What do warehouses, daycares, and recording studios all have in common?

They all have the potential to be combined with coworking spaces and transformed into a vibrant, community-driven, niche coworking space.

Niche coworking spaces are rapidly growing in popularity because they provide a sense of community and tailored amenities that resonate with a very specific audience.

In this article, we'll explore why these spaces are becoming more popular, as well as ten coworking niches to keep an eye on in the coming months.

The growth of coworking niches

Niche coworking spaces are workspaces created for a specific audience or purpose. They are often founded because there is a distinct sector of the market that is being underserved.

As coworking spaces continue to grow in popularity and more and more operators look to start their own workspaces, niching down becomes a natural step in differentiating yourself in the market and fostering community.

As entrepreneurship continues to grow as well, more and more people are looking towards alternative ways of growing their business at an affordable cost. Many of the coworking niches we see today are committed specifically to serving these entrepreneurs.

Let’s take a closer look at ten coworking niches that we’re seeing popping up around the world.

1. Coworking + Warehousing

Coworking + Warehousing, also known as co-warehousing or shared warehousing, is an all-inclusive shared working facility that is part-warehouse, part office. It serves as a one-stop shop where members can receive, package, and distribute physical goods.

It typically includes amenities like:

• Shared workspaces
• Storage facilities
• Daily carrier pickups and loading docks
• Photo studio
• Legal services

Who it’s for: Small business owners, ecommerce companies, construction and manufacturing companies, and small-scale distributors.

Why it’s growing: We are in the age of entrepreneurship, with approximately 31 million entrepreneurs in the US alone. As more and more people look to start their own businesses, particularly in the consumer product goods space, co-warehousing facilities become crucial in supporting them to succeed.

Compared to a traditional warehouse, co-warehousing spaces are more affordable and provide increased flexibility. Small businesses looking to get their products off the ground can lower their overall risk with minimal investment with co-warehousing facilities, making them an attractive choice for budding entrepreneurs.

2. Coworking + Therapy

Coworking + Therapy spaces, or a coworking space for therapists, is a shared workspace made up of sound-proof private offices with couches, pillows, candles, and more to create a warm and inviting atmosphere for practitioners to see patients.

These spaces may also include waiting areas, reception services, and access to resources and community events for networking, all designed to serve professionals in the mental health industry.

Who it’s for: Therapists, counselors, psychologists, and other mental health professionals.

Why it’s growing: Because many therapists work part-time, they only need a private office to see patients on a part-time basis, such as Wednesdays and Fridays or only in the evening. Traditional office leases are not set up to accommodate this kind of schedule, leaving many therapists having to find a workaround for their business.

Therapist-designed coworking spaces offer on-demand offices that are bookable by the hour. This gives mental health professionals the flexibility to scale up or down their office use as needed. It doesn’t lock them into a fixed lease, and it is more affordable and convenient than renting an office full-time.

Deborah and Rachael from Brooklyn Hourly Offices started a coworking space for therapists in Brooklyn, New York. Not only are they empowering new therapists to start their own business, they’re also building a community of mental health practitioners.

3. Coworking + Wellness

Coworking spaces with integrated wellness offerings, also known as a Coworking + Wellness space or a wellness-focused coworking space, is one of the trendiest coworking niches to hit the market. Beloved by coworkers and celebrities alike, these spaces incorporate elements of health and well-being into their offerings, including:

• Standing desks
• Morning yoga and fitness classes
• Air-filtering plants
• Complimentary healthy food and beverages
• Health and wellness focused events

Who it’s for: Wellness-minded individuals who are interested in incorporating more work-life balance into their everyday lives.

Why it’s growing: According to CareerBuilder, over 60% of employees are feeling burnt out by their job. Over the last few years, many employees have turned their attention towards finding ways of incorporating wellness into their workdays to reduce stress and increase productivity.

Wellness-inspired coworking spaces aim to provide a work environment that reduces stress while promoting the physical and mental well-being of the people in it. From an operator's perspective, wellness-inspired spaces can help you differentiate yourself with a premium offering that is on trend and in-demand in the modern world.

4. Coworking + Recording Studio

Coworking + Recording Studios, or on-demand recording studios, are coworking spaces equipped with several professional-grade recording facilities.

The recording studios are turn-key, complete with high-quality audio recording equipment and audio engineers on-site. They are designed in a way so that anyone can walk off the street and begin creating professional quality music instantly.

Who it’s for: Musical artists, voice actors, content creators, and podcasters.

Why it’s growing: Recording music in a traditional recording studio can be a cold and sterile experience. The studios are often expensive, catering solely towards professional musical artists, and are not designed for on-demand, flexible bookings.

Coworking + Recording Studios make recording music a more affordable and inspiring experience. They bring musicians together to network and learn from one another, equipping them with the equipment and resources they need to make it in the industry.

Jason from Grindhaus started a recording studio and creative coworking space for musicians and artists to fulfill their dreams of becoming professional musicians. For him, this facility was all about solving the problems he was personally experiencing and bringing more enrichment into the recording process.

5. Coworking + Medical

Coworking + Medical spaces, also known as medical coworking, is a shared workspace and medical facility where independent healthcare practitioners can see patients and conduct private practice at an affordable cost. The spaces are HIPAA and OSHA compliant and are bookable daily, weekly, monthly, or even hourly.

Coworking spaces for medical professionals will also typically include patient services like a waiting room, check-ins, and reception.

Who it’s for: General practitioners, acupuncturists, naturopaths, dieticians, and bodywork therapists.

Why it’s growing: Traditionally, doctors and medical professionals were restricted to either working in a hospital or large-scale medical facilities or opening their own office. Medical coworking facilities offer a third alternative for entrepreneurial-minded medical practitioners.

They empower practitioners to run their own private practice, without worrying about the administrative work of running an office - like daily cleaning and purchasing equipment. Practitioners can then pursue their dreams of operating independently without taking on all of the risk involved in opening their own practice.

Rachel co-founded Lina, a medical coworking space that provides space, community, and support for independent health practitioners so they can focus on providing high-quality patient care.

6. Coworking + Fitness

Coworking + Fitness spaces, also known as micro-gyms, are small-scale, fully-equipped fitness facilities that are designed to support personal trainers and fitness instructors in training their clients and running their business.

The spaces typically come with gym equipment, including cardio machines, free weights, barbells, and racks, along with resources and support to help independent fitness professionals succeed in their businesses.

Who it’s for: Personal trainers, fitness instructors, content creators, or fitness influencers.

Why it’s growing: When personal trainers are looking to start their own business, they will usually train clients out of a traditional gym. With this model, trainers are required to give a portion of their earnings to the gym. They are also restricted in when, where, and how they train.

Micro-gyms aim to give the power back to the fitness professionals by giving them an affordable, flexible, and accessible space to work out in. Rather than take a portion of their earnings, they’ll charge for use of the space on an hourly or subscription basis, making it a better business model for aspiring instructors looking to get started in expanding their business.

7. Coworking + Childcare

Coworking + Childcare spaces are traditional coworking spaces that offer on-site childcare for their members. Members can come to the coworking space, drop their children off at a daycare facility, which may be upstairs, in a different room, or in a different building, and work in the coworking space.

Some spaces offer part-time childminding where members can drop their children off for a few hours, while others offer full-time daycare. The ages that spaces serve vary, though most tend to cater to preschool-age children.

Who it’s for: Parents who want the convenience of having their children close by while they work.

Why it’s growing: Roughly 51% of Americans live in communities classified as “child care deserts”, meaning they are not able to access high-quality childcare services. Given the strong need for childcare in the community, it makes sense for coworking spaces to work to fulfill this need.

Many operators also see childcare services as a point of differentiation and a way of bringing in more coworking members, given the high demand for childcare services. This makes it a natural niche for coworking owners to look to fill.

Elizabeth and Victoria co-founded OneSpace, a coworking space with on-site childcare services, to help provide parents with a much-needed sense of community and support. It’s grown in popularity in their community amongst moms and working parents looking for a flexible childcare solution.

8. Coworking + Creative Studio

Coworking + Creative Studios, also known as coworking spaces for creatives, are shared workspaces designed specifically to support people in the creative industry. Apart from the usual coworking offerings, they offer other amenities such as:

• Art studio space
• Access to physical and digital art supplies
• Podcast studio
• Green screens and other specialty equipment
• Business coaching and mentoring

Who it’s for: Fine artists, digital artists, photographers, content creators, and podcasters.

Why it’s growing: Speciality art equipment and materials can be pricey and add up fast, especially for those involved in digital content creation. Creative coworking studios help individuals access creative supplies at an affordable cost, helping artists achieve their dreams and goals.

These spaces also provide a sense of community, as well as important business and mentoring resources to help artists monetize their creative passions and get their businesses up and running.

9. Coworking + Private Member Club

Coworking + Private Member Clubs are typically part coworking space, part restaurant, and part all-in-one hang-out space. They will often require a membership application and be tailored to a specific demographic, like women or business professionals.

The modern Coworking + Private Member Club is often viewed as a premium experience centered around networking, with coworking as an add-on. By bringing member clubs and coworking spaces together, members can work on projects during the day and network over a cocktail in the evening, all in one place.

Who it’s for: Anyone looking to connect with others in the community with a specific need or interest.

Why it’s growing: In the post-pandemic era, many people are searching for a sense of community. Coworking + Private Member Clubs are intentionally designed to foster meaningful connections and bring people together in a casual and inspiring environment.

These sorts of clubs are popping up more and more in highly populated areas like New York City and Los Angeles and are marketed as a way to connect in real-life with like-minded people.

Marc founded 1880 Bardo, a social club located in Singapore, to bring about meaningful conversations and connections between a diverse group of individuals. Inspired by his parents’ dinner parties, Marc has fostered a community of thought leaders and inspiring individuals.

10. Coworking + Incubator

Coworking + Incubator spaces are workspaces designed to support the needs of aspiring entrepreneurs. As part of their membership, these spaces will typically include:

• Mentorship and business education
• Experienced management teams
• Access to capital and investors
• Shared workspace

Who it’s for: New entrepreneurs looking to start a business.

Why it’s growing: Starting a business can be a challenging and lonely process, with so many unknowns to figure out. Incubators help give new entrepreneurs a proven framework so they can be set up for long-term success.

When combined with a coworking space, entrepreneurs can work in a centralized location and have a greater chance of learning and growing from others in the industry - thus increasing their likelihood of success.

Groundswell is a non-profit start-up incubator and coworking space that’s been making a name for themselves since 2017. At Groundswell, their mission is to nurture and support start-ups from infancy, providing founders with the essential resources and guidance they need to flourish.

Niche coworking is here to stay

The world of niche coworking spaces is endless, with so many opportunities to serve the needs of otherwise ignored communities.

These specialized offerings not only cater to the unique needs of various professionals but also hold the potential for expanding your business model and differentiating your space.

By considering the successful models of niche spaces like co-warehousing, creative-focused coworking spaces, and coworking with childcare, you can tap into previously untapped markets and provide tailored solutions that resonate with a wide range of clients.

If you’re looking to open or expand your niche coworking business, consider managing your space with Optix. With a flexible and fully customizable platform, Optix is designed to fit the needs of a variety of businesses, from medical coworking to co-warehousing.

To learn more about how Optix can support your team, connect with a member of our team today.