Hi Chris, Feel free to look up @kamal on twitter. He's a really nice guy and runs the co working space I'm working at in Malaysia called Fluent Space.
https://fluentspace.my - SengMing Tan, @sengming On Oct 30, 9:43 pm, chrisjacob <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Nathan, > > Thank you for the reply and the invitation to "pick your brain" (gotta > love the RoRo community - so helpful!). > > Basically any words of wisdom from your experiences... any got-cha's, > and even common sense things - like, "buy quality Coffee - keeps the > dev's coming back for moooooore", or "plan to buy a large conference > table - not only does it give clients the impression of grandeur, but > with a tiny net attached it converts into a kick ass table tennis > table for lunch time" ^_^ > > I'll give you a bit more info about the space / vision and see what > you think... > > Firstly, it's located in Coffs Harbour, NSW (actually, Boambee East, a > suburb 10 minutes south of the city center). > > The property (potentially my new home if we purchase)... > Realestate.com:http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-boambee+east-107222171 > Google > Maps:http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=115+Linden+Avenue,+Boambee+East,+New... > > The "office space" is on the ground floor. It has: > > Independent > entryhttp://images3.au.reastatic.net/800x600/props/107222171/ImageF/201103... > > Smallish Lounge / Kitchen (sink, bench, > cabinets)http://images2.au.reastatic.net/800x600/props/107222171/ImageI/201103... > > 1 good sized bed room - with window view out to open "empty land" and > poolhttp://images2.au.reastatic.net/800x600/props/107222171/ImageJ/201103... > > Shower & Toilet > Aircon and Ceiling fan's > > Pool and Outside > deckhttp://images1.au.reastatic.net/800x600/props/107222171/[email protected]://images1.au.reastatic.net/800x600/props/107222171/ImageQ/201103... > > There is also a "games room" - a converted double garage with polished > cement flooring... but thinking of turning that into a "Yoga Studio > space" - my wife's pet project if we buy the place ;-) ... will also > have some gym equipment in there, which could be appealing to co- > workers.http://images4.au.reastatic.net/800x600/props/107222171/ImageC/201105... > > Plenty of street parking. Also it's a busy/popular suburban street - > so plenty of "free advertising" if I were to put up signage out the > front. > > ... there are 2 other "home business" within 5 houses either side > (hair salon + hair and day spa). > > IGA supermarket + bakery + chemist + news-agency + bottleshop within > walking / bike ride distance. > > Thing's I think people might like: > - Deep desks > - Spare monitor to plug into > - ADSL2+ (fastest I can get) > - Discounted bulk "Day pass" system - > likehttp://www.co-worka.com.au/desk-hire.html > - Optional early / late access > - PC, Mac, iPhone & iPad - for device / browser testing > - Shared book library > - Sandwich-press, kettle, biscuits & bar fridge > - Deck with comfy lounging chairs > - BBQ Fridays! > - ... I may need to "invest" in a Wii & small wall mounted tv for the > "boardroom" (aka the "I'm f-ing bored room" ;-)) > - Whiteboard > - Gym / laundry / shower > - Off street bike rack > > The biggest perk tho - as corny as this sounds - is getting to work > around other people... Coffs Harbour has a very segregated tech & > design community ... which is my biggest challenge to setting this up. > > Thinking about "testing the waters" with a local classifieds ad; and > count how many bites I get... I could also target the local > University. > > At the end of the day I already work from home... so worse case > senario is I end up with bunch of excess desk space... and a Nintendo > Wii :-P > > Concerns: > - Tax (could be really good and/or bad benefits here - really I just > need to a tax agent to talk to) > - Neighbours not liking extra cars parked on street (although there is > empty land next to the house - so if cars park there then I don't see > why people would care). > - Whether I need council approval in some way - not sure if co-working > & "hired desks" is a looppole in the residential / commercial laws... > it' certainly not your normal "office space rental" setup. > - Security & insurance - I don't really want anyone leaving expensive > stuff on site, and me being liable for it. > - Demand - "build it and they will come" is probably a bad approach - > I should really research and network more before converting the space. > There are a few people I know I can already talk to already. Also > street signage, letterbox drops, and networking with local business & > uni should be a good/cheap start - small community, so hopefully word > of mouth will kick in. I could also look to host tech meet-up's & > drinks - great ice breaker. > - Pricing - finding the sweet-spot... affordability I think is a big > factor in a regional area - particularly for people already setup in a > home office paying no extra business rent. > - Contracts - I want to keep things simple. Certainly no lockin's... > but also want my arse covered. > > If you read even half of that then - THANK YOU - > > I'm quite passionate about the idea; and making a fun place to go to > work every day. > > - Chris > > On Oct 30, 7:43 pm, Nathan S <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > > Hey Chris. > > > I've done all those things. Ask me anything. :) > > > Cheers. > > > On Oct 30, 5:58 pm, chrisjacob <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Thinking about running a co-working office space from a home I'm > > > looking to purchase (in Coffs Harbour). > > > > If you've: > > > setup an office, > > > worked in a co-working space, > > > or rented out some space in your house....I would love to hear about > > > it! > > > > Tips / experiences / successes / failures... > > > > Also, question: > > > What makes a good / bad co-working space? > > > > ... P.S Oh, and if you know anything about tax or legal liabilities I > > > might hit setting this up in a residential area I'm try to investigate > > > that now...fun ^_^ > > > > Thanks. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ruby or Rails Oceania" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. 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