Is Opening A Coworking Space Without A Community A Huge Mistake?

Why 90% of Coworking Founders Burn Out (Don't Go It Alone)

Don't go it alone when building your coworking space. Actually, don't go it alone when creating anything. I don't mean people need to work directly on your project—they just need to be around. Take the London Coworking Assembly. Members chat about everything from rooftop installations to coffee machines to member management. These aren't things you'd Google or find on Wikipedia. You need real conversations with real people who've been there. Same with the London Writers Club. People consistently say they achieve more sitting around that table than they ever would working from home alone. Here's the thing: taking care of ourselves—mentally, physically, creatively—whilst standing up to all the chaos happening right now is so much easier when you've got people around you. The isolation will break you before the business challenges do. So what? Community isn't a nice-to-have for coworking founders. It's survival equipment. If you're building an independent coworking space and feeling the weight of going solo, my Community Builder's Email Engine shows you exactly how to build the relationships that sustain both you and your space. #coworking  #communityisthekey #coworkinglondon Subscribe to Coworking Community Builder Daily [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1739560903385s] on Soundwise [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1739560903385s]

Stop Booking Celebrity Speakers for Your Events (Do This Instead)

The Celebrity Speaker Trap That's Hurting Your Events You're spending too much time, money, and energy chasing rock star speakers to wow your crowd. Yes, celebrity speakers draw crowds—I've worked at plenty of events where people queue to touch the clothes of famous authors and industry darlings. But here's what that doesn't do: build community. Post-COVID, when people show up to events, they're not hunting for another talking head they can already watch on YouTube, read in books, or hear on seventeen different podcasts. They're seeking something you can't get from content: genuine connection, meaning, and change through real human interaction. The real value isn't in who's on your stage—it's in who's sitting next to each other in your audience and whether they leave having built something together. The So What? Your event's success isn't measured by how famous your speakers are, but by how many meaningful connections happen between the people who show up. #coworking  #communityisthekey #coworkinglondon Subscribe to Coworking Community Builder Daily [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1739560903385s] on Soundwise [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1739560903385s]

Is Opening A Coworking Space Without A Community A Huge Mistake?

I've watched this mistake countless times: someone opens a coworking space, then scrambles to find members. The smart operators flip this completely. They gather their community before they need desks to fill. Here's why this works: When you bring people together first, they bond. They get to know each other. They start solving problems together. Then you build your space around what they actually need. Your offer becomes crystal clear because it's shaped by real people with real problems. The folks who need what you're building will join. The ones who don't will stick around anyway—they're part of the community now. You end up with a space built for people who need it, not a space built hoping someone will want it. #coworking  #communityisthekey #coworkinglondon Subscribe to Coworking Community Builder Daily [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1739560903385s] on Soundwise [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1739560903385s]

5 Big Mistakes Killing Your Coworking Space

The five biggest mistakes that coworking community builders make. Building a thriving coworking community is an art. But even the best intentions can be derailed by a few common, yet critical, mistakes. Are you falling into any of these traps? Selling an Empty Promise: Don't sell the idea of a community before it exists. First, build your core group of members. Their energy, connections, and stories are the real, authentic vibe you can then share with the world. Forgetting True Hospitality: Hospitality isn't a £20,000 coffee machine. It's the simple, human art of making every single member feel seen, heard, and genuinely welcome. It’s the small things that make the biggest difference. Ignoring Inclusion: Be intentional about building a true community, not an exclusive clique. A space that actively welcomes people from all backgrounds is a space that will thrive. Having Messy Communication: Your communication must be crystal clear. Members should never have to guess what's happening, when to show up, or how to get involved. A simple, reliable process builds trust and engagement. Chasing Growth Over Quality: A room of 100 disconnected individuals is a failure. A group of 20 deeply connected members is a success. Always, always prioritise the quality of your connections over the quantity of your members. Ready to dive deeper and build a lasting community? We've created a free 5-day email course to help you avoid these pitfalls and build a community with confidence. 5 Biggest Mistakes Coworking Community Builders Make (And How to Avoid Them) Sign up for free here: londoncoworkingassembly.com #coworking  #communityisthekey #coworkinglondon Subscribe to Coworking Community Builder Daily [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1739560903385s] on Soundwise [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1739560903385s]

Why Most Coworking Spaces Fail Fast

The harsh reality: 20% of UK businesses fail within two years. 60% don't make it past five. When you're opening your coworking space, you get caught up in the excitement — finding the perfect spot, kitting it out, getting all the kit in. It's knackering work. But here's what nobody tells you: opening is like launching a book. Writing it feels like the hard bit, but all the real graft comes in promoting it. And you've got to keep promoting, constantly. In a way, you're always launching. So how do you avoid becoming another statistic? Three things I've seen help (no guarantees, but they're worth trying): Get together with other operators. Share war stories about what's working and what's bollox. You're not competing — you're all just trying not to go under. Watch your cash flow like a hawk. Boring as paint drying, but it's what keeps the doors open. Keep learning, but stay relevant. Not about AI on Mars or whatever magic's trending. What matters to you in the next 12 weeks? Stick to that. #coworking  #communityisthekey #coworkinglondon Subscribe to Coworking Community Builder Daily [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1739560903385s] on Soundwise [https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1739560903385s]