<p>I think having a clear and transparent view of finances for those that want to see them is valuable and important. Also demonstrating a business plan is less about the plan or the organization philosophically, and more about "How serious are you? How much thought has been put into this?"</p>
<p>Hackerspaces are an investment not just in terms of money, but more importantly time. there's no reason on earth someone would not want to have their mind put at ease before commiting to it. </p>
<p>A business plan can go a long way torwards that. I hope that as you proceed you document this all and make as much of it as you can available.</p>
<p><blockquote type="cite">On Jun 28, 2010 11:09 AM, "Far McKon" <<a href="mailto:farmckon@gmail.com">farmckon@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br>Hive76 took the planning model a lot of cooperative housing and studios take.<br>
<br>
1) Membership should pay the bills, + 5-10% extra to slowly accumulate<br>
for damage, improvements, and emergencies.<br>
<br>
2) By 6 months, you should have 3 months of 'reserve cash' to pay<br>
bills. IE, if everyone gets hit by a meteor,<br>
there should be cash on hand for 3 momths of operation. You should<br>
always have that reserve, and if you use it.<br>
refill it before spending other 'emergency' cash.<br>
<br>
3) Lights and Rent should be covered by membership. New<br>
projects/equipment by pledge drives or net income classes.<br>
<br>
<br>
The above is a very common model of housing cooperatives, and shared<br>
workspaces, and has worked very well. That said, Hive76 has barely<br>
made those goals. But they are do-able goals, and easy to explain and<br>
agree on.<br>
<br>
hack on,<br>
- Far McKon<br>
<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.Hive76.org" target="_blank">http://www.Hive76.org</a> "Making things awesome, making awesome things!"<br>
<a href="http://www.FarMcKon.net" target="_blank">http://www.FarMcKon.net</a> "Creatively Maladjusted"<br>
<p><font color="#500050"><br><br><br>On Mon, Jun 28, 2010 at 10:57 AM, Adam D Bachman <<a href="mailto:adam.bachman@gmail.com">adam.bachman@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>> I was going to...</font></p></blockquote></p>