Tag Archives: Coworking

To Profit or Not to Profit

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[This post was started 2 weeks after C4 Workspace opened in June 2009. It was intended to explain how the space worked and how it needed to operate.]

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.

More Than a Rented Desk

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Here’s something to get your New Year started. The operative word is “New”.

“Coworking for Your Small Business is More Than a Rented Desk“ is a post from a favorite company, Outright.com. (We use Outright for our C4 Workspace bookkeeping and I use it at DoingMedia as well.)

Read the whole article but here’s the themes:

  • Coworking is Community
  • Coworking is Collaboration
  • Coworking is Commerce

Hmm, just like our Four C’s!

So add coworking to your list of resolutions.

Coworking Across Texas

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The thing about coworking is that it is Everywhere!

C4 Workspace is the only space in San Antonio (right now). Austin just added their 8th space (that’s like more than 7, less than 9) and the first space in Austin just doubled it’s space. Dallas has six spaces from downtown to Flower Mound. The first space in Texas is Creative Space in Bryan, and they’re growing as well. And Houston checks in with 3 spaces.

C4 Workspace members can visit almost any space in Texas, or across the U.S., (or around the world for that matter) for free under the Coworking Visa program. So anywhere you go, there it is. Check out this map of over 400 spaces in the U.S. and around the world.

But before you travel around the world to cowork set a reminder to try it out first close to home. Work Solo, Not Alone.

Coworking? There’s an App for That!

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Yes!

Just read about this on the Coworking Google Group and I couldn’t wait until it got released!

Our coworking colleagues in San Francisco at Parisoma have created the iPhone Coworking App. It identifies over 394 coworking spaces around the world. They have just applied to the iTunes store and are awaiting approval. And…from the discussion on the Group an Android App has just been started.

The app will be uber handy while you’re traveling. In addition to mapping out spaces around the world it will also let you know which coworking spaces take part in the Coworking Visa program.

[The Coworking Visa program allows C4 Workspace members to work for free for up to 3 days at other participating spaces around the world.]

We’ll let you know when it hits the iTunes store!

Coworking as Political Platform Plank

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There is a large community of coworking space operators out here and we use the Coworking Google Group to stay in touch. Angel Kwiatkowski, the operator of the CoHere Coworking Community in Fort Collins, posted about this a week ago. Peter Carr, independent candidate for governor of Colorado, has added coworking as a plank in his platform. Cool.

Here’s his proposal about how coworking can stimulate business.

“I propose a merger of private entrepreneurs, coworkers, state business development officials and venture capitalists that will establish and maintain an incubator/coworking center in every county in Colorado. If you currently work in Denver or Boulder, I would encourage you to spend some time at a center, Colorado is a great place to see, and a week’s working vacation wouldn’t hurt. I”m a firm believer in “Pay it Forward”.

The centers would afford existing entrepreneurs currently working at home the ability to meet others, share ideas, and work in a far more conducive atmosphere.”

Pretty forward thinking if you ask me. Or it could be hot air. What do you think? Comment below!

Coworking and Coffee Shop Tips

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It's all about balance

Lisa Barone at Outspoken Media has some great tips for coworkers and coffee shoppers alike. A summary below but heck, go read the whole thing. Don’t miss the comments. There’s some great stuff there too.

  • Bring headphones
  • Curb chatterboxes
    • A chatterbox you brought with you
    • A chatterbox that works there
    • A chatterbox at the next table
  • Be selective about your space
  • Get around…but have a steady
  • Make friends with the owners/workers
  • Eat & drink often
    • Also, don’t forget to tip.
  • Know when to go
  • Don’t be “that guy”

KSAT 12: New Wave Of Workspace For Self-Employed

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Well, we beat out natural disasters and political scandals and made the 10 o’clock news last Wednesday night (July 14). It’s sweeps month and KSAT 12 reporter David Sears came over to get a cool, local human interest story. And what could be more human of interest than coworking?

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

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

Why Co-Working Makes Sense for Small Businesses

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Oh, this is too easy.

One of our cohorts in NYC Joe Raby from Sunshine Suites takes this on in Mashable. “Why <does> Co-Working Makes Sense for Small Businesses“? Got me stumped. Haven’t heard one good argument yet.

Yet San Antonio clings to the coffee shops. When was the last time your barista solved a technology problem for you? Or shared a referral. I’m just saying.

Give it a read and then consider what coworking could do for you.

Digital Nomad or Limbo Worker?

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There are so many different kinds of workers: cube dwellers, telecommuters, coffee shoppers, work at homes and of course coworking folk.

CNN Living covered this in an article, “Working in ‘Wi-Fi’ limbo“, a few months back and we thought we would dig it up.

Which one are you? Why do you like that over something else?

And does work Purgatory exist?

Discuss.

A Northside Coworking Space?

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We’ve been presented with an opportunity to open a C4 Workspace in the 281 corridor. But, before we do we want to see if you would be interested in using the space as your home base, full time office or as an occasional Daily Desk or Conference Room user.

So, here’s a link to a nifty Google survey. We’ve kept it pretty short and sweet.

We appreciate the time you’ll take to fill out the survey. If you leave your name and email we’ll send along a Daily Desk pass.