• Legal framework: secure a lawyer and an accountant.
  
• Assets and financials; budget, income, expenses, projections: See How to Start A Hackerspace: Money and Resources. (Adafruit.com)
  
• Break down income sources and potentials, including sponsorships, donations, merchandise, products etc.: See How to Start A Hackerspace: Product Sales. (Adafruit.com)
• Outline membership plan (# of members + $ per month = revenue generated See How to Start A Hackerspace: Membership Dues. (Adafruit.com)
• Create a compelling and simple Mission Statement: See Pumping Station: One's Mission Statement for a great example. (Pumpingstationone.org)
  
• Present your offering uniquely – why should members choose your space over another?
  
• The value proposition of your Hackerspace; its place in market niche
  
• Want to be a nonprofit? Define your reasons for going non-profit.
  
• Write up your business plan.
  
• Notarize and finalize.
  
• Present your plan to potential investors, banks, clients, members, etc.
  

• Identify who you’ll need to run the Hackerspace.
  
• Figure out who is available to you and who wants Hackerspace duties and responsibilities.
  
• Assess suitability for various roles.
  
• Think and decide what you can offer the leaders of your team for taking on important responsibilities.
  
• Consider the long-term potential of your team leads, and the Hackerspace’s long term goals.
  
• Separate financial supporters vs. non-financial supporters (such as donors). See How To Start A Hackerspace: Donations (Adafruit.com)
  
• Define team leader roles clearly.
  
• Place people in positions of administration, trainers, house staff, merchandisers, teachers, lecturers, office administrative, member admin, etc.
  

• Secure the services of a nonprofit attorney.
  
• Check your state requirements: depending on location the guidelines will be different. Check online or with your local municipality.
  
• Get the necessary paperwork and go to your legal counsel for preparation and filing.
  
• Obtain proper permits/licenses - again, this depends on your location.
  
• Get insurance. You can find out what kind you’ll need from your attorney and/or your local requirements (expand your insurance later to cover equipment and possessions you put in your Hackerspace). Making a Makerspace: Getting Insurance (Makezine.com)
• Submit your filings according to your local requirements.
  
• Follow up with whoever is handling your case.
  
• Your 501c3 filing will take time and possibly a refiling.
  

• Look at guidelines in other Hackerspaces that have been successful; a great example is the PS:One bylaws (Pumpingstationone.org)
  
• Modify the Bylaws to suit your Hackerspace.
  
• Have your Hackerspace’s Board sign off on them, make sure everyone is in agreement.
  

• Operating costs.
  
• Lease for space.
  
• Permits and license fees/legal fees.
  
• Equipment supplies/building materials.
  
• Cost of setting up and maintaining web presence.
  
• Advertising and marketing (if desired).
  
• Salaries for staff (or co-op income and patronage for workers).
  
• Auxiliary costs (utilities, basic supplies, insurance etc.) Making a Makerspace: Getting Insurance (Makezine.com)
  

• Decide your membership model.
  
• Decide your membership tier structure (monthly, yearly, lifetime..?)
  
• Sponsorships - can be cash from individuals, companies, or hardware sponsorship.
  
• Donations - donation jar, individual/company donations.
  
• Investors. Remember, these are long-term relationships and investors typically expect returns, Board votes or shares.
  
• Merchandise income - you can always sell schwag, kits and art.
  
• Outline any other potential income sources you are willing or able to commit to (online advertising revenue, events and fundraisers, etc.)
  

• What do you require, and what do you want? Consider space size, location, proximity to transportation, neighborhood affiliations, member safety, etc.)
  
• How much can you reasonably afford?
  
• Explore lease-to-buy options.
  
• Assess the buildout potential of spaces you look at.
  
• Find out the zoning, permits and operating rules and requirements of the space (depends on location; check your local government’s website) – is it going to work?
  
• Is it accessible?
  
• Can it accommodate technology, wiring, upgrades, loud noises, lots of people in and out, strange activity, etc?
  

• Size - measure it out.
  
• Break down the space into front and back; public or private areas.
  
• Determine fixed (such as a darkroom or chemicals area) or mutable areas
  
• Coordinate your layout plans and map with your DIY members - assess everyone’s needs.
  
• Consider what materials to use, efficient space layout to optimize productive hacking; never forget about safety and develop a safety education program.
  
• Think about growth while you’re at it. Hypothesize ay future buildout – sketch out a rendering of the space to that effect.
  
• Determine your Hackerspace’s overall motif and themes.
  

9. Infrastructure Buildout - See also: How To Start A Hackerspace: Get Your Space Ready (Adafruit.com)

• How will you break out your work zones?
  
• Will there be dedicated member storage?
  
• Space to space linking: Will you dedicate a wall to teleconferencing?
  
• Are your building permits in order? What building permits do you need?
  
• Do you have enough funds to hire contractors or will it be mixed with the member volunteers?
  
• If you do pull from the membership, are they licensed to do architectural or electrical work?
• Are all the tools you want compatible in the current space, and do you need any non-standard arrangements made for heavy tools?

• Assess the basics for starting up: make a list.
  
• Look around at your in-house tools and materials.
  
• Consider portable, moveable, off-site equipment and materials.
  
• What is needed to facilitate the areas in your Hackerspace that are being built? What can you reasonably provide, what will your members need to provide for themselves?
  
• Scavenge. (Responsibly!) You’ll be surprised at how handy milk crates are in a Hackerspace.
  
• Possible co-op of tools, lending library, signup time slots, or other tool/equipment sharing system?
  
• Also consider the possibility of building new equipment and things like heavy duty work tables onsite.
  

11. Web Presence

• What kind of web presence is it? None? Social only (Twitter, Facebook)? A full-featured website, membership page only, an email list, group or singular blog, a forum...?
  
• Membership page: See How to Start A Hackerspace: Membership Dues (Adafruit.com)
  
• Maintenance: assign responsible people who love to do it.
  
• Merchandise - sell on your site for income?
  
• Online lectures and materials - sell on your site for income?
  
• Links to affiliates - things like Amazon Associates can bring in “passive income” but consider member ethics, your Bylaws and Mission Statement when choosing affiliates.
  
• Advertising: again, consider your people before signing ad agreements, because advertisers are public reputation associations.

12. Marketing or Advertising

• Identify markets or the niche your Hackerspace fits into.
  
• Show marketability: create a solid “who we are” and what you offer (what can be done in your Hackerspace) on your website, pick your logo and Hackerpsace colors for consistency.
  
• Who are your members? Can they offer anything toward getting the word out with activities like stickering, flyering, Tweeting, photo sharing, wearing your schwag?
  
• Merchandise (schwag) can be in-house or affiliate-related.
  
• Expand your tentacles – network online and off.
  
• Would your Board and members be okay with paid advertising on other websites?
  

• Get people to join - Get the word out.
• Get members involved; invite participation.
• Volunteers - Consider offering membership by the day to month in exchange for Hackerspace work.
• Recruit at conventions, gatherings, parties, etc.
• Show your accessibility with a place for feedback, forum input.

14. Affiliates and Associates

• This can be found among friends and current members.
  
• Look outside your immediate network.
  
• You can also network with others within like-minded organizations.
  
• Approach alternative educational institutions for support.
  
• Connect online with other Hackerspaces.
  
• A co-op model is always an option.
  
• Consider joint endeavors, group exercises and inter-system challenges.
  
• Reach out to MIT via Polycom to the FABLAB network.
  
• Put yourself on the Hackerspaces map. (Hackerspaces.org)
  

16. Franchise or Model Branching

• Is growing beyond one location effective for your goals?
• Viability - can you replicate your Hackerspace and sustain it?
  
• Desirability. Does your model appeal to different markets?
  
• Location(s); think about where you’d like to have another Hackerspace in your member network.
  
• You can also consider venue-type expansions (i.e. a club, workshop, warehouse, tech/science labs, etc.)