What Coworking Spaces Can Learn from the 50-Pfennig Vending Machine

What Coworking Spaces Can Learn from the 50-Pfennig Vending Machine

They used to stand in every ice cream parlour: 50-pfennig machines, colourful, shiny, underrated – and a prime example of clever use of space with side revenue.

The metaphor of the vending machine

One turn of the crank, and out came a small piece of gum, a ring or a surprise toy. The machine stood next to the entrance, took up no space and needed no electricity. For the ice cream parlour it was a simple deal: it was placed there for free, the parlour gave up a few square centimetres, and took a share of the takings.

A win-win model in which revenue arose in the smallest of spaces. Almost invisible. But effective.

These machines are not just nostalgia, they are also a metaphor for what coworking spaces today often overlook: small, smart, parallel revenue sources that get lost in day-to-day operations.

What coworking earns today (and what it doesn't)

Hector Kolonas, who analyses the global scene like few others with This Week in Coworking, has meticulously compiled in his current report "The New Revenue Stack" what coworking spaces make money with today.

Against this backdrop, a short analysis of price trends follows, and why office space, despite all the add-on offers, continues to form the economic backbone of the industry.

His stack analysis shows, among other things:

• Memberships & Day Passes
• Meeting room bookings
• Event rentals
• Virtual offices & mail services
• Digital products and communities
• Sponsoring, partnerships & education offers

That is substantial – and many operators are actively working to expand their "stack".

But: is that all?

The blind spot: the space in between

Many coworking operators see space purely through the lens of furnished offices and booking calendars. Yet there are times, zones and usage contexts that lie completely fallow:

• Evenings and weekends
• Hallways, kitchen areas
• Lounges
• the community itself as a source of demand

This is where the potential for a new way of thinking begins: coworking as a platform instead of just a place. Anyone who thinks this way suddenly discovers plenty of "machines" that can be activated – with little effort, but measurable additional income.

Three practical ideas you can implement right away

1. The hairdresser in the office

A free office standing empty? Why not make it available to a local hairdresser or barber for a day? The provider brings their own equipment, offers haircuts on site – and the operator receives a revenue share or a daily flat rate.

Advantages:

• Comfort and experience for members
• Visibility and new customers for the hairdresser
• Additional income for the operator – with no risk at all

Such activities can also easily be promoted via internal newsletters or Slack groups and expanded into recurring community formats.

2. Regular massage appointments in the space

Health is an ever bigger topic – especially among knowledge workers. So why not invite a mobile masseur or a physiotherapy practice, for example every second Tuesday of the month? The slots are allocated through the coworking team, members pay themselves, and the operator receives either a small commission or a fixed space fee.

Result:

• Higher perceived value of the membership
• Low effort thanks to external service providers
• Stronger loyalty through personal touchpoints

This service is valued above all by busy professionals who can make their day more efficient as a result – and that is exactly why it adds to the perceived value.

3. Snack machines as a source of revenue

The metaphor becomes reality: modern snack machines with healthy, regional or sustainable products are booming. Operators can work with external partners or set up their own devices – with contactless payment and a smart inventory system. Many companies generate four-figure sums per month on the side this way, depending on location and footfall.

Why this makes sense:

• Low-threshold service with high acceptance
• Income through revenue sharing or self-operation
• Additional touchpoint for community & visitors

Combined with events, barista days or food pop-ups, thematic experiences can also be built on top, making the machine part of the culture.

Conclusion: think boldly, act creatively

The future of coworking spaces lies not in better Wi-Fi, more flex or cooler slogans alone. It lies in the creative use of existing resources: spaces, times, partnerships, communities.

Anyone who thinks of coworking only as selling square metres misses 50% of the potential. But anyone who starts to use platform logic can create new revenue sources – often with little effort, but a lot of impact.

The 50-pfennig machine has nothing to do with retro. Rather, it is about a smart principle:

Put out something that others need, let them pay voluntarily, take a share without getting in the way.

Perhaps that is exactly the next revenue driver in your space.

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