Your business has outgrown the kitchen table. What next?
Two founders on expanding their operations.
05 September 2022 • 4 minute read

Many startups are launched from the kitchen table - a great cost-saving exercise that can help propel your business to success. But what happens once you outgrow the bedroom boardroom? Here we talk to two startup founders that launched from the living room, what they did next, and why co-working spaces might be the solution.
Shogun Social
James Gayle founded Shogun Social, a social media marketing company, from his bedroom in Southampton during the pandemic. At the time he was working for a marketing business in the city. He concluded that if he was going to work from home, he "might as well work for himself." He joined Fiverr, the freelancing website and after securing some clients was able to replace his salary and start his business. He describes the journey:
"The journey was that I hated working in my bedroom," James explains. "I Google searched 'co-working spaces in Southampton' and Eagle Labs appears third. Other places had cheaper prices and such, but once I visited Eagle Labs, my mind was made up because of how nice it is the mind frame puts you in. It was a no-brainer. I jumped in immediately and got a permanent desk."
James says the decision was made because he needs a place to separate work life from home life, stressing the importance of having a mental separation between the two practices
"When I'm home, I can completely switch off," he says. "When I'm at the office, I am 100% zoned into work."
From there, James secured one permanent desk at Eagle Labs Southampton that evolved into three or four permanent desks. James points out that the studio space in Eagle Labs Southampton is extremely useful for his social media marketing business. He explains: "Our team of six can create content from all kinds of things from TikTok's to podcasts and everything else like that. We have bought our video and audio equipment, but the studio space can be customised to whatever we need to do at the time."
James says that flexibility is something he was looking for from a co-working space, and Eagle Labs had the right solution for his business.
"Eagle Labs offers us a hybrid model where I pay for three permanent desks, but there are five of us," he says. "The great thing is that five of us don't come in every day, so Eagle Labs is happy to offer is the flexibility that gives the team office time in the most cost-efficient way."
Another major boon is that a co-working space increases Shogun Social's ability to network.
"Anyone that walks in can be a potential lead for us," James explains. "So, when a new business comes in for an introduction, it can lead to some great things. The free food and drinks help as well for client entertainment and just keep the team happy. All the facilities are nice and clean, so again, that's a mindset thing. It feels like you're in somewhere posh. It makes you feel like you're progressing. Then obviously the access to mentors and similar services has been valuable for us. We've had three or four mentors at this point. Using that network of people that have way more experience than me, that I never would have met before, is invaluable."
Are there any other reasons why to grow beyond your doors?
"It always feels a little scary, in the beginning, to spend on something you could save on," James says. "If you feel comfortable from your kitchen desk with a team of 20, you could build an entirely remote team now. But it all depends on your preferences. For me, I need to be in a different place to have a productivity mindset and positive mindset about most things."
Prismea
For Mark Preston founder of Prismea, an IT services and consulting business that help clinical trials meet regulatory requirements, the decision to secure a co-working space was the obvious choice.
"I left my old position to start Prismea from home, but within a couple of weeks, I knew that I had to look for other places to work," Mark explains. "I needed some different scenery a few times a week to have a commute, get away from the kids, and meet new people."
Prismea now has six employees that come to Eagle Labs Oxford about twice a week. He says the draw is the flexibility it offers, the chance to meet new people and socialise, while also having the option to access wider networks."
"The lab is a brilliant space," he says. "It's a perfect mix of work and non-work areas - normal desks, high desks, whiteboards, and a pool table - and the support from our Ecosystem Manager is second to none. Nicki knows everyone and always can link interesting people together but takes the time to understand everyone and every company she meets."
For founders on the fence about expanding their operations, James has this to say: "Every conversation with a new person or from a different point of view is worthwhile, and a co-working space is an efficient way to build your company and your network, as well as look after your mental health by getting out and about."
Find out how we can help your business grow at Eagle Labs
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