast on which he shared SEO and SEM tips for coworking spaces. I asked him to come back and talk about what’s working today for coworking spaces running Google Ads.

Some highlights include:

The new “performance max” feature in Google ads that gives Google Ads some Facebook Ads-type features such as retargeting and “lookalike” audiences.
Using display ads for top-of-funnel awareness
Putting social proof on the ad landing page - you will not believe the conversion rate increase this is driving!
Whether or not it makes sense to put a virtual tour behind an email opt-in
Meeting room ad conversion rates

Pricing is both art and science.

On this episode, we talk about rules of thumb for pricing your coworking office spaces.

How to price vis a vis market rent
What your target profit margin might be
How to adjust pricing up to offset your rising expense costs
How to frame the pricing of a small office to help the end consumer understand the full scope of value that is included in their membership.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The Everything Coworking Academy

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

The Everything Coworking Academy

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Pre-pandemic, we tried to avoid 10-day passes and custom plans. We wanted full time memberships and operational simplicity. Well…today’s coworking space user has changed our tune.

In this episode, we talk about:

Looking at the 10 day pass as a “healthy” option for end users that needs to be sold in volume
Designing access packages for teams - how to give them the access they need and getting the recurring revenue and predictability that your business needs.
Testing meeting room access plans that build loyalty and recurring revenue
Leveraging meeting room demand

Follow Us on YouTube Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Jason Anderson is the President of the World’s Largest Coworking Franchise, which today includes the brands Venture X and Office Evolution.

Check out the NEW Flex Uncensored Podcast with my co-host Giovanni Palavacini!

If that link doesn’t work, just search for it in your podcast player and hit that subscribe button!

Jason Anderson started his career in the Air Force when he was 17. His first deployment was to the UK where he was stationed over 9/11. Before that assignment, Jason had never left the country. Jason didn’t know at the time that some years later, he’d return to London to celebrate the expansion of a Venture X franchisee….one location that is part of a global footprint of the third largest coworking company in the world.

Jason had a vision (literally on a board) of creating the “Bonvoy” of coworking brands. He’s just getting started.

In this episode, he shares the “why” behind the Venture X acquisition of Office Evolution.

He talks through the way he looks at the flex industry through a hospitality lens.

We learn why it’s natural for VentureX to operate globally early in its life as a brand.

We also get some behind-the-scenes details on how the Venture X model has evolved over time and what Jason’s predictions are for the next 5 years.

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Lindsay on LinkedIn

Lamb’s website

Lindsay Hedenskog joined the Coworking Startup School in June of 2020 and officially opened on May 3, 2021. Lindsay is the CEO and co-founder of Lamb, a coworking space (but more) in Stockholm, Sweden.

Lamb’s big hairy goal is to help people make it normal to work and manage people with intention, empathy. Lamb is developing and providing the tools to create sustainable work cultures…inside of coworking spaces and out.

Lindsay and I talk about

How she’s found a successful model that offers no dedicated workspaces
How she is approaching marketing for a space that is kind of coworking but also much more
Her team - which includes an event manager and a B2B sales manager and a head of marketing

Follow Us on YouTube Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Ann Long on LinkedIn

Burbity Workplaces

Liberty Lake Coworking

Ann Long, founder of Burbity Workspaces, opened her coworking space in 2020. Since then, not only did she survive COVID, but she has expanded into two new locations through a management agreement and a marketing agreement with her landlord and is working on another partnership for a coworking + cowarehousing location.

In this episode, we talk about:

Ann shares her evolution from a 4,000 square foot leased space to the deal she’s currently working on which is 28,000 square feet of coworking + 12,000 feet of co-warehousing.
She shares the creative business models she’s using to expand.
She also shares what roles are on her team and how she’s expanding her team to support her growth.

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Your Desk

Carl Sullivan on LinkedIn

Carl Sullivan’s coworking brand, Your Desk, is about to turn 11 years old (at the time of this recording). Carl was 24 when he started Your Desk. He was a builder and a house flipper who picked up on an office sharing trend that he saw happening at creative agencies and architecture firms. WeWork had just started its first location in Brooklyn when Carl opened Your Desk outside of Sydney, Australia.

Carl’s first location was 26 flex desks….today his model is 70% private space, 30% common space and he’s about to convert some team suites to one person offices.

After surviving COVID in an urban CBD, Carl and his team (which happens to consist of his talented interior designer mom and former house flipper dad), are ready to take more space in their building, continue to tweak their model, and work on optimizing their sales funnel.

In this episode, we talk about:

Carl’s coworking story - how he got into it.
Who Your Desk serves and how that has evolved over time, esp. Post-COVID? (i.e., freelancers, small businesses, corporate employees)
The Your Desk portfolio and how that has changed over the 11 years
What his family-run team looks like
How Your Desk funded expansions
Your Desk’s biggest source of membership leads

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

The Everything Coworking Newsletter - Subscribe here.

I've heard a number of coworking operators recently say that they simply don’t rely on open plan memberships (hot desks) to run a profitable business. They don’t worry about members that leave without notice. They don’t mind offering part-time memberships. They don’t sweat the small stuff. If you aren’t open yet, and you’re working on designing your coworking business, consider that approach. You’ll sleep better at night :)

For those of you that can’t turn a (healthy) profit in your coworking business without selling your hot desks and dedicated desks, hosting meeting rooms and selling event space, here’s what I think is going on in the market.

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Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Paul Stanton on LinkedIn

Proptechbankers

Paul Stanton Head of Strategy for Equiem, Managing Principal for Workplace Hospitality Management, Co-founder of Building Social, and an Asset Manager for Alliance Partners HSP, LLC (“Alliance”), a private real estate investment and operating company.

Paul Stanton’s very first job was in real estate brokerage. That was not for him. So he got a law degree, went into asset management, started a tenant engagement platform for landlords called Building Social, then was a founding partner at WHM (Workplace Hospitality Management) which set out to help coworking brands achieve accelerated, capital-light scale and building owners create premium real estate asset value through creative partnerships…and now he’s head of strategy for Equiem.

In this episode, we talk about:

Flex and proptech themes that Paul sees in the marketplace today
What he’s most excited about today.

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Examples mentioned in the podcast:

Launch Workplaces

Mike Kriel on LinkedIn

Management agreements are really attractive to coworking spaces, and with good reason. Mike Kriel, CEO of Launch Workplaces with locations in DC, Maryland, and Cleveland, shares his perspective on what’s new in management agreements in 2022.

Mike was last on the podcast in October 2019. Some things have not changed since then…and a lot of things have.

Mike does only management agreements and has done a lot of the. He comes from a deep commercial real estate background. He’s taken over some locations that were going to close in 2020 and has recently expanded from the Maryland/DC area to Ohio.

In this episode, Mike and I talk about

What’s not new in management agreements:

Don’t do a deal just to do a deal – there are still consequences
Partners matter
Who does what (and who doesn’t do what)
Who makes what / when
How do we break up?

What is new?

1 – Buzzword

2 - Acceptance

3 – How to be a good partner (this is not a lease)

4 – You always remember your first (doing your first management agreement)

5 – New noise in between (consultants/brokers/etc.)

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Examples mentioned in the podcast:

Jennifer Thoemke on LinkedIn

Connects Workspace

Proximity Coworking Space Management Software

Jen Thoemke Chief Connector and Creator opened Connects Workspace 7 years ago with a strong hunch that the small town of Golden, CO (population 20,000), needed a flexible, professional workspace focused on connecting business owners and remote workers and giving them a great place to be productive.

Her hunch was right…she has expanded her location twice since opening, bought the cafe adjacent to the coworking space, and is now building a combo coworking space and food hall about 20 minutes away from her first location.

In this episode, we talk about:

Jen’s coworking story - how she got started and where she is today.
Jen’s real estate story - from rent to own.
Her advice on running a full cafe AND a coworking business
Her marketing approach in a town of 20,000
What she has learned from her first 7 years of business that you’re transferring to your new location?
What the Connects Workspace team looks like
What space management platform Connects Workspace uses
Jen’s favorite tech/tool that you use for your coworking business?

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Examples mentioned in the podcast:

P3 Physical Therapy

Ampersand Studios in Miami Beach - Space for Creators

Blue House Wellness in Atlanta

Residence Coworking (not a niche space but fantastic copywriting)

What drives success for a niche coworking space

You can design the space exactly for your ideal member
You can message about the space exactly for your ideal member
You can stand out in a market that has a strong supply of “generic” coworking

Make sure…

You don’t want to be niche, but speak generically to avoid turning away leads

Today more than ever, smaller towns and even rural areas want to support local entrepreneurs, business owners, and even remote workers, with the workspace, amenities, and community they need to be productive and stay connected. But it’s hard.

Brian Watson - Co-founder of Proximity and now Co-founder of Alt Space, shares his thesis on how to make small-town coworking work by using automation to build the first sustainable rural coworking brand.

Alt Space exists to connect small businesses, entrepreneurs, and remote workers to the tools, resources, and people they need in order to be successful. We believe in the power of community and collaboration, and know that by working together we can accomplish the impossible.

In this episode, we talk about:

Catching up with Brian - leaving Proximity, moving to Telluride, co-founding Alt Space
The problem Brian is solving with Alt Space
The economic development opportunity in small towns/rural areas (esp. post-COVID)
Why grant-funded spaces aren’t sustainable (most of the time)
How the Alt Coworking model is set up to be an automated workspace
The Alt Coworking tech stack
What the digital layer of programming and community will offer to the network of member spaces
What type of space this model can work for
What’s working well with the model
What are the challenges that they’re still solving
Brian's 5-year vision for the platform

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Brian on LinkedIn

Alt Space website

Proximity space management software

With 3300 locations worldwide, IWG, a public company, is by far the largest flexible workspace provider in the world. They have locations in 120 countries and serve over 8 million members under a broad array of brand flags including Regus, Spaces, The Wing, and The Clubhouse.

Wayne Berger, Chief Executive Officer, The Americas at IWG plc, has been on a wild ride since he joined 8 years ago. He joined just as startup WeWork was taking the space-as-a-service industry by storm, going from 0 to 750 locations in less than 10 years, and then making a move to go public. Wayne also managed a global portfolio during a global pandemic and has a birds-eye view of how the recovery is unfolding.

My cohost for this episode, Giovanni Palavicini, Principal- Flexible Office Solutions Avison Young & GWA Board Member & Worked at Regus in their Real Estate Dev Group from 2012 to 2016.

Giovanni and I talk with Wayne about his predictions for the next 5 years in flexible workspace, what he’s seeing globally as markets recover, and how IWG will add 1,000 locations a year over the next few years.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Wayne Berger on LinkedIn

Giovanni Palavicini on LinkedIn

IWG’s list of brands

Michelle Talbert, a recovering corporate attorney, opened the doors to Her Power Space on January 12, 2020 and, due to the pandemic, locked them on March 31, and didn’t return to the Space until May.

Michelle talks us through this challenging beginning to her business, how she recovered, her unique blend of digital and physical business support for her members, and how she got her email marketing superpowers.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Michelle Y. Talbert on LinkedIn

Her Power Space website

Her Power Space on Facebook

Her Power Space on Instagram

Michelle's Free Business and Marketing Resource: Make It Rain Customers

The space-as-a-service industry is evolving rapidly post-COVID. We asked five thought leaders in various industry roles to share their perspectives on what 2022 will look like for coworking.

In this episode, you’ll hear from:

Kane Willmott, CEO, IQ Office

Nicole Vasquez, Deskpass Co-Founder & Chief People Officer

Laurent Dhollande, CEO, Pacific Workplaces and CEO CloudVO

Kayley DiCicco, Enterprise Account Solutions for Expansive

Hector Kolonas, Co-founder of Syncaroo

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

On this episode, I answer three questions from the Everything Coworking Facebook Group on:

Creating a joint venture to run a cafe adjacent to the coworking space
Managing shared membership requests between spouses/household members
Social media accounts to follow and tips for coworking social media accounts

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Hector Kolonas is a flex workspace technologist, which means he spends a little too long exploring the tech that makes coworking spaces well... work.

He's the cofounder of Syncaroo, curates the ThisWeekInCoworking newsletter and previously founded included.co the coworking perks program.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective.

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Hector’s website

Syncaroo’s website

Hector on LinkedIn

This Week in Coworking website

Talent acquisition and retention is a hot topic today, especially for local, brick and mortar businesses like coworking spaces.

Even small companies need to think big about how to attract great talent. Hope is not a strategy (the name of one of my favorite sales books). We need to be intentional about how we are going to position ourselves as employers, and how we’re going to message about what it’s really like to work with us so that we have a better shot at finding and keeping a strong fit for our team.

Bryan Adams, CEO of Ph.Creative, shares his perspective on creating an Employer Value Proposition (EVP), and misconceptions and common pitfalls of conventional employer branding strategy.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Bryan on LinkedIn

Bryan’s website PH.creative

Bryan’s Book: Give and Get: Employer Branding

Virtual Office training program

Interested in joining our new membership for operators? Make sure you’re on our email list! Go to our home page and scroll to the bottom and enter your email address!

Give & Get Employer Branding: Repel the Many and Compel the Few with Impact, Purpose and Belonging

Gather, a regional coworking operator near Richmond, VA, had a world-class “product,” but was looking to up-level its marketing and sales tools and processes.

They partnered with member Rick Whittington, a local marketing agency owner, to design a comprehensive marketing strategy and implement HubSpot as the primary tool to manage and track their marketing efforts.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Whitington Consulting

Rick Whittington on LinkedIn

Caroline on LinkedIn

The Gather Case Study

Furniture poses many challenges to coworking spaces - the biggest two are:

1) Furniture is a significant start-up cost for coworking and other space-as-a-service offerings.

2) It’s pretty hard to predict exactly what pieces you need to best support your future membership.

If you want to run any sort of custom, “HQ”-type model for your space-as-a-service customers, you need access to the right furniture at the right time. Feather solves this problem and WeWork is all over it.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Ilyse on LinkedIn

The Feather Website

The Feather/WeWork builder

Ilyse Kaplan, President, and COO at Feather, gives us the details on how their model works and how you can participate.

On this episode, I answer three questions from the Everything Coworking Facebook Group on working with investors, using a management agreement template from someone else's deal, and managing phone booth usage.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

As a coworking business owner, you gotta know your numbers. Do whatever it takes to get into the habit of reviewing your goals and progress against those goals every single week.

The most important numbers on your score card at the beginning of 2022 are:

How many tours do I have booked?
How many show up?
How many convert?
Where are those leads coming from?

What “product” are they interested in?

Knowing these numbers will help you predict the time it will take to get to full occupancy (our goal!) if everything stays the same in your business. It will also give you the documentation and confidence you will need to sell a bank, an investor, a spouse, or a landlord partner, on funding for a new location.

Here are the resources we mention in the podcast if you want to grab them:

Everything Coworking’s Ultimate Guide to Coworking KPIs

Not fancy sample Coworking Scorecard

The book Traction (must read!! And get the paperback, not the Kindle version)

Also….while you’re here…if you’re on Apple Podcasts, go back to the main screen for this show, scroll down past the episodes and leave us a rating and review! To leave a written review, you have to click the “Write a review” link under the sample rating you see on the screen.

Thank you in advance!

Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business

Jim Heid is my guest on this episode. Jim has accumulated 40 years (yikes!) focused on the built environment - how we build community, how we improve the quality of life in towns and cities, and how real estate development can and should play an outsize role in improving people's lives.

From consulting, founding innovation companies, to real estate development for my own account, common threads are innovation, sustainability, creating stronger connections to the environment, and helping clients and communities make better decisions through improved processes, better information, and constructive examples and dialogue.

Jim is….

A built environment entrepreneur

Author of Building Small

Founder of Craftwork Coworking in Healdsburg, CA

In this episode, Jim and I talk about:

Jim’s background
The value of building small
Why coworking for small developers - how it fits in to the value system of building small
Why coworking for Jim in Healdsburg

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Jim Heid on Linkedin

Jim’s Book: Building Small

Jim’s coworking space

Jim’s website

Building Small: A Toolkit for Real Estate Entrepreneurs, Civic Leaders, and Great Communities

One of the most common questions I hear from coworking space operators today is: I'm having trouble selling my flex desks and dedicated desks. Help!

Most coworking space operators can't be profitable without coworking revenue - they designed their product mix and therefore their pro forma, to include significant non-office revenue. They need to sell the open space memberships - maybe 2 or 3x over!

Here's a framework for working through your challenge:

Describe your Ideal Community Member in detail. Why do they work away from home? What do they do for work? What type of work space do they need? What problem does coworking solve for them?
Out of that group of ideal members, what is the profile of a member that would use mostly open space seating to get their work done?
Are they comfortable coming to your space? Are you providing the cues they need to see on your website, in your social media, newsletter, etc.?
How can you find them? How can you message to them so that they know you have a solution to their problem?
What creative ideas might you come up with to frame your open space options to make them more compelling? Can you attract a niche? Can you create more privacy using divider systems?

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

I run a mastermind program for coworking operators called the “Flight Group.” Usually, what happens in the Flight Group stays in the Fight Group. But I thought it would be a good time of year to share a few nuggets from our Flight Group members to get you thinking about what you might pursue in your coworking business in 2022.

So I pulled together 10 nuggets or tips shared by our Flight Group members this year.

Here they are, in no particular order:

Close for the full week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Charge setup fees.
Put urgency behind your email promotions.
Invest in your team - Think creatively about how to support them. sign them up for Community Manager University.
Use interns!
Steal my community manager, pay a finder’s fee.
Get an “Owl” for your meeting room.
Have a team office you can’t sell? Make it a shared private office of dedicated desks.
Focus on building your virtual office and digital mail program.
Test stuff and don’t be afraid to fail!

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

The Owl for meeting rooms

Interested in joining our new membership for operators? Make sure you’re on our email list! Go to our home page and scroll to the bottom and enter your email address!

Virtual Office training program

Miro Miroslavov is the CEO and Co-founder of OfficeRnD

He is also a GWA Board Member.

Miro joins us fro his home in Bulgaria.

OfficeRnD recently launched the FlexIndex. The FlexIndex is a novel composite index, that provides visibility into the flex space industry’s health, post-lockdown recovery, and global trends. The index is comprised of 5 components (or KPIs), which represent critical business aspects of both small and large flex operators.

In this episode, Miro and I talk about:

An intro to to the FlexIndex
What geographies are most represented in the data
What we can expect from the FlexIndex
How often it will be published
Where to find it
We'll walk through the 5 KPIs - what's being measuring, what the data says today and what insights we can draw from it

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Miro on LinkedIn

Office RnD FlexIndex

Miro’s email address: if you have KPI requests: Miro@officernd.com

Link to show notes here

There are three reasons that coworking spaces should think about using virtual assistants:

To grow your own coworking business or to make your own business more sustainable without adding another full time team member.
To help your members do the same...and to help them to be more successful so that they can afford to continue to be members.
To consider offering a VA service to your members as an additional revenue stream.

Molly Rose Speed is the founder of Virtual Assistant Management, a Training and Placement company for Virtual Assistants.

In this episode, Molly and I talk about:

Molly’s background - her “why” for starting her virtual assistant company
The types of things VA’s can do for a business
How a VA might contribute to a coworking business
How coworking member companies might use a VA
How to shift a resistant mindset from “I can’t afford to hire help” to “I can’t afford to not hire help.”
How you know you're "ready" for a VA
What if you don't have documented processes in place to help you train a VA?
How the VA model works
Integrating into team

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Download Molly’s Outsourcing Guide here

Hire a VA: www.virtualassistantmanagement.com

Becoming a VA: www.virtualassistantacademy.com

Learn more about Molly Rose: www.mollyrosespeed.com

https://www.instagram.com/mollyrosespeed/

Link to show notes here

In this series on “The New Rules of Engagement for Coworking Spaces,” we’re talking about what aspects of our coworking business we should examine.

Michael Abrams is my guest on the show. Michael has a deep background in real estate - as a landlord, developer and more recently in the flex office sector.

Michael is actively helping operators negotiate creative partnerships and shares his perspective and case studies.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Michael Abrams on LinkedIn

Here’s the course that Michael and I teach: Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective.

Link to show notes here

Things have changed. You must question all aspects of your coworking business. I like to refer to this shift as “The New Rules of Engagement.”

This is the third episode in a series on “The New Rules of Engagement.”

In the first episode of the series, I walked through the key areas of our business that we should question post-COVID.

In last week’s episode, I did a deep dive on the aspects around “What you sell” that you should review/consider updating.

This week, we’re questioning who you serve.

In this episode, I talk about:

How the potential membership for coworking has evolved:

Coworking started as a solution primarily for freelancers and solopreneurs that needed to get out of the house, find an alternative to the coffee shop and find their tribe.
Coworking evolved as a solution for professional service professionals that needed small private offices.
Over time, it started to grow into a flexible option for tech startups and small businesses that wanted the benefits of a large office but with more flexibility and without the overhead and operational hassle.
Post-COVID, flex is an ideal solution for….everyone...and for all types of work, collaboration, events, and more.
How coworking space operators need to decide who they are serving and adjust their physical space and their offers to meet their needs (as we discussed in last week’s “what you sell” episode.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Link to show notes here

Things have changed. You must question all aspects of your coworking business. I like to refer to this shift as “The New Rules of Engagement.”

Last week, I walked through the key areas of our business that we should question post-COVID. In this episode, I do a deep dive on the aspects around “What you sell” that you should review/consider updating.

In this episode, I talk about:

Flexibility
Privacy
The HQ Model
Other Shared Space Models our Coworking Startup School Students are Pursuing
Other Sources of Revenue

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Community Manager University

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Craftwork packages for offsites

Things have changed a lot over the past 18 months. You must question all aspects of your coworking business.

I like to refer to this shift as “The New Rules of Engagement.”

In this episode, I walk through the areas of your coworking business that we should question:

Who you serve
What you sell
How you market
Your real estate structure

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Community Manager University

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

Everything Coworking YouTube Channel

OfficeRnD FlexWorld Conference

ULI Small Developer Forum

The coworking ethos promises a lot. Productivity, hospitality, community, networking, business growth, and more. I had a serious case of expectation failure when I toured two coworking spaces in the town next to mine...which was amplified when I joined one of them.

In this episode, I talk about:

How frustrating the tour experience can be when you can’t easily find the front desk
How going on a coworking space tour should feel like being on a great date
How it’s easy to use industry buzzwords but much harder to actually execute on things like hospitality and community
Why you should have someone shop your tour experience to see if your stated values align with the actual experience.
Why I’m thinking harder about offering 10-day passes
One approach you might take to kick-start your referral program

Link to show notes here

Phil Kirschner, Senior Expert, McKinsey Real Estate and Organizational Transformation practices, has a pretty unique perspective on coworking & flexible workspace. On this episode, he shares a personal experience using a coworking space for a last-minute client call first thing in the morning...and how that sent off both literal and figurative alarms for him.

On this episode, we talk about:

How is the perspective about flexible workplace / coworking changing for large enterprise companies?
How are large enterprises using flexible workplace / coworking to inform and implement their post-pandemic workplace strategies?
What are the benefits and challenges of increased adoption of flexible workplace / coworking by employees of large enterprises?
What can smaller operators do to improve the experience of enterprise members, both the decision-makers and the individual user?

Link to show notes and resources mentioned here

Every time Mitch Gray spoke to a group or a new client, he heard "Our biggest business challenge is that t's really hard to find good people." He had discovered a simple approach to his own hiring practice that gave him a constant pipeline of good people. He decided to share this with others. On this episode, we talk about how to always be hiring, why Indeed may not be the best source for local talent, and how to sell our "why" to attract great candidates. Mitch is a member of coworking space Firehouse in Clovis, NM.

Mitch Gray, small business consultant and author of “How to Hire and Keep Great People” shares his insights around hiring and how to get out of the mindset that “it’s really hard to find good people right now.”

On this episode, we talk about:

How to shift your mindset so that you can find great people even if it seems like it’s hard to find great people.
Why you should “always be hiring” even if you’re not actually hiring. Why Indeed may not be your best source of candidates.
Why hiring for culture fit is often more important than hiring for skills. Why you need to know your company’s “why” and sell your “why” to potential candidates.

Link to show notes

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Community Manager University

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space Creative

Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

www.mitchgraymedia.com

Instagram: @mgraymedia

Twitter: @mgraymedia

Mitch Gray on Linkedin

Mitch Gray’s book on Amazon

How to Hire and Keep Great People: Your go-to guide for finding great people, designing great culture, and building your dream team

Cofounders Amirh Davis and Christina Gutierrez met each other through a mutual friend that connected them to work on their mutual passion for coworking and childcare. They renovated a former bank building and opened in March 2, 2020, just a week before the stay-at-home order in response to COVID-19.

They give us a behind-the-scenes experience growing their business during a challenging environment for coworking and childcare.

They share how they attract their members, how they run their childcare model, and advice they’d give to new operators, and anyone considering integrating childcare into their coworking business.

Link to show notes here

MRP launched its first flexible office concept under Make Offices. Over time, MRP expanded that brand into non-owned assets.

After several years of learning, a global pandemic, and significant evolution in what tenants want from office space, they relaunched a more inclusive building services platform under the moniker “Heyday Properties.”

Link to show notes here

When I met Tessa in 2016, she had a lot of passion and a vision for Kwench that came with a big ticket buildout and a big funding gap.

Since then, she opened a 5,000 square foot beta space, redeveloped 25,000 square feet of an old rail house and moved in five months before COVID hit.

Kwench is a full-service work & culture club for creative, ambitious thinkers & doers who seek more. Tessa added a cafe/general store as an amenity in April....and has big plans for what the next location will include.

Link to show notes here.

Adam and Zach, co-owners of Workspace Collective in Ocala, Florida, opened their first coworking space in October 2019 in a house built in 1890. They opened their second location in June of 2021 in a 7,000 square foot modern, industrial building downtown.

On this episode, we talk about:

How the business is a family affair - their wives really run the show behind the scenes.
How Adam and Zach leverage their backgrounds in sales to fill up their locations and to support their members.
What they learned from opening a second location
Their plans to own the buildings they operate in going forward
How they're going "all-in" on their micro offices
How they market their podcast studio and more!

Link to show notes here!

Ben Wright is Head of Flexible Office Solutions, SquareFoot. He is also the founder of Upsuite, a digital platform that helps people find and book flexible work space. Ben is a former economist and a data nerd. His passion for data surfaces insights that help coworking space operators get access to market dynamics that they can act on.

On this episode, we talk about:

The findings of Upsuite’s Q2 North American coworking data
The return of demand in major cities such as NY and LA
How operators are still working on getting to a cash flow positive occupancy rate
How shopping is still lagging signing in many markets
The challenge of digging out of deep COVID discounts for WeWork
The return of small team demand
4-8 seat requirements
How the drop in supply is making demand feel higher in some markets
Why he’s worried that the coworking sector isn’t ready for the return of demand.

Link to show notes here!

Jenny Poon is the CEO and founder of CO+HOOTS coworking in Phoenix, AZ. She is a true OG in the coworking industry with a wealth of experience to share.

In this episode, we talk about:

How Jenny got her first space started by doing a management agreement with her landlord way back in 2010.
How she eventually moved her community into a building that she bought...after having her SBA loan pulled at the last minute and crowd-funding to save her business.
How favorite automation hacks to free up her Community Managers to focus on...community!

Link to show notes here!

Justin and Kelly are co-owners of Flocc Studio in Dallas, TX. Kelly is also a sculptor and Justin is also a photographer and the founder of a digital lighting school. On this episode they share:

Their unwavering decision to serve a creative niche at their space
How they curate their application-based membership
Managing a business with a spouse
Their approach to alancing the coworking space + three more businesses
How their intern program saves the day and how they run it and more!

Link to show notes here!

Mark Gilbreath is the CEO of liquidspace, a real-time booking platform for offices and meeting rooms by the hour, month or longer.

On Wednesday, August 18th, GSA, the federal agency responsible for managing the world’s largest workplace, a 700M square feet of real estate portfolio serving over two million employees, announced that they have awarded LiquidSpace a contract to provide Flexible Coworking Services (FCS) to government employees.

So, what’s the backstory?

18 months ago, in January 2020 the GSA issued an RFP as a part of their Total Workplace Program stating that "Working beyond the confines of a traditional office had become common" and that they sought to "equip government employees with the tools and the spaces to work from anywhere". With the announcement of the GSA’s awards, it is now evident that the government is poised to become one of the world’s largest consumers of coworking.

Others included in the contract award:

WeWork
Expansive
The Yard
Deskpass

Mark and I talk about:

Why the GSA has decided to offer flexibility to this workforce and what it says about the broader employee choice trends.
The GSA’s 50/50 approach to awarding every other “task order” going to small businesses (with less than $30M in revenue). What does this mean for boutique operators?
How might the 50/50 approach might impact supply over time?
Will this award encourage landlords to add flex offerings to the Liquidspace platform?
How will the GSA’s move serve as a signal to other enterprise businesses still trying to figure out their approach?
How does an operator get added to the platform so that they can be considered for GSA business?

This is a discussion you don't want to miss, be sure to listen to the full episode.

Link to show notes here!

Creating a marketing list for your coworking business opens up opportunities to use email marketing as a tool. On this episode, we talk about three things you can do with a “marketing” email list:

Sales Funnel tool: To nurture those that aren’t “search and join” members.

Direct Sales: To announce office openings, run BOGOS, sell event tickets

Indirect Sales: Affiliate revenue, Membership sales that aren’t attached to your physical space

Listen to the full episode for details on how to use your marketing list for these opportunities, what email service providers to use, and how to grow your email list.

Link to show notes here!

This week we're shifting from working on the "how" to working on the mindset challenges that often prevent us from making progress and living our best lives.

I am highly trained in the “how” department. So much so that my analytical rigor as an MBA grad from the top business school in the country might have squashed some of my intuitive side. I got to a point in my post-MBA career when I was really stuck and wasn't able to move on to the thing I could sense deep down was next for me.

Fortunately, I found Rita Hyland. Her website describes her coaching practice as "a place where leaders come to reclaim their purpose, clarify their vision, and reconnect with their true voice."

She did exactly that for me. Not just once, but twice :-) The first time I worked with her was the process that birthed Enerspace, my own coworking space. It was a life-changing process that gave me the awareness and the tools to work through mindset issues as they come up. And as entrepreneurs, we are all managing mindset issues on a daily basis.

Rita is an entrepreneur, coach, speaker, wife, and mother of three active children. In this episode, she talks with us about how to recognize common mindset barriers that keep us from pursuing our best lives.

Link to show notes here!

For some of you, the idea of being your own landlord is terrifying. For others, it's a compelling way to create operating income and build long-term wealth at the same time.

Jerry Alexander has been running this combo successfully since 2004. He is a commercial real estate investor running seven flex office/coworking locations out of buildings he owns.

He shares a bit about his flex operations, but more importantly, the value of investing in commercial property. Listen to our full conversation here.

Link to show notes here!

Potential members that tour looking for office space understand that "product" and they usually "need" it and value it enough to pay for it. Often they require privacy, a space to meet with clients, or make frequent ongoing phone calls. Outside of major markets, you likely tour fewer potential members that come in looking for a flex desk or dedicated desk. These require more education and more of an "emotional" sell. Your sales funnel for offices is pretty simple. Google search --> tour --> close. Your sales funnel for flex desks and dedicated desks might look more like this: - Learns about coworking from a friend after complaining about not being productive at home. - Searches "coworking near me" and starts following a couple of local spaces on Instagram. - Checks out membership options and considers budgeting $300/month for workspace. - Maybe signs up for a couple of local spaces' newsletters. - Reads member interviews to understand who works in a coworking space... - Sees an offer for a day pass...schedules a tour. - Has a great experience testing out the space. - Goes home and keeps thinking about whether or not to budget $300 to be more productive...can they get an ROI on that? - Reads another newsletter and gets a little FOMO over Waffle Wednesday.... You get my point. It's a different sell.
In this episode I share one marketing tactic you can use to start educating and attracting more coworking/flex desk users. Link to show notes here!

Customer Lifetime Value is a key metric for coworking space operators.

CLTV is important because it can help you make decisions about:

Product mix
Pricing
Services offered
Profit margin

In this episode, we cover three decisions you can make with CLTV data - how to measure it, what drives it, and how to increase it.

Link to show notes here!

Tracy Wilson is an OG of shared workspace. She is a partner at Pacific workplaces (18+ locations in California) and CloudVO. She is also now co-founder and COO at SUPER, which is on a mission to reduce single use plastic in businesses.

Coworking is part of the circular economy. It is inherently environmentally friendly. If you think your members would resonate with a higher level of service that also saves $ and reduces environmental waste, this episode is for you.

Link to show notes here!

Ted Laatz, COO of Success Magazine, gives us a preview of the new SUCCESS Space concept.

The suburban-focused locations will show up primarily in strip malls with each access and parking. The front of the space will be a publicly accessible cafe with coffee in the morning and wine/beer and snacks in the afternoon/evening.

The workspace will be uber-flexible with access billed starting at by the minute.

The space will have a concierge and will also offer a SUCCESS-certified coach to support members in groups and 1:1.

Listen to our conversation to get more details!

Link to show notes here!

Marc Blum redeveloped his 80,000 square foot building for commercial office use. He built out all eight floors for Spaces, an IWG brand of coworking. Spaces filed for bankruptcy less than 6 months after moving into the space (during COVID-19).

Marc had a dilemma on his hands.

Should he/could he find another tenant? Should he run the flex office model himself? Should he find a partner?

Enter Adam Showalter and the rest is history. They share the story of how they converted the Spaces buildout to their own flexible office offering, gave the building a brand and became a leader in the evolution of the commercial office world.

Link to show notes here

Coworking space owners wear a lot of hats. "Content Marketer" is one of those hats that often times doesn't get worn as much as it should.

Creating relevant, consistent content can be challenging for owners and Community Managers.

Taylor Mason shares his perspective on where to start, where to focus and what to measure to see the ROI of content marketing.

Link to show notes here!

It's summer in the northern hemisphere, so your coworking space is likely getting quiet as parents deal with summer camp schedules, kids at home, family vacations, and more time off in general.

While we're all celebrating the reclaimed freedom to move about the country, we cringe at a quiet coworking space. Distract yourself by doing the work now to welcome back members and top off your membership in the fall.

On this episode, we cover 6 summer to-do's that will have a fall ROI when it comes to member acquisition and retention.

Link to show notes here

Saltbox recently raised $10 million to fund their co-warehousing expansion.

Saltbox provides purpose-built spaces for entrepreneurs with physical goods. This model is a sister to coworking - with overlapping value propisition and services provided.

Zubin, Canteenwalla, their COO, shares his perspective on their customer acquisition approach, their ideal customer, their expansion strategy through management agreements, and more.

Get the full show notes here

The guest on this episode is Franco Faraudo, co-founder of Propmodo. Propmodo deciphers and defines trends for commercial real estate professionals through a combination of news, research, events, and marketing services.

I reached out to him after reading an early April article he published entitled: Underwriting Flexibility: How and why flexible offices should change the way we value buildings

In this episode we cover:

Propmodo - what topics they cover and why you should subscribe.
How flexible lease contracts don’t fit into the way we typically value buildings...and how the current market is changing that.
How lenders view Flex and it's nuances.
What will it take for Flex to become accepted in the mainstream market?

Click here for episode shownotes.

The guest on this podcast episode is Ben Wright, CEO and founder of Upsuite, an online platform to help individuals and teams find workspace.

You should list your space on Upsuite to get access to leads that don’t come through your own website or Google my Business website.

The other reason to pay attention to platforms like Upsuite is that they have access to North American demand data, transaction data and pricing data. They see macro trends that individual operators don’t have access to. Their published insights are invaluable. Make sure to check out the Upsuite blog.

In this episode we cover:

Coworking/flex demand numbers by major markets (per Upsuite data)
Which markets are “over-flexed” and under-flexed” based on “demand by location?” Overall, demand in Q1 across North America was up 21% creating a benchmark for operators to use to look at their own demand.
Why people are going to the office? What drives people to leave their home office? How can operators leverage these insights for marketing messages?
Ben’s recommendation for product mix to match demand: Private offices + The living room you always wanted + Kitchen
Why Ben thinks we’ll see a tremendous shift to management agreements
Why Ben thinks the operators that survived the pandemic are here to stay.

Get the show notes here!

If you’re a coworking operator or soon-to-be one, you opened your coworking space because you wanted to offer your members a better way of working.

You want them to be…

More productive
More confident
More clear on the next step in their business
More focused
Happier
Healthier
More connected….

But on your website, many of you sell them 10 day punch cards and dedicated desks.

If you are marketing a coworking space, you have two audiences - those that know what you're selling and those that don’t.

Your first audience is problem + solution aware.

Your second audience is maybe not aware that they have a problem, and not aware that you can solve it.

The solution needs to be clear to your potential member, not just to you.

You have no chance in succeeding if you are selling a solution that your end-user doesn’t know they need or doesn’t know that you sell.

On this podcast episode, I share two case studies from my mentor calls and some “clear messaging” and “confusing messaging” examples from coworking websites.

Link to shownotes here

Mara Hauser is the CEO of 25N Coworking with locations outside of Chicago, Frisco, TX and Alexandria, VA. She is also Principal at Workplace Studio, a commercial interiors design firm.

Mara has a unique perspective of interior design expert and coworking space owner. I love to tap into her perspective periodically to share with my audience what’s new and what’s evolving.

Today, the focus is on evaluating your current offerings to determine what you might need to adjust as we get into full re-entry post-COVID19.

In this episode we cover:

A framework for reviewing your current offering and determining what you might need to adjust.
Opportunities to upsell things to your members that they need and value.
Some creative ideas for re-framing and marketing spaces that aren’t selling yet (like team offices!).

Get the show notes here!

Kris has deep industry experience - she started her flex office career at Regus, after 10 years in senior roles there, became President of Preferred Office Network for 7 years, and she’s now COO of Expansive, formerly Novel Coworking, formerly Level Office. I would like to call out that some of these transitions were spurred by relationships built at GWA conferences. In-person networking is magical - we can’t wait to get back to it!

I could talk shop with Kris for hours...but we had to narrow it down for today’s podcast. Here’s what we’re covering on this episode:

In this episode we cover:

Rebranding - not once but twice! Expansive, novel, level
The Expansive business model
How Expansive is shifting its product mix to serve today's customer needs
Expansive’s net promoter score and amazing GMB reviews
The unique Expansive company culture

Link to show notes here!

Each year, we publish a guide to the Coworking Tech Stack. The guide is organized by category and includes hardware, software, industry consultants and more.

The coworking tech stack is critical to create a positive member experience and to optimize back of house operations. As the industry experiences tremendous year over year growth, the tech stack innnovation is keeping pace. Get your copy of the guide to make sure your tech stack....stacks up!

Get your copy here.

Link to show notes here!

David Cairns is a Senior Vice President - Office Leasing CBRE and founder of CBRE Forward. David is hyper-active on LinkedIn. If you want to follow along as he questions traditional commercial office thinking, you can find him here.

This episode is important because many of the brokerage firms have their own coworking or flex space brand..but most have very few locations AND brokers are a key marketing tool for coworking spaces that focus on offering private spaces.

CBRE launched its own flex space brand under the name “HANA” but at the time of this recording, recently announced that they made a 35% acquisition of Industrious which was an investment of $200M. That investment was a big win for the coworking industry at large.

If my discussion with Dave makes you curious about how to implement a better broker program for your coworking space, Kane Willmott, CEO of IQ Office, shared the details on his program on episode #129.

In this episode we cover:

As a thought leader and "futurist" in the office sector, how many years ahead of the average broker are you in embracing WFA and Flex as part of the strategy?
What are the conversations that your clients are having today about their workplace strategy? What is your role as a broker in those strategic discussions?
How do you think about your compensation as tenants want less traditional space? - What does the role of the broker look like in 5 years? 10 years?
What can flex operators do to help occupiers and brokers understand their offer as part of a multi-pronged real estate solution?
You are one of the few office brokers I see on LinkedIn taking risks by sharing your thinking. Does your risk-taking always serve you?

Link to show notes here!

Roland Stanley is the Founder of Dragon Coworking. Like many of us, he found coworking somewhat accidentally as he prepared to exit from owning and managing a hotel.

In this episode, Roland shares the story of how he turned some extra space in the hotel into a coworking space, filled it up, retained his members during COVID, expanded his physical space in December of 2020, AND started to monetize a virtual networking event that had once been a successful, but time-consuming physical event serving Roland’s surrounding communities.

In this episode we talk about:
Roland’s “coworking story”
How his product mix serves his community (and pays the bills!)
What processes Roland has in place to allow him to run it on his own
How he transitioned a successful physical networking event into a paid, virtual membership during COVID
How he expanded his physical space and pre-sold his twelve new offices during the pandemic

Link to show notes here!

In this episode, online marketing strategist Reuben Lau, shares his SEO/SEM expertise with us.

Reuben works with several coworking spaces to improve their organic search engine results, and he also helps them to develop Google ad campaigns that get results.

In this episode, we cover:

What is SEO?
How do I know if my website has been optimized for SEO? What if it has not been?
When you're investing in SEO, what are the actual tactics? What gets done one-time? What do I need to make into a business process that gets done regularly?
What is the 80/20 rule for SEO? What are the 20% of SEO-related activities that will get you 80% of the results?
What SEO tactics can I do on my own? What can my Community Manager do? What do I need to outsource to an expert?
How is SEO different from SEM?
In a smaller market where there's not a lot of search volume, what is the interplay between SEM and SEO? How do I measure the ROI of running Google ads?
Should I set up and run Google ads on my own?

Link to show notes here!

In this episode, we’re focusing on your coworking website through the lens of our customer’s journey.

We talk about the process of conducting an optimization process on your website:

Making sure your site passes the “grunt test.”
Getting an unbiased “user test” done on your site.
Finding 2-3 people in the coworking industry to review your site.
Reviewing your website through the lens of your customer
Writing down the steps you want your potential member to take to enter and go through your sales funnel.

Access episode show notes here

This week, I head back to episode 89, where I go through a framework for implementing consistent team meetings as a part of your leadership system for running a successful coworking space.

You can have the right location, a gorgeous space and a great community and still have the wheels fall of of your business if you don’t have the right systems in place to ensure that the team is aligned with and accountable to your organizational goals.

Weekly meetings are a great way to ensure a regular check-in against KPIs and also to help develop a strong culture, recognize team wins and provide consistent feedback to enhance performance.

Link to show notes here!

One of the most common questions I hear from coworking space operators today is: I'm having trouble selling my flex desks and dedicated desks. Help! Most coworking space operators can't be profitable without coworking revenue - they designed their product mix and therefore their pro forma, to include significant non-office revenue. They need to sell the open space memberships - maybe 2 or 3x over!

Here's a framework for working through your challenge:

Describe your Ideal Community Member in detail. Why do they work away from home? What do they do for work? What type of work space do they need? What problem does coworking solve for them?
Out of that group of ideal members, what is the profile of a member that would use mostly open space seating to get their work done?
How can you find them? How can you message to them so that they know you have a solution to their problem?
What creative ideas might you come up with to frame your open space options to make them more compelling? Can you attract a niche? Can you create more privacy using divider systems?

Get the show notes here.

In this myth or fact session, Mike Abrams dissects questions regarding management agreements and in the process helps us to better understand them.

Looking for the show notes for this episode? www.everythingcoworking.com/episodes/191

Leads are starting to pick up for many parts of the world. Many coworking space owners experienced a LOT of turnover in 2020. Many of the members coming into the space now are brand new to your brand and they might be brand new to coworking.

Our onboarding processes might be a little rusty...or a little informal and inconsistent. Or we might have new team members that haven’t done a lot of onboarding. Make sure you have consistent onboarding processes that are intentional and documented. Make sure you’re training your team on these processes and helping them to understand why they are so important.

This episode is to get you back into the frame of mind that...

First impressions matter.

A great onboarding experience is your best retention strategy.

It’s a lot easier to keep good members than to attract new ones.

I don’t think that we can under-estimate the importance of an intentional onboarding process for coworking space members right now.

Here’s what we’re going to cover in this episode. Get the full show notes here: www.everythingcoworking.com/190

Why your onboarding process is critical to retention
Four key elements that your onboarding process should include

Daan Van Rossum, Chief Experience Officer for Dreamplex in Vietnam shares:

How Dreamplex came to be - a culmination of Daan’s experience at international ad agencies, his commitment to helping others discover self-fulfillment, personal development, and figuring out what we want out of life.
That work should help employees to pursue meaning, purpose and the ability to be their best selves.
How Dreamplex’s Gen Z research reflects a desire to go to a place to work that is designed around their wants and needs. How the Vietnamese highly value being able to work away from home - which in their culture, is often not a quiet, productive place to focus.
How Dreamplex’s reason for being is not so much about building community among members, but giving companies access to an intentional work environment that draws employees in. The Vietnamese culture is more individual. But they want to go to a PLACE to do their work. They don’t want to work in a big open floor plan where they can spend the day encountering strangers.
Why Vietnam is embracing flexible workspaces.
What later stage startups are looking for as they grow their teams and build a culture and deliver a really great employee experience - which becomes a big factor in attracting and retaining key talent.
That Dreamplex’s real competition is companies creating their OWN office space - not other coworking spaces, not market saturation. How the physical product is only one tool in engaging the best people for a company….and how Dreamplex plays a role outside of the physical environment.
How they use content marketing as a major marketing tool.

Listen to the full episode here: www.everythingcoworking.com/episodes/189

The ability to acquire customers to fill a coworking space to 90-95% capacity, and then replace customers every single month as members inevitably leave, is central to a coworking space operator’s ability to survive.

If you don’t build and optimize a customer acquisition machine, you may not fail, but you will not thrive.

The ability to acquire many individual or small teams as customers every single month, is what differentiates your coworking business from a landlord or a commercial real estate broker.

In this episode, we talk about what the customer acquisition process looks like in a coworking business and how it differs from models like Knotel which just filed for bankruptcy.

Looking for the show notes for this episode? www.everythingcoworking.com/episodes/188

Giovanni Palavicini is one of a handful of professionals in the coworking industry that have a macro view of what's happening in coworking across constituencies. He has deep real estate experience and is the unusual broker that has a deep understanding of the coworking business model.

Giovanni works with landlords and operators on coworking leases, management agreements and other creative deal structures. Avision Young also provides strategic services to enterprise users on integrating flexible office into their real estate portfolio.

Looking for the show notes for this episode? www.everythingcoworking.com/episodes/187

Running a business generally means competing priorities. Focus on sales or get our "back-of-the-house" in order? Sales wins every time, but that can cause some headaches down the road...with the IRS for example.

Ain't nobody got time for that. Braden Drake, lawyer, author, educator, shares his perspective on establishing your business entity, saving for quarterly taxes and, most importantly....paying yourself!

Looking for the show notes for this episode? www.everythingcoworking.com/episodes/186

Trina-K is the Community Manager for ECOMSPACES in Atlanta, GA. She's also a confidence coach, SOP writer, video shoot scheduler, project manager, and more for ECOM members. If you're interested in hearing an out of the box take on the coworking Community Manager role, this episode is for you.

Looking for the show notes for this episode? www.everythingcoworking.com/episodes/185

There was a discussion in the Everything Coworking Facebook Group recently about whether to use "coworking" or "flexible office" as a tagline for a new space under development.

There was a lot of emotional support from the group members to "go with your gut." Bad advice. Go with Google. Using the right organic search terms matter a lot to help your ideal members find you. Use the term they know and they're searching for.

This epsiode talks about the emotional and the data driven aspects to making this decision.

Link to show notes here!

If you’re curious about what a successful community manager profile looks like, how they contribute to the business and how they manage their time, keep the ear buds in, this episode is for you!

Kelsey Sizemore is the Community Manager & Marketing Manager for Forge Birmingham, AL. At the time of this recording, she’s been in the role for three years and has helped the team expand from 7,000 square feet into 13,000 square feet, start a podcast, optimize their marketing mix and more!

Link to show notes here!

Kim Lee didn't take 2020 lying down. She celebrated the addition of new event space the week before the first lockdown. Without missing a beat, she co-founded the Birmingham Coworking Collective, and then launched a podcast.

Kim shares her three-year coworking journey to create a community in which Birmingham's entrepreneurs can thrive. She shares some behind the scenes of her business, including how she balances her business, three kids, two dogs and a husband... how her team is structured, what hats they each wear, and more.

Link to show notes here!

Focusing on what drives your coworking business will be critical in 2021 to set yourself up for office re-entry. What we measure gets focus, what we focus on improves.

KPIs can help you to get objective data on what’s working and what’s not...but they can also keep you focused and disciplined while you’re working on projects that don’t reap immediate financial rewards.

In this episode, we walk through what KPIs are, what to track, and how to set yourself up for success in your measuring and tracking process.

Link to show notes here!

Demand for virtual offices is growing. Building up a competency around marketing and servicing virtual office memberships can add margin to your business and help you to serve a member that doesn’t require much access to physical space. There are operators that build their virtual office business to the point where it pays their rent.

In this episode we discuss three ways to build your virtual office program.

What is virtual office?
Should a virtual office program include use of our GMB Listing?
Three ways to grow your virtual office business:
Run Google Ads
Focus on SEO/organic traffic using keyword optimization
List your offerings with lead-gen partners

Link to show notes here!

Follow Us on YouTube

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

The SEO Action Guide

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Community Manager University

Creative Coworking Partnerships: How to negotiate and structure management agreements from the landlord and operator perspective

Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:

The “jam study”

In this episode we discuss three pricing strategies for tough times:

Consider offering more flexibility on your memberships than you typically would, but don’t overwhelm your potential members with too many options. Want evidence? Read the “jam study” here: https://hbr.org/2006/06/more-isnt-always-better
Try to avoid offering rock bottom pricing
You can’t lure people out of their homes with deals. They either can leave the house and want to leave the house or they don’t. When they evaluate options, they want the best environment FOR THEM that they can get out of the home. Focus on consultative selling vs. price. WHY are they leaving the house? How can what you offer provide the transformation they are looking for?
- A better network
- A better office environment than they have at home
- A more productive day
- Work friends
- A place to record in silence
Don't get into a price war with the local competition. Know your strengths and know their weaknesses. If they’re doing ridiculous deals, they may be locked into very long, inflexible agreements. They may be paying for coffee and meeting rooms. Know how to make the apples to apples comparison, but even then, you might lose on price and need to sell on other strengths such as hospitality and community.

Give all deals/COVID accommodations an end date. Frame them as a COVID discount and make them good for 3 months (you can always extend if you need to).

Link to show notes here!

Trevor Hightower started his own coworking brand in the lobby of a multi-family apartment building. He learned a lot about what worked and didn't work in that model and eventually met and joined forces with the founder of Craftwork.

Craftwork enhanced the revenue model and mojo of a coworking space by combining it with an open-to-the public coffee shop. Coffee in the front, coworking in the back.

Craftwork started experimenting on partnering with developers of multi-family apartment buildings to build a Craftwork location into the amenity set. The buildout was paid for, but they still signed a lease.

COVID struck....all coffee shops closed down. The leasing model showed its weaknesses.

Trevor shares his story about how COVID accelerated their pursuit of a stronger model for their business - hospitality as a service...what that looks like and where they're headed.

Link to show notes here!

Are you excited about the huge potential demand for coworking space coming from the "Work from Home" segment?

They are not the same nut to crack as our typical coworking space member.

Let's discuss:

How the WFH segment is different than our traditional coworking segments, who pays for their memberships, safety and security expectations.
How they are not solution-aware and require a different marketing approach than our active searchers.
Which advertising platforms align with different awareness stages.
Some tactics to use on the solution-unaware segment to get them into the top of our sales funnel.

Link to show notes here!

If you’re curious about what a successful community manager profile looks like, how they contribute to the business and how they manage their time, keep the ear buds in, this episode is for you!

Alex Biddle is the Community Manager for La Suprema Works & Events in Tucson, Arizona. At the time of this recording, she’s been in the role for about a year and during that time, helped the team launch their flagship location during a global pandemic.

Link to show notes here!

This episode’s guests are two power-house C-suite women who met in Tucson and decided they wanted to bring community-focused coworking to downtown Tucson's oldest and most coveted neighborhood.

Gina and Katina were students in our Coworking Startup School. They’re also members of our Flight Group program and their Community Manager, Alex, is in our Community Manager University program.

Gina Catalano is a fractional COO for growth minded entrepreneurs and companies - the CEO's "Swiss Army Knife."

Katina Koller is an EOS Implementer and Vistage Group Chair.

Here’s why I think you’ll enjoy their story: They took on the passion project of re-developing a downtown historical landmark that most called “a teardown.”

They started their business with an MVP - a 1500 square foot space that allowed them to learn how to attract their ideal members, and how to operationalize their business before building out their flagship location across the street.
They learned along the way that their Ideal Community Avatar isn’t someone that does a type of work or lives in a certain neighborhood, but that the common thread across their members is more about a value system.
They hired a rockstar community manager that takes ownership of the space so that they can still run their other businesses
They have worked together to stay positive and focused even while opening a coworking and events space in the heart of a global pandemic.
They have also remained intentional and goal-focused during this crisis and sold out all of their offices in less than 60 days.

Link to show notes here!

It’s easy to be really busy all day long in a coworking business and not get the right things done.

It’s even easier to pay your team to be in the space all day and not get the right things done.

What are the right areas of focus?

How much time should you and/or your team focus on them in a given day?

In this podcast episode, we approach this question using the 80/20 rule.

The 80/20 rule was originally called The Pareto principle. The Pareto principle states that for many outcomes roughly 80% of consequences come from 20% of the causes (the “vital few”). (source: Wikipedia).

Link to show notes here!

2020 was a year of reaction. It's time to re-focus and take control of our coworking business goals for 2021. In this episode, I go through the 9 step framework that we are going to go through in the Designed to Thrive in 2021 workshop.

Link to show notes here!

In this episode, Jonathan and I discuss: - Jonathan’s coworking story: how he started his first space and rapidly expanded to become one of the leading brands in Singapore.

Balancing risks as an operator: offering flexible terms while maintaining predictable revenue.
A concept he talks about in his book “consolidating a share of spend - focusing on spend per member.”
Jonathan’s perspective on the future of the coworking model - how he would approach the real estate model if you were starting today.

Link to show notes here!

Josh Coffy lives in a town of 20,000 near Columbus, OH. He and his wife Kelsey, bought a building downtown and launched a coworking business in it.

Josh shares his experience buying and renovating a building, why he decided that a coworking space was best use for the building, and the “good” and “bad” surprises that he encountered on his journey.

Josh is also a professional marketer and spills the beans on how he’s marketing his coworking space.

Link to show notes here!

As individual operators, you likely don’t have access to data on market recovery. You can only see what you are experiencing in your own market. Coworker.com is a coworking marketplace with over 15,000 member spaces across 172 countries. They have a macro view of the industry trends that can help you get a line of site on what to expect over the coming months.

Madison, the COO, joins me on this episode to share their data and perspective on the recovery trends for coworking spaces.

Link to show notes here!

The coworking model is evolving at a pace more rapid than anyone predicted. The variations on the approach to serving today’s workforce and local communities are becoming more diverse.

The story of Lodgic Everyday Community is one worth following as you’re thinking about how you will serve your members and your community.

Link to show notes here.

Coming out of COVID, leasing a space has become less attractive because the operator bears the most risk. If you are going to lease, you must work with a broker that will help you negotiate terms that will protect you from a business-killing experience like a global pandemic.

The appeal of a management agreement is that it shifts the risk to the landlord. The upside is significantly limited for the operator, but therein lies the tradeoff. In this episode, we're talking about why management agreements are becoming more accessible and how they're structured.

Link to show notes here.

If you’re starting a coworking space or even looking to expand your existing business, it’s worth considering buying a building.

Roughly half of my Coworking Startup School students are building owners that already had a building and decided that its best use was to house a coworking space, or people that wanted to start a coworking space and wanted the benefits that come along with also owning the building.

When COVID happened, my most resilient students were those that owned their buildings and had to negotiate with their mortgage lender, but didn’t have to deal with the landlord that doesn’t get it or couldn’t afford to give them some rent relief as too many of their members cancelled contracts.

Today’s guest, Matt Maurice, walks us through his experience buying commercial real estate and creating a coworking business to be the only tenant.

Link to show notes here.

Tell me if you ever feel this way: Your business is not where you want it to be, there aren’t enough hours in the day and you either don’t take time off or you just have a really hard time feeling like you deserve taking time off and letting yourself relax.

If you’re an achievement-oriented, driven business owner, you probably feel this way a lot. I’m always working on staying more focused and setting myself up to not feel guilty about taking some down time on the weekends or taking some time off. In this episode, I share some approaches that I’ve learned on my journey.

Link to show notes here.

If you have a coworking space, and you’ve decided to do everything you can to keep your business afloat until we see the demand shift (which is already happening outside of the U.S.), you must commit to keep marketing, even when you don’t see the results. Fill the pipeline so that you have warm leads when your potential members are ready to head back to the office.

In this episode, I cover four things you and your team should keep doing to prepare for recovery.

If you are working on opening a coworking space, these are activities that you will want to bake into your team roles, so take notes!

Link to show notes here.

Your on-site team drives member attraction and retention. You can have the best furniture, the best cleaning protocols, the most delicious locally roasted coffee, but none of that matters if your team isn’t attracting and retaining your best and most profitable members. Today we talk about how to hire and train your Coworking Community Manager.

In this episode, I cover:

Why the Community Manager role is critical to your coworking business
Profiles of successful Coworking Community Managers
Where to post job postings for Coworking Community Managers
How to screen candidates
How to train Community Managers

Link to show notes here.

With a global pandemic going on, every step in the Sales Funnel counts. Subtle nuances in the process can make all the difference when it comes to landing your leads. Join me as I revisit episode 84, and we go through what it takes to create a Sales Funnel that works for your space.

Link to show notes here.

In this episode, Casey and I discuss:

Current market trends such as health and safety protocols, virtual tours, digital memberships.
Landlords are quickly becoming more entrepreneurial in their approach to creative deal structures such as management agreements and hybrid leases. Some landlords are willing to assume more risk and provide more TI for a long-term commitment.
Current opportunities: Second generation and “dark” space coming back to market - some with great build-outs, good deal terms, FFE included. Etc.
Landlords are refinancing and looking to re-fill space with more TI and support for a coworking tenant.
Potential pitfalls: Cash is King - lending markets are tight, and timing an opening to take advantage of 2021 demand.

Link to show notes here.

In this episode, Jamie Hodari and I discuss:

How he and his next door neighbor and best friend growing up started a coworking brand that now has over 100 locations
His perspective on their portfolio mix (gateway vs. non-gateway markets)
His commitment to management agreements
How he was totally wrong about whether or not they should locate in malls
His prediction on when enterprises will start giving budgets for coworking space use
His perspective on commodity flex space vs. serviced shared workspace
What WORC is up to
The challenge of being a CEO during a pandemic
The unexpected flair in "get out of NYC" rental house

Link to show notes here.

Felicia Rubinstein, founder of HAYVN Coworking and Sonny Goodall, Co-Founder of Fireworks Coworking, just celebrated their one-year anniversary as coworking space operators.

They share their coworking stories, the members that they best serve, lessons learned, and why coworking has been such a rewarding part of their lives.

Link to show notes here.

Angela Garland shares how she runs a workspace + coffee bar, plays the role of property manager for her landlord, and launched a drive-through coffee trailer that went gangbusters during COVID.

Link to show notes here.

Kerri and her husband wanted to start a business and they wanted to make it a family affair. They roped in Faith and Johnny and opened their first Office Evolution Franchise in the Houston Energy Park on June 15, 2020.

They are leveraging their corporate super powers and their intensely aligned interests to build their community and fill their space.

Link to show notes here.

Have you wondered how a community manager fills his/her day or if you're keeping yours focused on the right things?

Your Communty Manager is the heart and soul of your business.

Typically they drive both sales (tours) and retention (community building).

They do some heavy lifting in your business.

They also do about 100 small things every day that keep your space humming and your members happy.

In this episode, we talk about the "hats" of a typical CM, and how they spend their days.

Link to show notes here.

In this episode, Mark and I Discuss:

What does leadership mean?
Who is a leader?
What does it mean to lead?
How do we lead through times of crisis when we feel like we are in early leadership stages?
What are your favorite sources of leadership development and inspiration?

For the full show notes Click Here

In this episode, Mike and I Discuss:

Global coworking space revenue vs. March 2020
Global meeting room revenue vs. March 2020
Creative approaches operators are taking to replace meeting room revenue
Technology operators are using to create super simple and safe meeting room reservations
High tech and low-tech ways to signal safety to members as they come back to the space

For the full show notes Click Here

In this episode, Craig and I Discuss:

The 2019 GWA Industry Benchmark Survey
Overview of respondents and how that might impact the data (size, years in business)
The value of benchmarking data for operators trying to get a sense of how to model out a coworking pro forma
How might our view of this data be impacted by COVID-19?
How might product mixes shift going forward vs. what we see in the survey results?
Membership tenure by product type (coworking, dedicated desk, office)
What the data says about marketing tactics and the relative effectiveness

For the full show notes Click Here

We are living through some character-building times. Some of you have experienced great loss and devastation this year living through COVID-19 and the senseless loss of black lives.

We are all processing 2020 in our personal lives. As business owners, we are often in leadership positions because of our visibility and role in content creation and dissemination. We shape communities, cultures and content. Like it or not, members in our community are watching us and some are following us.

This is a time of great reflection on our role as leaders.

Link to show notes here.

Enerspace Palo Alto is closing on May 31 (unrelated to COVID-19). What a milestone. But you should know I'm one of those crazy people that craves change and big problems to solve. I also look forward to more focus on serving YOU. In this episode, I share 10 lessons that I've learned over the last 8 years as a coworking space owner.

Link to show notes here.

I am a Donald Miller junkie. He is the author of the Storybrand framework which I would describe as "life changing." One of my Coworking Startup School students named her dog after him. No joke. Donald Miller talks about "Internal and External" problems. He argues that our businesses might be designed to solve "external" problems (i.e, I need an office), but we humans hit the "buy button" to solve internal problems (i.e., I feel more professional when I have an office to go to.). I want to challenge you to not forget about the internal problems we solve when you're talking to potential customers. It's easy to get caught up in the challenges of de-densification and health and safety protocols. But the humans have needs beyond avoiding germs. That's what they're showing up to solve.

Link to show notes here.

By this time, you've probably watched your share of webinars about the impact of COVID-19 on commercial real estate. They are generally helpful but likely a bit high-level and still leave you wondering...but what do I actually need to DO? Mara Hauser has a unique super-power. She owns a commercial interiors design firm and is CEO of 25N Coworking with locations around the U.S. This combination of expertise and her no-nonsense style created her "Back to Business" guide for coworking spaces.

For the full show notes click here.

Are you thinking about starting a coworking space or managing through this crazy season and wondering if you should continue with your expansion plans?

In this episode, I go through a SWOT Analysis of the coworking industry. I review the "internal" strengths and weaknesses and the external opportunities and threats based on a wide range of inputs from industry players.

My conclusion? Have a listen!

Link to show notes here.

Charlie Morris is the Practice Leader for Flexible Office Solutions team at Avison Young. We talk about: - Avison Young's approach to serving their constituencies with flexible office solutions. - What the transition period will look like for both flexible office users and operators? - What the "new normal" look like for both flexible office users and operators. - The success factors for operators surviving the COVID-19 global pandemic. - Activating closer relationships between operators and asset owners.

For the full show notes Click Here

Navigating the SBA loan application process for a coworking space can be challenging. Amanda Lewan, co-founder of Bamboo Detroit and Hasan Mirjan, founder of SpherePad and then SphereMail, share tips for success based on their own experience.

For the full show notes click here

Interested in learning more about taking your community digital (and monetizing it?) - Jessica shares Groundswell’s experience pivoting to an online, digital membership the second her doors closed. The digital membership levels mirrored her physical membership tiers, but added unique value to her members beyond the one-size-fits-all Zoom webinars model. - How Jess knew where to start and how to act quickly to make a transition from physical to virtual. - Why this is the perfect time to craft and test a digital membership - How digital memberships can help you to serve more entrepreneurs without expanding your physical space. - Why scaling doesn’t HAVE to look like additional physical locations. Grab our resources at coworkinggoesdigital.com!

For the full show notes click here

If you are working on opening a coworking space, the single most important step you can take to ensure your success is to determine very precisely the profile of your target member. If you do that, and then make all following decisions based on that profile, then you are set up for success. If you already operate a coworking space, your target member has been tested. This is a great time to ask yourself: Have you attracted your target member or sort of a mish-mash of profiles? Are you happy with your membership make-up? Or is this an opportunity to clarify your target member and re-enter the market with a crystal-clear offering and messaging? Is your target member as profitable as you need them to be to make your business sustainable?

For the full show notes click here

Stew grew up near Seattle with a love of working on cars...but not outside in the driveway during rainy season....and storing all the tools was becoming an issue...so he created Stew's Self-Service Garage.

Stew’s Self Service Garage is your oasis in the middle of an auto repair desert. Fix your car yourself, save money, and Be Your Own Mechanic!

Stew shares his story, details about his business model and his plans for the future.

For the full show notes click here

This episode talks about:

Why we should all be optimistic.
Leading your team, members and community through uncertain times.
Switching membership engagement from physical to virtual
Getting ahead of the really bad days (plan like they're coming!)
Why you should not stop marketing.

Link to show notes here.

Larry's case studies of the purpose-driven ecosystems he's helped to facilitate in Chicago, are some of the most inspiring stories I've heard yet around the significant outcomes that can be achieved by bringing the right communities of people together.

For the full show notes click here.

It's important to continue the conversation on the Coronavirus. Let's talk about:

What is happening in markets with higher numbers of cases?
What are the risks and what can we do to mitigate these risks?
What can we do to keep our members safe?
What can we do to mitigate the economic impact?

For the full blog post that corresponds with this episode, click here.

Don is an OG in the coworking world. He co-founded COCO Coworking and Fueled Collective.

He's now working on select strategic projects, one of them being the Pro platform offered by LIquidSpace.

More large employers are embracing coworking, but they don't approach their space search the same way that small businesses do.

Someone in corporate real estate may place 20 teams across the country. They need a one-stop platform to find space for all of their needs vs. working one-to-one with independent operators.

LiquidSpace Pro aggregates independent operators, giving them access to the enterprise demand and making it easy for the enterprise customers to find great, local space for their employees.

Link to show notes here.

Flip Howard ran a dry cleaning business at SMU out of an executive suite office. He thought that business looked a lot more interesting than the dry cleaning business.He sold that business to the guy that went on to create Tom's shoes! Today Flip has over 20 locations and 70 employees, including several "lifers" to whom he credits much of the brands success. "The team is everything," Flip declared in our conversation. He shares his team structure both at the location level and centrally. Flip also shares his experience surviving 2 recessions and a recent re-brand. He also shares his unique approach to winning in a crowded Dallas market.

For the full show notes click here.