[hackerspaces] Hackerspace business plan

[Koen Martens]

On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 09:08:13AM +0200, Peter Ing wrote:
> I am trying to get a Hackerspace going in South Africa. Instead of a
> business plan I drew up a document that explains what a hackerspace is
> and what the intentions and outcomes are.
> 
> This document is for potential partners who would be willing to
> provide resources and space for the hackerspace to use.
> 
> Here in SA its not feasible to setup a hackerspace like a business and
> I suspect the same may apply in most parts of the world.
> 
> Thats just my 2c

I would say that a business is the anti-thesis of a hackerspace. A business
is profit driven. In any setting where you are profit driven, I personally 
would refuse to volunteer for anything. If I paid for the businesses' services
I would expect a certain level of services.

The community part is very strong in how I see what hackerspaces are, and you
wipe that out once you go commercial. Sure, you can make a community around 
your product, but that will be a marketing vehicle, and not give you the
commitment a real community gives.

Gr,

Koen

> 
> Peter
> 
> On Mon, Jun 28, 2010 at 7:00 PM, Lokkju Brennr <lokkju at gmail.com> wrote:
> > As having gone through starting a space almost exactly six months ago,
> > I'll just throw out there that you should remember that plans change,
> > and to only count on 50% (or less) of the support promised.  We
> > initially had a lot of potential members promising support...  of
> > which less then 50% actually paid membership over those six months -
> > and it was only $40/month.
> >
> > Loki
> >
> > On Mon, Jun 28, 2010 at 9:19 AM, Nick Farr (hackerspaces.org)
> > <nick at hackerspaces.org> wrote:
> >> On Mon, Jun 28, 2010 at 12:07, Sean Bonner <sean at seanbonner.com> wrote:
> >>> Don't confuse a budget with a business plan. Budgets are all numbers,
> >>> business plans need to have things like "competitive analysis" and
> >>> info about why you are the best people to open this company, and yes,
> >>> are largely useless.
> >>
> >> I generally agree that standard business plans are useless.
> >>
> >> However, if the sponsors/members are asking for a "Business Plan", you
> >> might want to give them a document that is "What a Hackerspace Is" +
> >> Budget.  As was previously noted, it's good to have a narrative for
> >> things, especially if you are going to file for 501(c)(x) status.
> >>
> >> --
> >> Nick Farr / http://nickfarr.org / 8B13F204
> >> Washington, DC, 20013-1208
> >> P: +1 (707) 676-FARR
> >> F: +1 (866) 536-2616
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Discuss mailing list
> >> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
> >> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
> >>
> > _______________________________________________
> > Discuss mailing list
> > Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
> > http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
> >
> _______________________________________________
> Discuss mailing list
> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
> http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
> 
>