Why A Business Plan?
A business plan is an essential document for any new business. You need a guiding document that can focus your team, your effort, and your financials.
Whether you want to focus on freelancers or corporates, look for investors or self-fund, you need a document that will focus your efforts and help you stay on track for your goal. A business plan is your road map to a successful coworking or flexible workspace.
(An important note to keep in mind is “successful” is not the same as “profitable.” 😉)
The business plan can be as formal or informal as you like (depending on who you’ll be showing it to), but it should include some key pieces of information. What pieces of information depend on a number of factors, but there’s no better place to start than by looking at business plans from established coworking spaces. Some that we can recommend are:
Typical Structure
A business plan does not have a required structure or length, so don’t fixate on getting the right word count. Instead, fixate on getting the boiled down, essential information with all the supporting details, outlines, and vision to make it sing. Before you start writing a 200-page business plan, we’d recommend that you check with the recipient to see if that’s what they’re expecting!
Common elements of a business plan include:
Business Description
What is a coworking space? What problems are you trying to solve? What is special about your coworking space? Where will the money come from—what amount of your income will come from memberships, events, or recurring services? Don’t expect the reader to bring in outside information, sell them on why your idea stands out.
Industry Background
How is coworking growing in your country and area? Do you have any growth data? Getting in touch with other coworking space managers in your region is a good idea. Alternatively, you can always check Google and LinkedIn coworking groups and check for old threads or better yet, ask the question yourself! There is an annual coworking survey done by Deskmag which is an excellent place to find information about growth, even though it is mostly focused on the German market.
Environment
Where will the space be? What makes this location great? What else is in the area? What is the demographic of people in this area? The more specific you can get, the better, but leave room for adjustments as things change.
Competitor Analysis
Are there other coworking spaces in the area? Are there other open work cafes or business centres close by? What makes your space a better option and what is your competitive advantage? Be honest—you don’t want to downplay your competitors, you want to demonstrate your deep knowledge of their operations.
Market Analysis
Who is your target customer? How many of these customers are there in your area and how will you attract them? Where are your future customers currently working? How can you help them achieve their goals?
Marketing Plan
How will you reach your potential customers?
Think through a few steps:
- What is your main message?
- Who are you trying to reach and what do you have to offer them?
- What channels are you going to use?
- How do you convert someone who’s interested in your space into a recurring member?
If you want to learn more about coworking marketing, subscribe to our Coworking Marketing Weekly Newsletter.
It's a no-nonsense, 5-minute weekly read. Each issue contains easy-to-understand breakdowns and infographics, as well as advice from other coworking operators and professionals around the globe.
Operations Plan
How will you manage the space? This is the place to dive into the functions of your space. How many staff members will you need? What are your opening hours going to be? How will you manage access? How many desks are allocated to flex members? It’s important to show that you have thought of all the little details and have a thorough understanding of what it will take to operate your space.
Financial Plan
How much money do you already have to get started? How much money do you need to get started and how will you spend it? Where and how will you find the rest of the capital needed to start your coworking space? How will you return it? When do you expect to start being profitable? How much money do you think you will make each month? What can go wrong? What is your exit strategy?
Some of this will be guesswork, but you should be as realistic and data/numbers focused as you can be.
This section is especially important if you are looking for funding.
Additional resources
Legal Checklist
Check out our Legal Requirements to Open a Coworking Space (1-Page Checklist) for a quick and easy overview on the legal requirements you must pay attention to when starting a coworking space.
You can also explore our resources or dive into our blog for additional resources.
If you are in the early stages of starting a coworking space, using a coworking management software will give you unrivaled freedom and operational flexibility. Try Cobot for free or contact one of our friendly team-members in your preferred language
FAQ on Writing a Coworking Business Plan
Why do I need a business plan for a coworking space?
A business plan focuses your team, effort, and finances. It is the roadmap for launching and operating a successful coworking or flexible workspace, even when "successful" does not always mean "profitable."
How long should my business plan be?
There is no required length. Keep it as formal or informal as your audience needs, and prioritize clear, essential information over word count.
Is there a typical structure I should follow for my coworking business plan?
Common sections include: Business Description, Industry Background, Environment (location), Competitor Analysis, Market Analysis, Marketing Plan, Operations Plan, and Financial Plan.
What should I cover in the Business Description section?
Explain what your space is, the problems you solve, what makes you different, and your revenue mix (memberships, events, services). Do not assume outside context, sell the idea clearly.
What is important in a Competitor Analysis for coworking?
Identify coworking spaces, open work cafes, and business centers nearby. Be honest about their strengths and articulate your competitive advantages with real insight.
How should I approach Market Analysis and Marketing Plan?
Define your target customers, where they work today, and how you will reach them. Clarify your message, channels, and conversion path from interest to recurring membership. You can also subscribe to the Coworking Marketing Weekly Newsletter for ideas.
What belongs in the Operations Plan for a coworking space?
Cover staffing, hours, access control, desk allocation, and day to day workflows. Show you understand the details required to run the space smoothly.
What should the Financial Plan include?
State available capital, required funding, spending plans, path to profitability, monthly projections, risks, and exit strategy. Be realistic and numbers driven, this is critical if you are seeking funding.