What To Do When First Starting Out?
You just signed a lease or decided you want to convert one of your spaces into a shared space. Now what?
You just signed a lease or decided to convert one of your spaces into a shared space. Now what?
So, you’ve taken the plunge. Maybe you signed your first commercial lease, or you're looking at that underused back office or spare studio wondering, “Could I turn this into a revenue-generating shared space?”
The answer is yes and you’re in the right place. However before you start buying furniture or launching your Instagram page, here’s a clear, practical roadmap that I used for what to do first.
1. Get Clear on the Business Model
Not all shared spaces are built the same. Are you planning to:
Rent by the desk, room, or hour?
Offer memberships or one-off bookings?
Cater to professionals, creatives, therapists, trainers?
Pick your initial lane because your pricing, branding, layout, and marketing will all depend on this choice. For me, I initially opted for something more general (i.e., remote professionals and service-based business owners), but if your goal is to target a niche audience that you specialize in - then lean into it fully and build your offerings around what that specific group truly needs. If you don’t have a target niche audience in mind, then it’s usually better to go with a more general audience to start. You can always niche down once you see a reoccurring customer base.
2. Map Out Your Customer Journey
Before you design your space, walk through it like a customer:
Where do they enter?
How do they book?
Will you have staff on site?
What’s the check-in process? (Are you offering 24/7 access?)
Is Wi-Fi obvious? Are bathrooms easy to find?
How do customers contact support if they have issues?
A seamless customer experience turns first-timers into repeat users, so it’s important to nail these points early. Things like intuitive booking, clear signage, fast Wi-Fi, and a welcoming atmosphere can make the difference between someone never coming back or becoming a loyal regular.
3. Design for Flexibility
Skip the massive built-ins. Instead, invest in:
Lightweight, moveable furniture
Modular seating arrangements
Quality and comfortable chairs (you’ll thank yourself later)
Portable whiteboards or dividers to create zones
Stackable chairs for events or overflow
Smart power solutions (like floor outlets or mobile charging stations)
You’ll want to pivot quickly as you learn who your real customers are and what they need because the people you think will use your space aren’t always the ones who actually show up. Maybe you imagined tech startups booking meeting rooms, but it turns out local therapists love using your space for client sessions. Or maybe you expected full-day desk rentals but found that most people only want to pop in for a couple of hours. The more adaptable your layout and systems are, the easier it’ll be to respond to real demand, test new offers, and keep your space booked and profitable.
4. Create Your Minimum Viable Tech Stack
Don’t overcomplicate this. We just need something can help us get started. The main things we’ll need are a marketing website to get us listed on Google, a payment processor, a shared space door access system (if offering 24/7 access and operating without staff). Start with these tools:
Squarespace or Wix (Your marketing website)
COLOCK (Shared space access management software)
Storefront platforms like Peerspace (if renting by the hour)
You can always upgrade later, but frictionless booking is a must from day one.
5. Get the Word Out: Start with Grassroots Marketing
When you're just starting out, don’t overthink your marketing. Instead just focus on getting in front of real people who might actually use your space. Some marketing efforts I did initially were:
Facebook Groups - Local Facebook groups are goldmines. Join neighborhood forums, entrepreneur meetups, freelancer groups, mompreneur networks—anywhere your ideal customer might hang out. Don’t spam. Instead, offer value: share your story, post behind-the-scenes photos, or offer a free day pass to get feedback.
Reddit Subreddit - Reddit is another underrated tool. Subreddits like r/freelance, r/entrepreneur, or even your city’s subreddit (e.g. r/nyc) can help you connect with curious locals. Answer questions, join the convo, and subtly drop your space as a resource when relevant.
Partner with Local Businesses - Think beyond just online. Partner with nearby cafés, gyms, or wellness studios. You can leave flyers at the front desk and offer bundled deals.
Other ideas worth mentioning that I tried:
Offer the space for local meetup groups and organizations for free.
Attend or sponsor small business mixers or pop-up events.
6. Talk to Your First Customers (Before You Launch)
Reach out to friends, local entrepreneurs, creatives - anyone who might use your space. Ask:
What would make a space feel worth the money?
What annoys them about other shared spaces?
What would keep them coming back?
When I first started, I launched a Kickstarter campaign that connected me with some local creatives and entrepreneurs that ended up providing valuable feedback about pricing and overall experience.
7. Get Your First 5 Users
Before you worry about a perfect brand or logo, aim for traction:
Offer a soft launch or “founding member” rate
Partner with other businesses to cross-promote
Host an open house event and tour for potential members
For me, tours were a game changer. There's something powerful about getting people to physically step into your space - suddenly, what was just an idea or a website listing becomes real. They see the light, the layout, the vibe - and more often than not, they start imagining themselves working or hosting clients there. It also gives you a chance to build rapport, ask questions, and tailor your pitch on the spot. I stopped trying to sell the space and started using tours as collaborative sessions. The more curious and helpful I was, the faster the close happened. If you’re feeling stuck on marketing or signups, start with this simple tactic: invite people in and start the conversation.
Starting a shared space is exciting but it’s also messy, scrappy, and full of pivots. The good news is you don’t need everything figured out to begin. Focus on building momentum: get clear on your model, create a flexible setup, talk to real people, and put yourself out there. Every conversation, tour, and test run brings you one step closer to a space that not only gets booked but makes people want to come back. You’ve already taken the biggest leap by getting started. Now it’s time to build, learn, and grow!