BusinessPlan

FlowCoworkingSpace
Illinois,USA
ExecutiveSummary
AtFlowinnovationisahabit,brainstormingisadailyactivity,andcreativityimbedsitselfin
everythingwedo.Weofferavarietyofservicesdesignedtoinspireinnovationinourclients
includingcoworking,consultingservices,andclasses.
Ourcoworkingspaceoffersourmembersacollaborative,engagingworkenvironmentthat
sharesresourcesandideas.Wewillprovideconsultingservicestobusinesseslookingtobring
freshideastotheirbranding,marketingandworkflow.
Finally,ourselectionofinteractive,experientiallearningclasseswillcovertopicssuchas
creativethinking,effectiveprojectmanagementandimprovesoindividualscandevelopskills
thatgivetheirworkandplaynewenergy.Theneedforcontinuedinnovationamongbusinesses
andindividualsalikemakeusconfidentthereisamplemarketpotentialforFlowtosucceed.Our
teamisalreadyseeingcustomerdemandsafterleadingcreativityclassesandworkshopsinour
community.
ValueProposition
Flowprovidesanewperspective.Whetherworkinginourcoworkingspace,attendingoneofour
classes,orreceivinginhouseconsultingservicesFlowcreatesanenvironmentthatfosters
innovationandideation.Inaworldwheretheonlyconstantischange,Flowhelpsourclients
developcreativehabitsthatputthemaheadofthecurrent,ensuringtheyareleadingthe
competition.
Services
Coworking:Membersofourcoworkingspacewillgetmorethanjustdeskspace.Theywill
benefitfromanengagingenvironment,sharedskillsandresources,increasedmotivation,an
expandednetworkofprofessionalcontacts,andsenseofcommunity.Theywillalsoreceive
priorityaccesstoourclasses,workshops,andsocialevents.
Classes&Workshops:Ourtalentedteamwillofferavarietyofclassesandworkshopson
creativethinking,ideationtechniques,problemreframing,presentationskills,project
management,datavisualization,andimprov.
ConsultingServices:Forbusinessesthatwantmorehandsonassistancewewillprovide
consultingservicesandemployeetraining.Servicesmightinclude:brainstormingfacilitation,
branding,innovativemarketing,workspaceandworkflowanalysis.
CustomerSegments&Relationships
AtFlowweemphasizethatourcustomersdonotmerelyworkwithus,butratherjoinourvibrant
community.Weanticipatemembersofourcoworkingspacebeingentrepreneurs,web
designers,independentbusinessowners,artists,writers,andotherprofessionalswith
nontraditionalofficeneeds.Boulderwillbeanideallocationtoattractmemberssinceitis
alreadypartofthecoworkingmovement,10.6%ofBoulderresidentsworkfromhome,andthe
cityscultureisinlinewithourvision.Oureveningclassserieswillbepromotedspecificallyto
professionalslookingtotaketheirworktothenextlevel.
InorderforFlowtoprovidevaluable,meaningfulconnectionstoitsmemberswewilldevelop
personalrelationshipswitheachofourcustomers.Memberprofileswillbedisplayed
prominentlyinourcoworkingspaceandonourwebsite.Theywillhavethechancetorequest
specificprogrammingtheywantustoofferandinfluencetheresourcesweprovide.Potential
clientswillbeassignedanappropriatelyskilledmemberofourstafftoworkwiththemthroughout
theconsultingprocessandwillhavetheopportunitytoobserveourinstructionalprocessbefore
committingtoourservices.
MarketSummary
Innovationisin.Individualsandcompaniesalikeareseekingspecializedtrainingtodevelopnew
skillsandareasofexpertise.Manycompaniesareseekingexternalsupportforcreatingan
innovativeculture,recognizinginachangingmarkettheycannotaffordtostandstill.Alex
KandybinfromBooz&Co.estimatesFortune100companiesspend$300,000to$1millionfor
innovationconsultingonasingleproject,amountingto$110millionayear.Flowwillgearour
consultingservicestosmallerbusinessesandorganizationslookingforanewangletoenhance
theirworkanduseourpersonalandprofessionalnetworkstoidentifyinterestedclients.
Theemergingcoworkingmarkethasseengrowthratesconsistentlyabove200%since2006.
Therearenow1100spacesworldwideandtwothirdsofthosespaceshaveexpandedinthe
pasteighteenmonths.Astheideaandbenefitsofcoworkingspreadthismarketwillonly
continuetogrow,with85%ofworkingspacesreportingincreasedgrowthwhenothercoworking
spacesopenintheirarea.Thisuniquetrendindicatethatforcoworkingspaces,competitionis
actuallybeneficialhelpingeachotherpromotealesserknownindustrywithuntapped
expansionpotential.
TakingOurProducttoMarket
Flowwillgeneraterevenueinthreeways:coworkingmemberships,consultingservicefees,and
registrationcostsforworkshopsandclasses.Coworkingmembershipfeeswillbebasedon
usageandcanbepurchasedassingledaypasses,bymonth(at3or5days/week),or
unlimited.Consultingservicefeeswillbeassessedonanindividualbasisandrepresentthe
levelofexpertiserequired.Asourteamgainsexperienceandareputationforqualitydeliverythe
costofconsultingwillincrease.An8week2houreveningclassoncreativethinkingand
problemsolvingwillcost$200whichistheequivalentof$12perhourofinstructionand
comparabletoclassesforphotography,webdesign,orpottery.Avarietyofotherservicesare
alsobeingconsideredbasedonourteamsareasofexpertiseincludingonsiteyogaclasses,
publicspeakingworkshops,andcomedyshows.
StrategyandImplementation
Ourteamisalreadyinvolvedinavarietyofeffortstopilotdifferentcomponentsofflow.Currently
wearehostingweeklycreativityworkshopsindowntownChampaignatQualitythatdrawan
averageoffifteenstudentsandyoungprofessionals.EileenisinstructingacourseonCreativity,
Innovation,andVision(ENG333).
WewillbehostingcreativityworkshopsattheI.D.E.A.storeinAprilandareworkingwiththe
CollegeofEngineeringtoredesignanunderusedstudentspacesothatitinvitescollaboration
andpostclassroomdiscussion.Upcomingplansincludeleadingathreepartworkshop
specificallydesignedforacademicresearchgroupsandteachingan8weekcourseoverthe
summerforcommunitymembers.Weregularlyblogaboutourcreativeinspiration,thoughts
andlinkstoarticlesthatinspireusandexpandingournetworkofpeoplewhoareinterestedin
joiningtheFlowcommunity.
Thecombinationoftheseactivitieswillprepareustotakeourproducttomarketonceweare
readytorelocate.OurteamintendstomovetoBoulder,Coloradoin2014andestablish
ourselvesaspremiercreativityconsultantsinthearea.Wewillreachourtargetmarketby
connectingwithlocalentrepreneurgroups,startups,researchteams,andlargercompanies
whoarethinkingaboutchangemanagementandhowtostayrelevantinrapidlychanging
markets.Throughthisprocesswewillidentifytentotwelveindividualswhounderstandour
visionandarewillingtobecomefoundingmembersofourcoworkingspace.Coworkingspace
ownerstestifythisisthemostcriticalelementtosuccess.
OpeningaspacewillallowustocreatetheappropriateenvironmenttofullylaunchFlow.This
workspacewillbeakeyresourcethatwillenableustoinspirecreativethinkinghabitsforour
clients.OnceFlowisestablishedinBoulder,thereisaptpotentialtoexpandourservicesto
othercitiesandbroadermarkets.
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