Dream of starting your own coworking space? We asked an expert to guide us through what you need to do to make it a reality
Coworking spaces are on the rise. But have you ever thought about starting your own? From interior design (to central heating!) there are a number of important considerations to bear in mind. We spoke to David Norman, founder of boutique coworking space Beehive, to find out the key steps to making your dream of opening a coworking space become a reality, and what it takes to create a tranquil working environment in the heart of the city.
“I think London is finally realising the benefits that come with having autonomy over the work day: being able to choose where you work, how you work and for how long,” says Norman. “With the Beehive coworking space I hoped to create a space where like-minded people could find that freedom along with inspiration in a beautiful and non-corporate environment.”
How to start your own own coworking space – a guide
Step 1: Decide on an aesthetic identity
Step 2: Find a space
Step 3: Interior design
Step 4: Get the word out
Step 5: Provide a service you believe in
Step 6: Summary
Step 1: Decide on an aesthetic identity
“I think it’s very important to create an aesthetic identity for a co-working space, something that makes you stand out amongst all the others,” says Norman.
He adds: “For example, Beehive is situated inside a renovated Victorian warehouse. We therefore made sure to stay true to the building’s industrial nature but added a minimalist modern edge to it. This helped to create a calm and inspiring environment that makes the Beehive different to the often frantic and impersonal corporate co-working spaces that are popping up all over London.”
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Step 2: Find a space
“Location is of paramount importance,” says Norman. “The truth is that most people will decide which space to join primarily based on the length of their commute.”
He adds: “But pinning down a space is perhaps the hardest part of the journey as the space really is everything. Deciding your general location should be the first move then scouring online resources like Gumtree and Zoopla can be productive. Also, physically going to the area and knocking on the doors of potential sites is a good idea.”
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Step 3: Interior design
“It’s going to cost more than you budgeted so you need to be extremely resourceful,” says Norman. “Don’t expect things to be easy and don’t be afraid to ask people for help when things get hard. Most importantly choose quality over convenience and remember that you are providing a luxury service to people, so make sure it is the best that it can possibly be.”
Step 4: Get the word out
Norman says: “Events are a great way of getting people into your space, a launch party is a must! Aside from that, advertising online and having a strong Google presence is very important. In terms of building the community, I’ve found that group nights out as well lots of cakes are a good starting point.”
Step 5: Provide a service you believe in
“I’m by no means a business expert but in my opinion it’s important to be doing something you genuinely love and providing a service you really believe in,” says Norman. “That way when the obstacles present themselves you’ll have the heart to find a way to overcome them. Aside from that, some final advice:
- Never pay the builder before the job is done
- Get an architect / designer in to maximise the space’s potential
- Remember you see flaws that other people won’t
- Be prepared to improvise
- You will need more radiators than you think!
Summary
If you want to start your own coworking space, one of the first things to establish is the aesthetic identity of the space – a question to ask yourself is: “What kind of working environment am I trying to create?” Next: locate a space and make sure you kit it out with an appropriate design concept. Once the space is ready, you’ll need to get the word out and build a community around your hub. And finally, the key to overcoming any problems is to make sure you’re providing a service you really believe in.
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