Key parameters to consider before launching a space, from community building to profitability target

This 2019 conference deck by Vanessa Sans of HWL outlined ten areas that were considered before launching a coworking space. It organised the process into analysis, results and implementation phases. The analysis phase covered property analysis, market analysis, architecture and design, and the business model. The results phase addressed identity and brand, the management model and technology, while implementation covered manuals and protocols, the management team and launching. The property section examined the location and surrounding area, the dimensions and configuration of the premises, the relationship with the owner, the lease duration and whether the property could meet licensing requirements. The market section considered the city’s economic, cultural, educational and social environment, local familiarity with coworking, neighbourhood conditions, customer demand, competitors, stakeholders, unmet needs and market positioning. A coworking canvas model divided planning into partners, activities, resources, value proposition, customer relationships, channels, customer segments, costs and revenues. Introductory slides also described Sans’s work with HWL and Betahaus Barcelona and identified her focus on workplace environments and coworking.

Key findings

• The deck organised ten launch considerations into analysis, results and implementation phases.
• Property analysis covered location, spatial configuration, lease terms, the owner relationship and eligibility for an activity licence.
• Market analysis covered local conditions, demand, competition, stakeholders, unmet needs and positioning.

Presented by Vanessa Sans, HWL, at Coworking Europe 2019