If you are running a coworking space, you can’t help but being concerned about money losses caused by global pandemic and lockdowns.
Is there any hack to keep all the seats at your coworking center occupied? This is exactly the reason why you want to read this article—we are going to uncover a revolutionary method of making money no matter the environment.
Google, Uber, REI, Zillow, Twitter, Square, and many other corporations have announced either extended remote work period for employees or even allowed people to stay at home indefinitely. Don’t you think that this is your chance to draw more well-off customers to your flexible workspace? Let’s prepare the most hooking proposition ever for them.
Why 2022 May Become a Takeoff Year for Your Business
I nearly see the doubt on your face. Agree, you have your reasons for being skeptical. Every day you hear about the coworking centers that pause their business or even go out of operation permanently. It is really difficult to retain members these days, not to mention selling new memberships.
But are you sure you are doing everything you can to stay in the business? You need to be flexible and inventive, to understand customers’ pains to win their hearts.
What Workspace Do Customers Want in 2022
Covid-19 has changed the way we think and act and things are not likely to get back to normal anytime soon, not the next year for sure. What we are trying to do is change our attitude to the situation, stay safe, and get the work done.
When corporations understood that their employees can stay productive remotely, they even discovered some benefits of running their business that way. For instance, they can save considerably on office rent and maintenance costs. So, if leasing office space makes a major part of your revenue, you are in trouble. Nobody wants to pay for the office when some of the employees are scared to come, some are sick, some must stay isolated, etc. Renting an office the way it was before is not cost-efficient today.
At the same time, companies face a huge problem with demotivated employees. People simply can’t be 100% productive, organized, and inspired staying at home all the time. Distractions, loneliness, lack of technical appliances, and a heap of other factors prevent employees from being happy and efficient.
Companies find different ways to address the problem. For example, Uber gives employees a $500 stipend to set up a home office. If you apply for a position now, HR will surely ask you about your living conditions, the possibility to work from home, or your desire to work from the coworking space.
So, as you see, the need for office space did not disappear. It just transformed into something super flexible.
To sum it up, what kind of office can fit current customers’ needs:
- It should accommodate both remote and in-office employees.
- It should be cheap but comfortable, with modern design, ergonomic furniture, and necessary equipment.
- Cleaning, disinfection, and other maintenance of hygienic norms should be taken care of.
- A community component should be present to keep employees happy.
- No long-term commitments, no risk during the uncertainty period, possibility to cancel any time.
- It should be flexible (ready to grow with the company or downscale) and agile.
Now, the idea is simple. If you could craft a perfect offer that would check all the above points, you would bring in many new customers.
Author’s note: After reading this article you will have an idea of how to do it! You can offer them a super flexible, “elastic office” of the future.
What Is a Super Flexible Office
A super flexible is an office of the future that can accommodate both remote and employees that physically come to work every day (hybrid workforce).
Imagine that you run a company of 20 people. Ideally, you need an office because having a physical address where clients can meet you and your team in person plays an important role in building trust, reputation, and brand image. Preferably, you want a premium office location.
However, it’s really stupid to rent an expensive office and sign long-term contracts with landlords these days. Actually, you will pay for maintenance of the half-empty large workspace because half of your employees don’t come every day as they work remotely.
You also can’t rent a small office because sometimes all your employees should come for a meeting, sometimes you need 70% of your team physically available, and so on. Looks like it’s impossible to match all your current needs with a regular office of a fixed size.
What you need is a super flexible office, which can grow bigger or smaller according to your daily requirements. Is it possible?
YES!
The next section will introduce the concept of a super flexible office of the future that adjusts to the tenant’s needs, meets all their requirements, and saves their money.
How Can a Coworking Space Sell an Office for 10 People to That Company of 20
Supposing, you are having a dialogue with a prospective tenant, the company of 20 we mention all the time here. You are showing them around, telling them about the amenities available at your coworking space, and opening the doors of nice offices for rent.
You: So, what is the size of your company? We have small offices for five people, medium for ten people, large for 20…
Client: We have 20 employees, how much is this office for 20?
You: $3 000 per month.
Client: This is crazy, especially when half of the employees work from home and come to the office once or twice a week.
You: Ok, what would you say about a super flexible office for ten? This will cut your expenses in half immediately, accommodate ten people that come every day, 10 remote employees that come once or twice a week, and extend for corporate meetings when the entire team is at the same place?
Client: Sounds incredible, did you find a way to the fifth dimension?
Do you see? You have almost sold an office for 10 people to a company of 20! The customer was close to the truth when they mentioned aliens and their fifth dimension. The technology I am going to introduce actually works like a key that can extend the walls.
Desk Booking System as Your Key to Fifth Dimension
In fact, you don’t need alien technology to craft a super flex office offer. A simple down-to-earth desk booking system is enough. Here’s how it works for a 20-people company that wants to pay only for 10.
- You rent them an office for 10.
- All company members download your coworking space app with its desk booking functionality inside.
- Team members that are planning to come to the office to work, book their desks for a day through the app to make sure that their workstation is waiting for them. If some people lack a desk inside the office, they can book it in the open space. They can also book skype rooms if they need some privacy for a call, and meeting rooms of different sizes for negotiations with clients, team standups, and company meetings.
- Team members use all workspace perks and pay by bill, which allows them to use services now and pay later. At the end of the month, the company manager gets a payment statement, which can be paid by any method they are comfortable with.
Want to know more about the desk booking system and why you need the one at your coworking space? Read these articles:
- Why Do You Need Desk Booking Software at Your Flexible Workspace
- How to Automate Desk Booking at a Coworking Space
Benefits of Super Flexible Approach to Workspace
As you see, your new super-flex office service can become a real bomb. It has sooo many benefits for tenants and workspace that I decided to recap some of them in this section.
Benefits for Companies
- Customers get a fully-equipped, comfortable office space in a premium location twice cheaper than expected.
- They don’t pay for empty desks, there is no need to keep them for remote employees.
- They pay only for the services they actually use. Their office space expands and gets back to the usual size at will (additional desks, skype rooms, meeting rooms, conference halls.)
- Clients can control the number of in-office employees to comply with sanitary regulations.
- Office maintenance is included in the price, customers don’t need to worry about internet connection, drinking water, or toilet paper.
- Easy-to-use technology is included. The team can discover and use all workspace perks and services, make reservations, open doors, communicate with the community, and more through the same app.
- The clients pay for the services their teams use from this very app with a selected familiar method.
- No need to sign any long-term agreements, possible to cancel at any moment.
- Customers enjoy increased team productivity and, focus on getting work done.
- The problem of remote team motivation and engagement is solved.
Benefits for Coworking Spaces
- Revenue increase. You start to get more money from renting offices that were empty for a long time.
- The new offer is fully adapted to current customers’ needs. You have a new offer that no one of your competitors is using at the moment.
- Attract new customers. You have your secret tactic to pull customers in no matter the pandemic.
- Rent more offices. Your space utilization rate is high as the main facilities are asked for again.
- Grow the coworking community. New teams that rent your offices join your coworking community. They invite their guests and clients to your workspace, which gives you additional possibilities to promote your products and draw new members.
- Leave competitors behind. Using innovative technologies and staying full during the hard times puts you ahead of the competition.
- Strengthen brand positions. Since you are helping your tenants’ businesses to solve their problems, your brand wins more trust and respect.
- No need for separate technology, desk booking is available inside the main coworking space software along with other solutions just for everything: meeting room booking, payment, membership catalog, community stream, and others.
- Easy to use both for members and managers. No booking conflicts. Members see only available desks as the system refreshes its data in real-time.
- No considerable investments. The desk booking system won’t cost you extra money. It comes in the package with the main coworking space management software. You pay per active user only, so the number of offices, meeting rooms, or locations won’t affect your bill.
What Should You Do Now
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