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How Workbar Evolved Beyond the Traditional Coworking Business Model

When we opened Workbar Cambridge in 2013, we had a member you might have heard of — Facebook. Yes, that Facebook. At the time, our model was purely open coworking, and it worked — until companies like Facebook wanted to stay and grow with us. That got us thinking: Why were we helping companies start with us, build momentum, and then forcing them to leave once they needed more space?

That realization changed everything. We evolved our model beyond the traditional coworking stereotype, which assumes coworking is only for freelancers, remote workers, and startups looking for shared desks (though we love them). But we also didn’t want to become a maze of private offices catering only to large corporations. Inclusion is at the heart of Workbar’s identity. The idea of one company monopolizing an entire location was never the model we wanted to follow. We built Workbar to be a diverse, shared community where businesses, entrepreneurs, and remote teams thrive together. Innovation happens when people from different industries and backgrounds bump and connect. So instead, we built something more innovative: a workspace that blends flexibility, privacy, and community, designed to support companies at every stage of growth.

 When we opened our following location, we introduced private offices for teams of up to 10. Then, as demand grew, we expanded to accommodate teams of up to 40. But we didn’t go beyond that. We weren’t looking to replicate long-term leases or become a replacement for traditional office space. Instead, we focused on what we do best — creating dynamic, hospitality-driven workspaces where companies can scale, collaborate, and innovate. Fast-forward to today, and many of the world’s most well-known companies, like Airbnb, Allstate, Atlassian, and Dropbox, are rethinking their office footprint by investing in flexible workspaces as a strategic advantage, empowering them to adapt to the changing business landscape.

Here’s how a few of the smartest teams in Boston have built and scaled inside Workbar’s spaces.

Kymanox: Growing without the guesswork

Kymanox, a life sciences consulting firm, needed an office solution that supported its Boston-based team’s immediate needs and future growth. It chose a suite for 20 at Workbar Woburn, where it has expanded seamlessly without being locked into a rigid five-year lease. It enjoys the privacy of a dedicated space while staying connected to a larger community, which has been instrumental in recruiting top talent and fostering collaboration.

Starburst Data: Building a VC-backed, high-growth team

When Starburst Data, an enterprise software company, set out to establish a Boston-area office, flexibility was a top priority. The co-founders started in a small street-level office at Workbar South Station — keeping things lean and avoiding the overhead of managing an office. As their VC-backed company took off and became a unicorn, they relocated to a suite at Workbar Burlington, where they had room for their growing team, coworking access around Greater Boston for remote employees, and space to host client meetings and team offsites — all without being tied to a rigid lease.

FinQore: Scaling a fintech startup with agility

Fintech startups need the ability to pivot quickly; FinQore is no exception. They initially considered traditional office space but found the setup costs and long-term commitments limiting. Instead, they moved into a Workbar private suite in Burlington, where they grew their team without worrying about the logistics of office management. Most recently, due to where their new employees were located, they moved to Workbar Needham. Their new suite gives them privacy for client meetings and collaboration, while the broader Workbar ecosystem offers the professional setting and networking opportunities they need to scale.

Boston Magazine: A hybrid model that works

Like many media companies, Boston Magazine faced challenges with remote work. Their team needed a flexible setup to meet in person regularly without committing to a fixed office footprint. Workbar’s TeamShare program became their ideal solution — giving their team access to Workbar locations across Greater Boston, private suites for core staff, and on-demand conference rooms for editorial meetings. The result? A productive, engaged team that can collaborate in person when it matters most.

Where flexibility meets long-term strategy

Traditional leases aren’t built for the way businesses work today. Companies need flexibility, cost savings, and a workspace that energizes their team, not one that locks them into long-term commitments. Workbar offers the agility and support modern businesses need to thrive.

For companies in Massachusetts seeking the best of both worlds — the privacy of an office with the energy of a dynamic workplace community — Workbar is the smart choice. Whether you're a startup securing your first dedicated space or an enterprise team needing a flexible satellite office, we’ve built a workspace that scales with you as your team grows and shifts. Our solutions are designed to accommodate your team's growth, ensuring that you always have the space you need, when you need it.

Forget rigid terms. Forget empty office space. Forget upsizing and downsizing. Welcome to the world of rightsizing, where your workspace flexes with you.

This article was originally published on Boston Business Journal. 
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