Everything Coworking

399. What Boutique Gyms and Play Cafes Can Teach Us About Coworking Revenue


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Coworking operators often assume that flex desks and memberships will drive the business model, but what if that's not actually true?

In this episode, I share insights from boutique gyms and play cafes that reveal how different business models generate sustainable revenue. These parallels highlight why private offices, events, and other add-ons are often the true engines of coworking profitability.

What we cover:

  • Why flex desks are often overestimated in pro formas, and why they rarely drive long-term revenue.

  • The boutique fitness analogy: why high-value services (like private offices) outperform low-cost memberships.

  • What play cafes teach us about add-ons and event revenue as reliable income streams.

  • The challenge of churn in coworking memberships and how to offset it with longer-term commitments.

  • Why operators need to look under the hood of successful models instead of assuming what's working from the outside.

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

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Everything CoworkingBy Jamie Russo

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