I started coworking because I like working with other people and I have found that I don’t like working alone at home. So, when I heard about the coworking concept I thought “This is for me!” Coworking seemed like just the place I was looking to work in. Not only a workstyle I wanted to adopt but a “place”. A place to work in for a long time.

To stereotype myself I am not a typical coworking space catalyst or owner. After working professionally for 25 years I think of myself at mid career. To stereotype a bit, most coworking space catalysts are older Gen Y. You might say “hipsters.” So, now back to the whole profit thing.

Profit for Purpose

In order to work in a coworking space for a long time it needs to be like a perpetual motion machine. It needs to sustain itself over time through the actions of the community. Coworking spaces are not like any other traditional business investment, at least not the typical “I want my return as soon as possible; did my investment go up in value and/or deliver dividends this quarter, this month, this week, in the last hour.” It is, and can only be, a long term investment in the community.

Not One Business

It is many businesses together. It has much more in common with a co-op or an incubator. The “profit and loss” formula should be nearly break even, with just enough profit to fund larger capital improvements.

Many businesses. Working together. Collaboration is one of the core coworking values.

Coworking spaces that fully embrace the value of community are not owned by anyone. They may be funded by individuals and other sources but they are “owned” by the community.

How C4 Workspace Got/Gets Its Groove On

It was funded by three people: Todd O’Neill, Debbie Curtis and Perla Escobar.

It was created by : Steve Vanderver, Chris McDermott, Regina Villalobos, Dan Hong, Bo Lora, Bob Hotard, Erik Bosse, Patti Porter, the Blevin family, the Price family and many others.

It is hosted day-to-day by Debbie Curtis, and marginally, Todd O’Neill, and all the other people working in the space.

Its is sustained by Resident members Calley Gonzalez, Stacy Pape, Todd O’Neill, the Media Justice League; Coworker members Sofia Parafina, Knowbility, Susana Canseco and Brandon Seale; and regular Daily Desk folks like Patti Porter, Brian Dopp and others.

So you see there are a lot of moving parts.

ROI of C⁴ Workspace?

Does a return on investment exist for a coworking space? If it is sustainable, yes. Part of the overhead expense goes to repaying the initial capital with an agreed return. So that’s either a loan or an investment, depending how you look at it and how it was structured. The bigger picture here is it a sustainable member of the community?

Can a sustainable coworking space, that embraces the core values of collaboration and community, exist in San Antonio? That story is being told.

It is important for San Antonio that this coworking story has a happy ending. Not just a happy ending for the “Northern Wedge” but for the entire city.

(Here’s a link to the story on the KSAT 12 site.)

Thanks to Debbie, Regina, Erik , Drew and Key for the cameos!

How it Works

Seminars and workshops are a great way to use your knowledge to provide value to people (read: grow your business) It shows that you’re an “expert” in your field. The SMARTEE program helps brand you as that expert. And FREE space keeps your costs to a minimum. But it’s only for C4 Workspace members.

Details! Details!

Here’s the deal.

Get Started

• Create your topic
• Schedule the event 4 weeks in advance
• Determine time slot; lunch, evening, weekend, etc.
• Put together an outline and description for promotion
• Get a C4 Workspace logo to include in your marketing
• Invite members, clients, prospects, and the community.

A Few Suggestions

• Focus your topic
• Keep it basic to the intermediate level
• Plan sessions to be interactive
• Make handouts valuable
• Charge for longer sessions – give specific outcomes
• Sell or giveaway bonus materials
• Reveal your ninja abilities with Q & A time

What Else?

• SMARTIE^® Candy for everyone!
• Stickers, if we can get it together
• Extra promotion on Facebook, Twitter, blah, blah, blah and C4 blog, C4 Press List, and Flyer in C4 Window

Why???

C4 Workspace is a place for members to work and grow their business. Workshops are a great way to make that happen. Having more people in the space is good for everyone.

By working together we create new opportunities!

Call now! Operators are standing by!

By night, a groovy, hip happening place!

We wanted from the start to have events in our space. It connects us to the community, exposes people to our members and evangelizes coworking in general. We’ve been blessed with lots of great events since we opened. And we’ve made lots of new friends and new connections.

Here’s a summary of events for 2009. Keep up with our events at our Calendar page or on our Facebook Fan Page.

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Office

It doesn’t mater if you’re a full time resident or a Daily Desk drop in, every nickel of your coworking expense is deductible. Whether you call it “Rent” or “Office Expense” it can all come off the bottom line. I’ve had a home office for many years. I was often scared to deduct the expense of it because of “audit fear.” And the record-keeping for utilities, mortgage expense, etc. were a hassle. At a coworking space all of that is moot. You deduct one expense and the rest is included. And your clients don’t have to go through the dining room to get to your office. And the dining room doesn’t also double as the “conference room.”

Auto

Unless you’re a full or part time resident at space like C4 Workspace you should be able to deduct all of your driving expense to and from. You can use the mileage method or the all expense method by keeping receipts for everything car related. You never have to worry about “parking” since the parking free at C⁴ Workspace, either in the parking lot or on the street. The bummer on the mileage expense deduction is that it will go down next year from 55 cents in 2009 to 50 cents in 2010. Seems like an incentive to take public transit or ride a bike. Which are also deductible one way or another.

Meals and Entertainment

We’re luck y at C⁴ Workspace in that we have lots of great, cheap restaurants nearby (moderate and expensive ones too) to entertain clients or to talk about collaborating on a project. You can deduct 50% of the cost of a meal. (And have you tried the sandwiches next store at The Filling Station? You’ll never have a lunch meeting anywhere ever again!)

Legal and Professional Services

Part of coworking is discovering new resources and partners. If you hire or contract with another professional you meet at C⁴ Workspace you can deduct that expense.

Insurance

Like every business we have an insurance policy to cover the space or accidents. And that’s deductible. We also encourage anyone who works in the space to have their own insurance on the equipment they bring in. This is especially true for Residents who have a full time desk. They should have something like a renter’s insurance policy for their stuff. And that’s deductible. (And, coincidentally, we have a member, Joe Solis, who is a business insurance specialist. You just never know who you’ll meet when you cowork!)

Start-Up

C⁴ Workspace is a start-up business and we had lots of expenses to get the place open. Lord knows we’ll be deducting them! But, if you’re starting a business there are certain expenses that you can deduct to get started. They may include some of your operating expenses before you open your doors. But if start up capital is tight it doesn’t matter if you can deduct it or not. Coworking is perfect for a new business that needs a very affordable professional location. You pay rent for your desk and the infrastructure like a conference room, internet, utilities, even a printer, are thrown in. And you get an opportunity to meet contacts and do some targeted marketing for cheap. Such a deal!

* This is the time of year when you can play catch up on some deductible business expenses. In fact you can deduct an expense this year for a service you use in 2010. The basic rule is that you need to spend the money or write the check in 2009. So, if you need a workspace occasionally this would be a good time to pick up a 5 Pack of Daily Desk passes ($90). If you need a workspace on a regular basis then a Coworker Desk Plan ($150/month for unlimited business hours) might the right thing. And if one of your resolutions is to get a professional presence for your business then a Resident Desk Plan ($280/month for 24/7 access) might be the right step. And if you just want to get started coworking then an annual membership at $50 (including 2 Daily Desk passes) would be just the, uh, ticket.

Nothing in this article should be considering accounting advice. In fact, even as a advice you should take it with a grain of salt. You should definitily consult with an accountant or financial adviser whenever you try to negotiate the labyrinth we know as the “U.S. Tax Code.”

C⁴ Workspace will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. If you need to get away from the retail insanity on Saturday the 26th (after picking up wrapping paper on deep discount) we’ll be open from 9 am to 1 pm as usual.

Next week we’ll be open Monday the 28th through Thursday the 31st from 8:30 am to 6 pm. And since New Year’s Day is on First Friday this year we’ll have our monthly First Friday Open House from 5 pm to 8 pm.

If you don’t have to work we hope you’ll enjoy the season and spending the time with your family and friends. We will!

C⁴ Workspace is just like that. Check out our new Member Skills and Talents page. If you’re looking for someone to help out with a project you’re likely to find them there. And if you find something missing that is a skill you have to offer it might give you some food for thought (“Why don’t I join?”).

So check out the page and then come down and rub elbows with these folks. You never know what will develop.

Members: If you see an error or omission on the list let us know and we’ll update it. If you don’t see yourself listed that means we just don’t know what you do. Tell  us and we’ll add you!

We’re now over 75 members! And so diverse! Come on down and check it out if you haven’t before. You never know what will happen.

Here’s the latest! Welcome everyone!

Coworkers

• Chris Adolph, Chubb Financial
• Deanne Cuellar, Texas Media Justice League
• Frank Enriquez, Attorney at Law
• Celeste Diaz Ferrarro, PaxMundi Consulting
• Mike Henry, RobotNext
• Meagan Jawshan, Boston Brewing Company (Samuel Adams)
• Venus Prado, LPC – healing and arts facilitator
• Joe Solis, Luxor Insurance; Latino Networking Breakfast
• Phil West, Luminaire
• Joel Ziegler, Ziegler Photography

Community

• Christine Chapa, Solar San Antonio – non-profit communications professional
• Cathy Colmenares – marketing and social media consultant; non-profit and Hispanic market expertise
• Rex Cruse – entrepreneur
• Diane Duesterhoeft, St. Mary’s University – library science
• George Riley, TED.com – software architecture
• Donna Tuttle, San Antonio Business Journal – journalist, project manager