Your thoughts on a co-working space at a tropical place

[icestationzebra]

I'm setting up a co-working space at the moment in Melbourne Australia, just looking to break even on my rent so that I'm using the place for free practically. My main business is online retail, any profit from the office is a bonus. My rent is $400 a week and I'm going to try charging $150 a week for a desk space all inclusive. I have enough room for about 5 or 6. See how she goes.

 

[AdamC]

I'm setting up a co-working space at the moment in Melbourne Australia, just looking to break even on my rent so that I'm using the place for free practically. My main business is online retail, any profit from the office is a bonus. My rent is $400 a week and I'm going to try charging $150 a week for a desk space all inclusive. I have enough room for about 5 or 6. See how she goes.

I'm guessing you're not targeting digital nomads? will you be open 24/7 ?

 

[rusvik]

I'm setting up a co-working space at the moment in Melbourne Australia, just looking to break even on my rent so that I'm using the place for free practically. My main business is online retail, any profit from the office is a bonus. My rent is $400 a week and I'm going to try charging $150 a week for a desk space all inclusive. I have enough room for about 5 or 6. See how she goes.

Too expensive.

 

[intent]

Guaranteed some cunt will bring fish, or someone will burn whatever they are cooking, and stink out the entire office multiple times per week.

 

[avatar33]

I'm setting up a co-working space at the moment in Melbourne Australia, just looking to break even on my rent so that I'm using the place for free practically. My main business is online retail, any profit from the office is a bonus. My rent is $400 a week and I'm going to try charging $150 a week for a desk space all inclusive. I have enough room for about 5 or 6. See how she goes.

lol your numbers don't support your "wanting to break even" strategy.

Your rent is $1,600 a month yet you want to have 5-6 guys at $600 a month each.

Anyhow, $600 a month for a co-working space is way too expensive. Most places I've seen in both Canada and States are $200-$400 per month ALL included 24/7 access. (Some I've seen even lower than $200)

 

[Ronnie55]

I'm setting up a co-working space at the moment in Melbourne Australia, just looking to break even on my rent so that I'm using the place for free practically. My main business is online retail, any profit from the office is a bonus. My rent is $400 a week and I'm going to try charging $150 a week for a desk space all inclusive. I have enough room for about 5 or 6. See how she goes.

I know Australia is expensive but those prices sound crazy.

Get a bigger place, rent to more people.

I wouldn't join a coworking space with only 6 spots. Not for any kind of serious money. Id rather join a place with 20-50 members and lots of open table space, couch areas, etc. And it'd be cheaper too.

With only 6 spots, it sounds rough.. It also means that at any given moment besides peak hours, it's likely someone will be the only person working there. That's no fun. Why do coworking at all? I could just go to the public library or work at home

 

[icestationzebra]

I know Australia is expensive but those prices sound crazy.

Get a bigger place, rent to more people.

I wouldn't join a coworking space with only 6 spots. Not for any kind of serious money. Id rather join a place with 20-50 members and lots of open table space, couch areas, etc. And it'd be cheaper too.

With only 6 spots, it sounds rough.. It also means that at any given moment besides peak hours, it's likely someone will be the only person working there. That's no fun. Why do coworking at all? I could just go to the public library or work at home

Depends what you're looking for, it seems like we have different definition of co-working. I mean a shared space where you go to do your work and run your business. Somewhere to see clients instead of your mum's basement, and a separation of work and life. Why do you need 20 other people there? your ideal of collaboration will quickly fall by the wayside.

$150 is pretty standard in Melbourne, far from crazy... there's heaps of examples but here's a few.

Woollahra Studio in Woollahra | Find a Space | Creative Spaces
Bacchus Studio in Melbourne | Find a Space | Creative Spaces
Beautiful light-filled Collins St. Studio in Melbourne | Find a Space | Creative Spaces

lol your numbers don't support your "wanting to break even" strategy.

Your rent is $1,600 a month yet you want to have 5-6 guys at $600 a month each.

I didn't say I wanted 5-6 people, I said I had space for 5-6 people. I'm not naive enough to think I'll constantly have 6 renters, I might only average 2 or 3 at a time. That's the nature of short term leasing. Who knows until I put it on the market and judge the demand so I can adjust the pricing. If it doesn't work it's not a problem, I need the space for my own business anyway.

3 professional people at $150 a week is far more manageable and appealing to me than 10 cheapos at $50 a week. Remember you have to share a bathroom, a kitchen and an internet connection. For that many people I'd need fiber optic internet, bringing the cost for that alone into the hundreds a month.

 

[elgordo]

I've leased / subletted my own space, and used a ton of co-working spaces.

I've found that the co-working community itself really makes or breaks the ecosystem. I've partnered with email list providers, designers, and other vendors in the space and that is what makes co-working a huge benefit.

Rent prices are usually along the lines of: $10-20 / day or $300-500 per month for a permanent desk.

It also helps that the people who run the space are not just there to charge rent. They do stuff like:
* arrange partnerships with local vendors (CPAs, VCs, lunch spots)
* hold professional / networking events
* have interns who are there to help members

Co-working is not just renting space imo..

 

[Kelowna]

Ola amigos, i'm in the process of starting a coworking space...

Mexico? If near Cabo make sure the building is hurricane proof. May be interested in something like this for 6 months of the year. Dont forget to add good rental deals for the area...

 

[Member8200]

i would love sitting on a bench having a cold drinks and watching the sunsets with some bitches walking around. . how about that.