Strategy & TacticsScenario playbooks, common traps, and pro tips

Universal Principles

Build the essentials first: Reception (with desk) → Open Workspace (4-6 desks + chairs) → Bathroom (2 toilets) → Lounge (coffee machine + sofa).
Hire a receptionist immediately. Without one, conversion drops to ~30% of normal. This is the single biggest bottleneck.
Subscribe to a coffee vendor the same day you place a coffee machine. A beanless machine is -4 satisfaction.
Turn on 1-2 marketing channels. Google Ads has the highest throughput. Here.Work is cheapest. Start both.
Get management software early. It prevents 3% billing loss, boosts meeting bookings, and unlocks enterprise deals.

Watch the waitlist. If it fills up, build desks before people give up (21-day patience).
Hire a cleaner once you have 15+ members or the floor exceeds ~260 tiles. No cleaner = -10 satisfaction.
Hire a community manager at 25-30 members. Coverage drops below 100% = satisfaction crater.
Rotate ad channels. Run 2 channels for 3-4 weeks, then swap. Resting channels recover in ~5 weeks.
Build Private Offices early to unlock the lucrative office tier ($600+/mo per seat).

Revenue rule of thumb: you need ~20-25 hot-desk members at $250/mo to cover a typical scenario's fixed costs.
Best revenue mix: a mix of office members (high $/seat), hot desks (high volume), meeting bookings, and coffee revenue.
Price at or slightly below market until satisfaction is above 65%. Then you can charge a premium.
Don't neglect snack revenue. Coffee machines ($3/drink) and vending machines ($4/snack) generate passive income. Place several.

Over-hiring: salaries are the biggest expense. Don't hire ahead of demand.
Ignoring wear: 5+ worn items = up to -10 satisfaction. Refurbish regularly.
Running ads forever: channel freshness drops to 35%. Rotate or you waste 65% of ad spend.
No toilets: the bathroom penalty can reach -20. Always keep toilet ratio ≥ 1:10.
Overpricing early: price perception is calculated per member per tier. A $300 hot desk in a $220 market with 50% satisfaction will repel everyone.
Ignoring member requests: a missed request is -4 satisfaction for 8 days + -15 happiness. Always try to deliver.

Win: 50 members + 1 profitable month.

The most forgiving scenario. Low rent ($1,400), generous budget ($120k), soft bankruptcy (-$30k).
Follow the tutorial. Build 6-8 desks early, hire receptionist + cleaner + community manager in that order.
You can win in under a year with steady growth. Don't over-invest in premium items — focus on fundamentals.
Side goal "Beloved" (90% sat): needs plants, decor, great coffee, phone booths, community coverage, and good pricing. Achievable around 30-40 members with a well-equipped space.

Win: 68 members + 2 consecutive profitable months.

L-shaped building forces creative room placement. The narrow bottom section is good for offices.
Competition: a rival opens around 8 members. Invest in space character early (themes, art, aquarium, community manager).
Night life at 40% means some members work late. Access control is valuable for satisfaction.
You need 2 consecutive profitable months, so time your expenses — don't start a big hire in the month you need profit.
Side goal "Moneybags" (2× capital = $200k): requires disciplined spending and premium pricing once satisfaction supports it.

Win: 33 members + 2 consecutive profitable months.

The key challenge: leads surge +60% in summer and crash -50% in winter. Plan for both.
Summer strategy: maximize capacity and marketing. Fill every desk. Save aggressively — winter is coming.
Winter strategy: cut paid marketing (leads are halved anyway). Focus on retention, satisfaction, and referrals.
The low member target (33) means you can win in a single good summer if you started strong.
Side goal "Impresario" (10 events): hire an Events Manager and build Event Space early. Weekly events run automatically.

Win: 95 members + 2 consecutive profitable months.

Massive building (U-shape), massive target. Events are mandatory — without them, the -8 penalty is devastating.
Build Event Space + hire Events Manager in the first 2 weeks. The +6 event buff + lead generation pays for itself.
3× team leads from LinkedIn: invest in offices early. Teams of 3-5 pay $600+/seat at office tier.
Competition + high rent ($4,400) means you need volume. Expand wings when occupancy hits 85%.
Side goal "Dream Team" (5 staff, all 80+ morale): build a staff room with sofa. Give raises when morale dips. Train everyone to 3+ stars.

Win: 48 members + 3 consecutive profitable months.

Access control is NON-NEGOTIABLE. Without it: -10 satisfaction, which makes 3 profitable months nearly impossible.
Subscribe to SALTO or Kisi on Day 1. The +6/+8 satisfaction bonus plus avoiding the -10 penalty is a 16-18 point swing.
2× coffee/snack revenue: place 3-4 coffee machines and 2+ vending machines. This is free money.
Night life at 90% means most members work late. Assign a staff member to the night shift for +3 satisfaction.
3 consecutive profitable months: keep expenses tight. The doubled snack revenue helps, but watch staff costs.

Win: 25 members + 3 consecutive profitable months.

$45k starting capital, -$5k bankruptcy limit. Every dollar counts. You can't afford a single wasted month.
Build the minimum viable space: reception (2×2), open workspace (3×3), bathroom (2×2). Use the cheapest items.
Hire a receptionist only. Delay all other hires until revenue supports them.
Use Here.Work ($95/mo) and Local Flyers ($150/mo) as your starter channels. Google Ads is too expensive early.
Consider a $20k loan if you run dry in month 2 — the interest ($200/mo) is manageable.
Competition means a rival will open. Your only defense is satisfaction — focus on cheap high-impact items (plants, decor, coffee).
3 profitable months in a row is the hardest constraint. Avoid big purchases in Q4 once you're on a streak.

Win: 62 members + 3 consecutive profitable months.

$6,500 rent. The highest in the game. You need premium revenue to survive.
Enterprise deals are your lifeline: 4× chance, but requires: management software + 60%+ satisfaction + office space + price ≤ 115% of tolerated market rate.
Build many Private Offices early. Enterprise teams take 5-7 seats at a 10% premium on annual contracts.
2× team leads from LinkedIn: run LinkedIn Ads constantly. Teams fill offices fast.
Competition is fierce. Invest in space character to retain members against rivals.
Side goal "Landlord" (8+ office members): should happen naturally with the enterprise focus. Build 3-4 offices with 2-3 desks each.

Negotiate rent hikes. $2,000 lawyer fees have a 35% chance to block the hike entirely, and always at least halves it. Expected value: almost always positive vs signing.
Watch market drift. When the ticker says "economy is heating up", raise prices. When it dips, hold or lower.
Friendship is your retention moat. Coffee machines + lounges + events + community managers all boost friendship formation. Friends reduce churn by up to 50%.
Premium perks in late game: espresso bar (+5 sat, $6/drink revenue) and massage chairs (+2 sat each) are luxury items that push you past 80% satisfaction.
Solar panels ROI: $18k cost. If your utility bill is $200/mo, savings = $80/mo. Break-even in ~19 months. Worth it for long games.
Expansion wings: +4 tiles width, +25% rent per wing. Only expand when occupancy is 85%+ AND you can't squeeze more desks into existing rooms.