14 Niche Coworking Space Concepts We Can’t Get Enough Of
Here are the niches we're most excited about
October 11, 2024
Blog
When I first started writing about coworking almost three years ago, niche coworking spaces were few and far between.
Today, there are over a dozen different kinds of niche coworking spaces as operators take the coworking business model of sharing space and apply it to every industry — from food to fitness.
In this article, we’ll share with you 14 niche coworking spaces that are working to serve their community and create a better future, including some amazing Optix clients.
But first, let’s take care of the basics.
What is a niche coworking space?
Niche coworking spaces, sometimes called flex spaces, are communities for individuals with specific interests and needs.
We often see niche coworking spaces designed to serve the needs of entrepreneurs in a defined industry. For example ECOMsquare was a niche coworking space that served individuals who worked in the ecommerce industry.
Traits of niche coworking spaces
- Serves a very specific demographic, like women or musical artists
- Offers amenities and services specific to that niche
- Offers additional resources outside of desks and private offices (and sometimes may not offer desks or private offices at all)
Automate your coworking space with Optix
Niche vs. “traditional” coworking
In a recent workshop hosted by Optix Customer Success Team Lead Jenna Macken, an attendee asked what the difference was between niche and “traditional” coworking.
Niche coworking spaces serve a very specific demographic, some of which are not considered knowledge workers, whereas traditional coworking spaces primarily serve knowledge workers (think: freelancers, solopreneurs).
For example, we might say that a collaborative kitchen is a niche coworking space because it is a shared kitchen for food entrepreneurs. They may (or may not) offer desks and private offices.
What are the benefits of creating a coworking space niche?
Many coworking niches are created because there is a unique need that is underserved in the market. The benefits of setting your coworking space up as a niche include:
- Differentiates yourself in the market
- May be easier to build a community
- Increases member retention
- Creates deeper connections between and within members
- Offers additional value on top of what a traditional coworking space would offer
As an operator, focusing on a niche market and providing an experience tailored to specific needs can help you retain members long-term in a highly competitive market.
For members, niche coworking spaces can bring about a shared sense of belonging and community that is unlike anywhere else.
14 niche coworking space concepts we love
Here at Optix, our mission is to enable forward thinking coworking and flex space leaders to thrive. This includes niche coworking leaders, a number of which use our software to automate their business.
Let’s take a look at 14 niche coworking space concepts that are changing the game in the coworking industry.
1. Coworking + Beauty
What it is: A beauty coworking space is a shared workspace designed specifically for hair stylists, makeup artists, nail technicians, and other beauty professionals. The spaces are typically turn-key, meaning they are equipped with all of the services and amenities someone would need to run their own business.
Who it serves: Beauty professionals including hair stylists, makeup artists, beauticians, nail technicians, and aestheticians
Example: Fizzy Collective, United Kingdom
Fizzy Collective is a beauty coworking space in the UK serving hair stylists, beauticians, makeup artists and many more in the beauty industry. Started by two sisters, the community is all about inclusivity and sustainability, with a commitment to providing a creative and flexible space to work.
2. Coworking + Childcare
What it is: The coworking and childcare model brings together shared workspaces with an on-site childcare offering. The idea is that any parent could bring their child to a coworking facility and work while their child plays nearby, providing an essential service at a convenient location.
Who it serves: Parents of young children
Example: OneSpace, Canada
OneSpace is a warm and cozy family-friendly coworking space offering drop-in childcare five days a week. They aim to make life easier for parents by bringing childcare and work facilities under one roof.
3. Coworking + Creatives
What it is: A creative coworking space or coworking space for creatives, is a shared workspace designed to support people in the creative industry. They typically include large studio space, photo studios, podcasting studios, and more.
Who it serves: Artists, writers, photographers, graphic designers, and podcasters
Example: Art/Work, USA
Art/Work is a coworking space and community exploring the relationship between art and work. Apart from desks, offices, and meeting space, they also offer curated artist in-residency, art curation and programming, and creativity-inspired conversations.
4. Coworking + Fitness
What it is: A coworking fitness space, also known as a micro-gym, is a shared fitness facility that provides a more convenient, community-oriented, and flexible alternative to physical training. Micro-gyms typically include a variety of gym equipment that can be booked on-demand.
Who it serves: Fitness professionals and personal trainers, gym-goers, and fitness content creators
Example: FlexWerk, USA
FlexWerk is a revolutionary micro-gym and the first coworking space specifically designed for fitness professionals. Here, members have access to fully customizable workout spaces, an easy reservation system, and hourly facility bookings with no long-term commitments.
5. Coworking + Golf
What it is: A golf simulator business is an indoor space outfitted with several bays that simulate a golfing experience using sophisticated golf simulator software. This computerized setup mimics a real game of golf, complete with life-like golf course renditioning and unique data and insights to help you analyze your swing and improve your overall performance.
Who it serves: Professional and amateur golfers
Example: Scratch Golf Lab, USA
Scratch Golf Lab is a 24/7 golf simulator experience with five locations in the US. They’re committed to supporting those at all levels of golfing experience, from beginners looking to develop the fundamentals to professional golfers looking for an enhanced golfing experience.
6. Coworking + Housing
What it is: Coliving is a housing arrangement where people from different households live in a single shared space. They have access to shared amenities, live in a communal way, and contribute equally to maintaining the household.
Who it serves: 18-34 year olds looking to save on rent costs
Example: Gather Co-Living, Canada
Gather Co-living is a coliving space for urban dwellers in Vancouver, British Columbia. They help individuals build a strong sense of community and connection through shared living in vibrant homes.
7. Coworking + Incubators
What it is: An incubator coworking space is a coworking space that offers resources and services designed to support early stage start-ups and founders. These spaces offer mentorship, networking opportunities, keynote speakers, and more designed specifically for start-ups.
Who it serves: Early stage start-ups and entrepreneurs looking to get their business off the ground
Example: CENTERFUSE, USA
CENTERFUSE is an innovative coworking space in the heart of Downtown Historic Manassas. They offer a robust business incubator program that works with start-ups to help them grow their business sustainably and successfully.
8. Coworking + Kitchens
What it is: Shared-use commercial kitchens, also known as commissary kitchens, are professional-grade cooking facilities that can help food and culinary entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.
Who it serves: Caterers, food truck owners, small-scale food producers, and pop-up restaurants
Example: Chefs Touch Commissary Kitchen, USA
Chefs Touch Commissary Kitchen is a shared commercial kitchen located in the Bay area of California. They offer 17,000 square feet of full-service, shared use commercial kitchen space including a flat griddle top, charbroiler, meat slicer, and commercial gas stoves.
9. Coworking + Medical
What it is: Medical coworking spaces are shared workspaces featuring fully compliant, specialized medical practitioner rooms. In these spaces, practitioners can provide care for patients, network with other professionals, and grow their own private practice at an affordable cost.
Who it serves: General practitioners, acupuncturists, naturopathic health workers, dieticians, and bodywork practitioners
Example: Lina, USA
Lina is a rapidly expanding medical coworking space committed to the well-being of their members. As one of the first medical coworking spaces in the country, they’ve done an incredible job of paving the way for this growing coworking niche.
10. Coworking + Recording Studios
What it is: Coworking recording studios are shared workspaces outfitted with professional recording studios. Imagine a coworking space full of private offices — but instead of each room having a desk, chair, and monitor, each room is a turn-key, state-of-the-art recording studio.
Who it serves: Musical artists, producers, podcasters, and voice actors
Example: Grindhaus Studios, USA
Grindhaus Studios was established in early 2021 to serve the unique needs of aspiring musical artists. Here, artists can access state-of-the-art recording studios on-demand, work with professional audio engineers, and tap into a community of like-minded artists.
Learn more about coworking + recording studios communities →
11. Coworking + Therapy
What it is: Coworking spaces for therapists are shared workspaces specifically designed for mental health professionals. Here, professionals can conduct therapy sessions, hold meetings with clients, and engage in other work-related activities in a private and comfortable setting.
Who it serves: Therapists, counselors, and psychologists
Example: Brooklyn Hourly Offices, USA
Brooklyn Hourly Offices is a coworking space located in Brooklyn, New York that caters to the needs of therapists, coaches, and any professional seeking a private office space on an as-needed basis. It was started by two therapists, Deborah and Rachael, who saw a need for flexible affordable spaces for practitioners to see patients.
12. Coworking + Warehousing
What it is: Co-warehousing is an all-inclusive shared working facility used by multiple small businesses. It typically provides office space, warehousing space, networking opportunities, and logistics services to help members operate a consumer product goods (CPG) or ecommerce business.
Who it serves: E-commerce companies, small business owners with retail distribution, construction and manufacturing companies, and distributors
Example: Shedpoint, Canada
Shedpoint is a Calgary based co-warehousing facility “created by young entrepreneurs, for young entrepreneurs”. Their flexible membership offerings and beautifully designed office spaces make them a desirable place for budding ecommerce businesses to get their start.
13. Coworking + Wellness
What it is: Wellness coworking spaces, sometimes known as wellness-focused coworking spaces, are shared workspaces that incorporate health-oriented services and amenities into their offerings. For wellness coworking spaces, supporting the well-being of members is a key differentiating factor.
Who it serves: People working in the wellness industry or individuals passionate about incorporating wellness into their work lives
Example: KoWorks, Australia
KoWorks is a wellness-focused coworking space with three locations across New South Wales, Australia founded by Adam Hyman. Adam offers a number of amenities to support the mental and physical well-being of his members including standing desks, saunas, cold plunges, yoga classes, and breathwork workshops.
14. Coworking + Women
What it is: Coworking spaces for women are workplaces designed to support the unique needs of people who identify as women. These communities offer a safe space free of judgment, and a supportive community of like-minded individuals.
Who it serves: People who identify as women who want a safe and supportive place to work
Example: Salon22, USA
Salon22 is a member-based coworking space for women located in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded by four powerhouse women, Salon22 offers a collaborative community, thoughtfully designed programming, and a commitment to celebrating diversity, both in their local community and beyond.
Learn more about coworking + women communities →
Automating your niche coworking space with Optix
Our niche coworking clients are committed to serving their members and supporting them in excelling in their chosen field, whatever that field is.
One way that they’re able to do this successfully is with the use of robust coworking automation software like Optix
By automating key administrative tasks across operations, acquisition, engagement, and expansion, operators can free up valuable time to focus on building community and delivering personalized experiences tailored to their members’ unique needs.
Not only does software help streamline operations but it also helps create a vibrant, engaged community that thrives on shared interests and values, positioning your space as a leader in the niche coworking landscape.
Learn how Optix can support your niche coworking space today →
