Custom research

Key Highlights

• Client Description: The client, an established interior design consultancy, engaged Revby to explore the feasibility of launching a new elevated coworking space in areas around Boston, MA. While the client is an experienced business owner, this venture was separate from the client’s existing business; the new business was in the early stages of evaluation, and little was known about overall feasibility based on need, demand, and costs.
• Industry: Coworking / Shared Office Space
• Years in Operation: Pre-startup (Feasibility stage)
• Program: City of Boston
• Economic Development Outcomes: Identified a sustainable coworking model that could expand entrepreneurial opportunities for the client, improve usage of underutilized commercial spaces in Boston neighborhoods, and potentially attract professionals from nearby areas driven by the coworking facility.

The Challenge

The client sought to address a gap in high-quality, community-centered coworking options in Boston neighborhoods historically underserved by such spaces. The client required clarity on the existing/potential demand for a premium yet affordable coworking model, the financial feasibility of leasing or purchasing commercial space, and the features and revenue streams needed to achieve long-term sustainability.

Services Sought: Market Research, Customer Segmentation, Financial Feasibility Analysis, Financial Projections

What We Delivered

• Market Analysis: Evaluation of current coworking trends, Boston market gaps, and neighborhood-specific dynamics.
• Consumer & Business Insights: Identified key customer personas (solo entrepreneurs, small businesses, nonprofit agencies) and feature preferences such as private spaces, flexible memberships, event and training rooms, and strong digital infrastructure.
• Operational Guidance: Benchmarked IT vendor costs, recommended scalable infrastructure, and provided pricing information to balance premium services with affordability.
• Community Engagement: Designed surveys to capture local perceptions, integrate community voices into existing knowledge, and validate market data.

Client impact

• A clear understanding of demand drivers and barriers for coworking within and around Boston.
• Strategic recommendations for an optimal hybrid coworking model that combines private offices with communal amenities.
• Data-driven financial projections to guide location selection and investment decisions.
• Clarity on positioning the coworking space as both a community asset and a sustainable business venture.

Economic Development Outcomes

• Business-Level Impact: The client is equipped with a robust feasibility study, financial projections, and market research, positioning her to make informed investment decisions and pursue sustainable business operations in neighborhoods with the right demand.
• Community & Ecosystem Impact: The project highlights the potential for new job creation, local supplier engagement, and usage of underutilized commercial properties. By filling a market gap, the coworking space can expand access to affordable, high-quality work environments for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits.
• Revby’s Role in Economic Growth Revby’s market research and financial analysis provided the strategic clarity needed to align a new venture with community needs and strengthen the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, advancing the City of Boston’s goals of equitable small business development.