Thinking about creating a place where people can shower, do laundry, and charge phones and such

[Gizmo j]

I want to create a 24hr non profit business that provides people with:

1. Showers
2. Laundry
3. Toilets
4. Wifi
5. Outlets to charge appliances

I'm thinking I can charge people $5 a month for membership

What do you guys think of this?



2025Edit: i feel really stupid for thinking $5 a month would be enough to finance this business XD.

Now I'm thinking $50 a month.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

I want to create a 24hr non profit business that provides people with:

1. Showers
2. Laundry
3. Toilets
4. Wifi
5. Outlets to charge appliances

I'm thinking I can charge people $5 a month for membership

What do you guys think of this?

Isn't that just a 24hr fitness? Aside from laundry I suppose?

 

[nakedfrog]

I'm doubtful that would cover expenses.

 

[OccamsToothbrush]

I can get all that from my neighbors when they're out. Who needs you?

 

[pete6032]

No.

 

[lxskllr]

That's actually a decent idea, but you'll first need a place(lots of people won't want it near them), and you'll need sustainable funding. That $5/month is just a formality and won't cover anything related to the venture.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Isn't that called the 'Y'?

 

[herm0016]

so you want to open a truck stop without fuel?

i want to own a laundermat. Trying to get the wife on board. edit... before that guy on youtube made it trendy.

 

[ultimatebob]

Yeah, that sounds like a truck stop to me. Those even have a convenience store, a lounge, a diner, and usually a motel nearby.

 

[pmv]

Seems extremely unlikely that would anywhere near pay for all the running costs. Unless you could get a huge number of people to sign up who never actually use the facilities. Which is what gyms do, I guess, so maybe it's possible after all.
But if there's no gym, you'd have to think of something else that people aspire to do, think they _should_ do, but rarely actually feel like doing. And add something along those lines to the place. Then the non-attendees will subsidise all the folk just having showers and charging their phones and using the toilet.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

You're here in Cali right? Provide needles and cots and the state will pay you.

 

[ultimatebob]

By the way, what Gizmo is suggesting has already been done in NYC in a decidly FOR profit model:

3DEN - Flexible Urban Amenity Spaces and Worklounges

3DEN offers a network of flexible app powered spaces that provide on-demand access for coworking, escape and amenities.

www.goto3den.com

It's $12 an hour or $69 a month, though. Judging from what NYC charges for rent in midtown, it actually seems like a bargain.

 

[OccamsToothbrush]

By the way, what Gizmo is suggesting has already been done in NYC in a decidly FOR profit model:

3DEN - Flexible Urban Amenity Spaces and Worklounges

3DEN offers a network of flexible app powered spaces that provide on-demand access for coworking, escape and amenities.

www.goto3den.com

It's $12 an hour or $69 a month, though. Judging from what NYC charges for rent in midtown, it actually seems like a bargain.

Well, the model might optimistically be for profit, but I bet the actual numbers show something completely different. Who exactly is this for? If you live in the city you have a home and coffee shops, so you don't need a place like that. If you're traveling for business you have a hotel and an office or workspace at the location of the business and you don't need it. If you're homeless you can't afford it and besides, other than the nap pods and showers you get that stuff free at Starbucks. The only demographic I can think of is travelers with an exceptionally long layover who want to get out of the airport or people who are stranded short term due to canceled flights and don't want to pay for a hotel. But how many people like that are there and would those people even be aware this place exists? In my entire life I can think of only one single instance where I would conceivably have used a place like that when I was stuck by missing a connecting flight when the first leg had mechanical troubles. Spent about 8 hours in an airport and it wasn't pleasant, but it also wasn't the end of the world.

 

[Fritzo]

This will turn into a buttsecks hut within a month.

 

[OccamsToothbrush]

This will turn into a buttsecks hut within a month.

Okay, yes!!! You got it. I was trying to think of a demographic of person who would use something that stupid and pointless and could only come up with stranded travelers. My bad. It's definitely going to turn into a place for gay men who are tired of meeting in the mens room at the Port Authority bus terminal.

 

[PlanetJosh]

Sounds good but don't wind up like Theranos.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I can get all that from my neighbors when they're out. Who needs you?

In other words you can steal from your neighbors? Nice going!

 

[BoomerD]

I want to create a 24hr non profit business that provides people with:

1. Showers
2. Laundry
3. Toilets
4. Wifi
5. Outlets to charge appliances

I'm thinking I can charge people $5 a month for membership

What do you guys think of this?

You have lots of money? $5 monthly "subscriptions" isn't gonna pay many lawyers fees. You'll end up with hookers using your toilets/showers to turn tricks, junkies will turn the place into a shooting gallery, hackers will hack your wifi to launch DDOS attacks and hack other sites...and, since it's your premises, you'll be liable for all of it.

 

[ultimatebob]

Okay, yes!!! You got it. I was trying to think of a demographic of person who would use something that stupid and pointless and could only come up with stranded travelers. My bad. It's definitely going to turn into a place for gay men who are tired of meeting in the mens room at the Port Authority bus terminal.

I don't think that people will be hooking up a 3DEN, mostly because it looks like there is just a thin curtain between the nap area and the rest of the room for privacy. Everyone will quickly figure out what you're doing, and you'll get kicked out in less than five minutes.

I think that 3DEN's purpose in life is a place for wealthy husbands to sit while they trophy wives spend their money at Coach and Kate Spade. It might also work for tired tourists who just spent an hour climbing the stair statue outside, although they'll probably peace out after their free 30 minutes are up and find a Starbucks instead.

 

[sdifox]

By the way, what Gizmo is suggesting has already been done in NYC in a decidly FOR profit model:

3DEN - Flexible Urban Amenity Spaces and Worklounges

3DEN offers a network of flexible app powered spaces that provide on-demand access for coworking, escape and amenities.

www.goto3den.com

It's $12 an hour or $69 a month, though. Judging from what NYC charges for rent in midtown, it actually seems like a bargain.

69 a month of what? Unlimited access would be crazy cheap.

 

[Fritzo]

Okay, yes!!! You got it. I was trying to think of a demographic of person who would use something that stupid and pointless and could only come up with stranded travelers. My bad. It's definitely going to turn into a place for gay men who are tired of meeting in the mens room at the Port Authority bus terminal.

Why they gotta be gay?

 

[OccamsToothbrush]

Why they gotta be gay?

I'm not sure. Do they have to be gay or do they choose to be gay? Science and religion still have not agreed on an answer to that.

 

[Exterous]

Well, the model might optimistically be for profit, but I bet the actual numbers show something completely different. Who exactly is this for? If you live in the city you have a home and coffee shops, so you don't need a place like that. If you're traveling for business you have a hotel and an office or workspace at the location of the business and you don't need it. If you're homeless you can't afford it and besides, other than the nap pods and showers you get that stuff free at Starbucks. The only demographic I can think of is travelers with an exceptionally long layover who want to get out of the airport or people who are stranded short term due to canceled flights and don't want to pay for a hotel. But how many people like that are there and would those people even be aware this place exists? In my entire life I can think of only one single instance where I would conceivably have used a place like that when I was stuck by missing a connecting flight when the first leg had mechanical troubles. Spent about 8 hours in an airport and it wasn't pleasant, but it also wasn't the end of the world.

There is a small percentage of the population that chooses to be homeless. Like legitimately makes the choice. Back in ye olden days of 2004 I read a blog by a couple of people who talked about their experiences. What they did to hold down a job, pay bills (Get a PO box), shower\shave\workout (gym), how to find places to sleep in your car overnight, tips and tricks to maximize car space. One guy really didn't see the point of 'being tied to' a house or even rental and the hassle that went along with it. He was also saving a crap ton of money. I would imagine they might find some value in this

But I expect that is a very tiny portion of the population

 

[ElFenix]

This will turn into a buttsecks hut within a month.

month?

 

[Captante]

I want to create a 24hr non profit business that provides people with:

1. Showers
2. Laundry
3. Toilets
4. Wifi
5. Outlets to charge appliances

I'm thinking I can charge people $5 a month for membership

What do you guys think of this?

Here you go *(except for the non-profit part)

Yeah, that sounds like a truck stop to me. Those even have a convenience store, a lounge, a diner, and usually a motel nearby.

Dang beat me to it!