Where to start

Join the Coworking Google Group
Edit this wiki (pw: coworking with "o" = "0")
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Join the backchannel @ irc://irc.freenode.net/#coworking!

Examples of How Coworking Spaces are Priced

We've been receiving a few emails asking how to price a coworking space. Of course, it all depends on your needs:

Is it for-profit or a non-profit?
What does the space cost you to run? (divide by the number of people it holds)
What is the average cost for workspace in your area and can you make this more affordable?

TaraHunt mentioned a simple formula on the mailing list:

Break even model: (Cost of space x 1.5 = total cost of space) / (number of square feet / 100 = number of desks) = Cost per desk
Profitable model: (Cost of space x 3 = cost of space and then some) / (number of square feet / 100 = number of desks) = Cost per desk

For some cities, like New York, office space costs $4psf/month, so expect monthly desk rates like $600+, which is a relative bargain. Remember that we are still 'competing' with coffee shops, which are, basically, free if you don't count the coffee and the many muffins you will buy...although some spaces use the coffee calculation to justify their costs. For example, a $4 latte per day adds up to $80 per month. Considering you have to buy a coffee for every hour you spend at many coffee shops, you are looking at around $500/month on coffee (for just regular coffees at $2/cup six hours per day).

Of course, coworking gives you much, much more than a coffee shop replacement, but if you want to show that you can get all of that and more, it's an idea. Here are a bunch of examples of existing spaces and their pricing structures. You can find out more about what those prices include on their websites:

Workspace (Vancouver)

$695 Private Desk (Available September '07)

$545 Full Membership

$445 4 Days/wk Membership

$345 3 Days/wk Membership

$245 2 Days/wk Membership

$145 1 Days/wk Membership

$95 Evening & Weekend Membership

http://abetterplacetowork.com/membership

The Hive Coop (Denver)

$349/Month for the Anchor Plan

$199/Month for the Hotdesk Plan