[ekanes]

I love the idea, but I'd be surprised if nice space like that can be built in Austin, for $300-$400/month, with room for profit.

<Brainstorming>

Do you have a garage? (Or, could you build another?)

Amortizing your monthly allowance, you could put some cash into the garage, and you're improving something you own.

[jsiarto]

We run into the same issues here in Chicago. Rent is so high that having a co-working space is just as expensive as leasing your own office--the ones that are cheap aren't much better than working from a home office.

I really think these spaces need to be non-profit and supported by the workers that use it. If you insert a for-profit entity, it just doesn't work...

[edash]

I'm not sure it can be built here either. Conjunctured is thriving on the Eastside doing co-working - but I think it's a labor of love.

The other spaces in town that are similar aren't going to make it I'm afraid.

I think the only way to make the economics work is to have founder also own the space, removing the layers of leasing agent and building owner from the equation.

[anguslong]

Room for profit is the key. Comments from local folks in-the-know seem to say this has been investigated here in the ATX, and there isn't room for profit.

Alas, your garage idea might be the next step. (maybe a mobile geek-hut in the garage, with solatubes for a bit of natural light?)... hmmm