Business Observer
By Beth Luberecki
Thomas O’Riordan hadn’t originally planned on opening a membership-based coworking space. The Entrepreneur had been working on a software startup at the Naples Accelerator, but when changes there forced him to look for new workspace, he had trouble finding something he liked.
When he saw two separate but adjoining spaces at Wilson Professional Center in Naples, he realized the potential that could arise from combining them, and the idea for the Collier Capital Club was born. He knocked down walls, painted and laid flooring, putting $100,000-plus into creating a bright and modern spot where other local entrepreneurs can also build their businesses.
Collier Capital Club offers a variety of membership options. A virtual membership from $110 a month gives businesses a professional address for their company, mail services and a free day pass for coworking space. Memberships for coworking space start at $300 a month, with options ranging from chairs and “hot” desks to 22 dedicated desk spaces within the open area. The club also has seven private offices that start at $1,195 a month.
Collier Capital Club has also begun offering corporate memberships (prices vary). This option is for companies that have maybe decided to get rid of pre-pandemic office space but seek to give employees a physical place to work from time to time. Day passes are also available starting at $35.
Membership amenities include two private conference rooms, complimentary coffee and water, high-speed Wi-Fi and access to a professional high-speed printer. Members can also use the Wilson Professional Center’s Canteen Room and outdoor courtyard.
Good negotiating skills helped O’Riordan secure the space at Wilson Professional Center for a reasonable price, at a time when a lot of businesses are reevaluating office space needs after almost a year of dealing with the changes brought about by the pandemic. The founder thinks all those months of remote working will actually work in their favor. “We’re going to be very enticing for people who are in this market who need coworking space or can’t stand working from home,” says O’Riordan, 33, who previously founded athletic apparel company Enso and customer intelligence company CXCI LLC. “We’d love to take over the whole building someday.”
Collier Capital Club has already expanded into 900 square feet of additional space at Wilson Professional Center, which has been turned into a lounge and event area. And it’s starting an incubator program after getting calls from investors looking to invest in startup businesses.
Memberships are offered on a month-to-month basis except for the private offices, which require an initial three-month commitment before transitioning to monthly. There are no onboarding costs unlike at other coworking spaces. “It’s really cost-effective for this new kind of hybrid work life,” O’Riordan says.
Once the word gets out more, and membership spaces start to fill, the founder thinks a need to expand will be a bigger issue than turnover. And he anticipates a vibrant space where members are not only working individually but also together.
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