399. WHAT BOUTIQUE GYMS AND PLAY CAFES CAN TEACH US ABOUT COWORKING REVENUE

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

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