Co-Working gleich Co-Working

In Zürich ist Co-Working längst ein etablierter Standard. Ob im Technopark, Impact Hub, Citizen Space, in Anwaltskanzleien, Architekturbüros oder Gemeinschaftspraxen – unabhängige Fachleute teilen Infrastruktur, arbeiten eigenständig und bleiben voll verantwortlich für ihr eigenes Geschäft.

Doch im Coiffeurbereich wird Co-Working oft noch mit dem veralteten Konzept der Stuhlmiete verwechselt. Dabei ist moderner Co-Working-Space für Hair Artists genau dasselbe wie Co-Working in allen anderen Branchen: ein gemeinsamer Arbeitsplatz, genutzt von selbstständigen Einzelunternehmern — ohne gemeinsame Umsätze, ohne Arbeitgeberverhältnis, ohne Abhängigkeiten.

In diesem Blog erklären wir, warum das Modell von 8004.salon Co-Working Collective exakt den gleichen Prinzipien folgt wie jede andere Co-Working-Struktur in der Stadt Zürich — und warum es steuerlich, sozialversicherungsrechtlich und gewerblich korrekt eingeordnet werden muss.

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1. Co-Working = Geteilte Infrastruktur, nicht gemeinsames Geschäft

Im Kern bedeutet Co-Working:

mehrere selbstständige Unternehmer:innen

nutzen gemeinsam Infrastruktur,

zahlen dafür eine Mitgliedschaft oder Blockgebühr,

arbeiten vollkommen unabhängig voneinander.

Genau wie in anderen Co-Working-Umgebungen stellt auch 8004.salon nur die Arbeitsumgebung zur Verfügung:

Arbeitsplätze

Waschplätze

Spiegel und Beleuchtung

Handtücher

Access zu Profi-Werkzeugen

Kaffee, Küche, Hygiene-Infrastruktur

Unsere Mitglieder bringen alles ein, was zur eigenen selbstständigen Tätigkeit gehört:

ihre eigene Firma, Preisgestaltung, Kund:innen, Buchhaltung, Versicherungen und ihre berufliche Verantwortung.

Das entspricht exakt dem Co-Working-Konzept aller Branchen.

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2. Keine Vermietung einer fixen Fläche, keine Stuhlmiete, kein Mietvertrag

Ein wesentlicher Unterschied zu traditionellen Salons:

Bei uns mietet niemand einen fixen Platz oder einen „Stuhl“.

Stattdessen buchen unsere Mitglieder Co-Working-Blöcke (z. B. 08:00–14:00 oder 15:00–21:00).

Die Arbeitsplätze sind nicht exklusiv, sondern werden rotierend genutzt — ganz wie in anderen Co-Working-Spaces.

Das vermeidet:

Mietrechtliche Verhältnisse

Untervermietung

„Stuhlmiete“-Typen von Geschäftsstrukturen

Abhängigkeiten zwischen Betreiber und Mitglied

Es ist ein Co-Working-Modell, nicht ein Mietmodell.

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3. 100 % unabhängige Geschäftsführung

Jedes Mitglied arbeitet unter dem eigenen Firmennamen.

Das bedeutet:

Eigene Buchhaltung

Eigene Preise

Eigene Bezahlmethoden

Eigene Kund:innen

Eigene Terminverwaltung

Eigenverantwortliche Steuererklärung

Sozialversicherungsrechtlich selbstständig

Der Betreiber des Co-Working-Spaces (8004.salon) hat keinen Zugang zu den Umsätzen der Mitglieder und keinen Einfluss auf deren geschäftliche Entscheidungen.

Damit ist klar:

Wir sind kein gemeinsames Unternehmen, keine Gemeinschaftspraxis und kein „gemeinschaftlicher Betrieb“ im steuerlichen Sinne.

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4. Keine Umsatzbeteiligung, keine Provisionen, keine Einflussnahme

Ein zentrales Merkmal jeder echten Co-Working-Struktur:

Der Space verdient nicht am Umsatz der Mitglieder.

Bei 8004.salon gilt:

Wir erhalten keinen Anteil an Dienstleistungen

Wir verwalten keine Umsätze der Mitglieder

Wir bestimmen keine Preise

Wir vermitteln keine Kund:innen

Es gibt keine wirtschaftliche Abhängigkeit

Unsere einzige Einnahmequelle ist die Mitgliedschaftsgebühr für die Nutzung der Infrastruktur, wie bei jedem Co-Working-Space in Zürich.

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5. Warum dieses Modell vom Charakter her eindeutig Co-Working ist

Stellt man unser Modell direkt neben andere Co-Working-Spaces in Zürich, sieht man sofort die strukturelle Gleichheit:

Branche Beispiel Struktur Status

Tech / Kreativ Impact Hub Selbstständige nutzen geteilte Infrastruktur Co-Working

Medizin / Therapie Gemeinschaftspraxen Selbstständige nutzen gemeinsam Räume Co-Working

Recht Kanzlei-Co-Working Anwälte teilen Infrastruktur, bleiben eigenständig Co-Working

Coiffeur 8004.salon Selbstständige nutzen gemeinsame Infrastruktur, bleiben eigenständig Co-Working

Der rechtliche Charakter ist derselbe.

Der unternehmerische Charakter ist derselbe.

Die Selbstständigkeit der professionellen Mitglieder ist dieselbe.

Ein Unterschied besteht nur im Handwerk — nicht in der Struktur.

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6. Warum Co-Working im Coiffeurbereich steuerlich gleich behandelt werden sollte

Wenn Co-Working in allen anderen Branchen so anerkannt wird, dann muss dasselbe Modell im Beauty- und Coiffeursektor gelten.

Alle Kriterien der Steuerbehörden werden erfüllt:

✔ Selbstständigkeit

Jedes Mitglied ist Einzelunternehmer:in.

✔ Keine gemeinsame Umsatzbasis

Es gibt keine gemeinsamen Betriebserträge.

✔ Keine Weisungsbefugnis

Jedes Mitglied arbeitet eigenverantwortlich.

✔ Keine Mitarbeitenden

Der Space betreibt keine tätigen Mitarbeiter:innen für die Mitglieder.

✔ Nur Infrastruktur – keine Geschäftsführung

Der Betreiber stellt Infrastruktur bereit, nicht die wirtschaftliche Tätigkeit.

Damit erfüllt 8004.salon alle Anforderungen, die auch für Co-Working in anderen Branchen gelten.

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7. Fazit: Co-Working ist Co-Working — auch im Coiffeurbereich

Wir glauben an ein modernes, unabhängiges Arbeitsmodell für Hair Artists in Zürich.

Unser System ist:

transparent

fair

steuerlich korrekt

sozialversicherungsrechtlich sauber

unternehmerisch sinnvoll

exakt gleich aufgebaut wie andere Branchen-Co-Working-Spaces

Deshalb sollte Co-Working im Coiffeurbereich gleich behandelt werden wie jede andere Form von Co-Working in Zürich.

Und genau so leben wir es — jeden Tag.

Co-Working is Co-Working

Co-Working for Hairdressers: Why Our Model Works Exactly Like Every Other Co-Working Space in Zürich

Co-working has become a natural part of professional life in Zürich. Whether in the Technopark, Impact Hub, Citizen Space, law offices, therapy centres, or architectural studios — independent professionals share infrastructure while running their own completely separate businesses.

But in the hairdressing world, co-working is often mistakenly compared to the old-fashioned idea of chair rental because it is a term used like “tempo" for tissues or “glad wrap" for cling foil, it's just the known terminology. In reality, modern co-working for hairdressers follows the exact same principles used across every other industry: independent entrepreneurs, shared workspace, no shared turnover, no employment relationships, and full autonomy.

This article explains why the model of the 8004.salon Co-Working Collective is structurally identical to co-working spaces throughout Zürich — and why it must be recognised as such by clients, stylists, and regulatory authorities alike.

1. Co-Working = Shared Infrastructure, Independently Run Businesses

At its core, co-working means:

multiple self-employed professionals,

sharing infrastructure,

paying a membership fee,

and operating their own individual businesses.

8004.salon provides the workspace — nothing more and nothing less:

workstations

wash basins

mirrors and lighting

storage

towels

access to shared professional tools

kitchen facilities and hygiene infrastructure

Members bring everything connected to their own business:

their own company

their own clients

their own prices

their own payments

their own insurance

their own tax responsibilities

This is identical to how co-working functions in every other industry.

2. No fixed stations, no “chair rental,” no rental contract

A key difference between co-working and traditional salons:

No one rents a fixed place, station, or “chair.”

There is no exclusive workstation assigned to any individual.

Instead, Members book co-working blocks (e.g., 08:00–14:00 or 15:00–21:00).

Workstations are shared and used flexibly throughout the day — exactly the same as in other co-working hubs.

This eliminates:

rental relationships

subleasing

“chair rental” structures

fixed-space dependency

This is not a rental model — it is a co-working membership.

3. 100% independent business ownership

Every Member operates under their own business identity.

That includes:

their own booking system profile

their own payment methods

their own price list

their own working hours

their own clients

their own accounting and VAT status

their own insurance

their own legal responsibility

The Co-Working Space does not:

access Member revenue

influence pricing

supply clients

manage Member payments

interfere with business decisions

This makes it clear:

8004.salon does not participate in Member earnings and does not function as a shared business or partnership.

4. No revenue sharing, no commissions, no business integration

Like all proper co-working spaces, our model includes:

no percentage of Member revenue

no commissions

no profit share

no employee-like dependence

no pooled income

Our only income as a Co-Working Space is the fixed membership fee for using the shared workspace and infrastructure.

Just like co-working offices across Zürich.

5. Why this structure is identical to other Zürich co-working models

When you compare our operational structure to any other co-working environment in the city, the similarities are obvious:

Industry Example Structure Classification

Tech / Creative Impact Hub Independent professionals share workspace Co-Working

Medical / Therapy Shared practices Independent providers share rooms Co-Working

Legal Lawyer co-working Independent attorneys share infrastructure Co-Working

Hairdressing 8004.salon Independent stylists share workspace Co-Working

The industry differs —

but the structure, economics, and independence model are exactly the same.

6. Why the model is consistent with tax and legal requirements

Co-working is accepted across every professional field because it meets key criteria:

✔ Self-employment

Each Member operates their own sole proprietorship or company.

✔ No shared turnover

The Co-Working Space has no participation in Member revenue.

✔ No employer authority

Members control their work, their schedule, their prices, and their clients.

✔ No employees performing Member work

The Space provides infrastructure only.

✔ Clear business separation

Each Member issues their own receipts, under their own name.

8004.salon meets all of these criteria —

just as any other co-working space in Zürich.

7. Conclusion: Co-Working is Co-Working — in every industry

We believe in a modern, flexible, independent working environment for hair professionals in Zürich. Our model is:

transparent

compliant

fair

entrepreneurship-friendly

aligned with established co-working principles

Co-working in the hairdressing industry should be recognised and treated exactly the same as co-working in all other professional fields.

That’s how we operate — and that’s why our structure is fully aligned with Zürich’s co-working standards.

Peace

Pos

Build It Right From Day One

Thinking of Starting a Co-Working Salon in Switzerland?

Here’s the Definitive Guide to Building a Fully Compliant Space in 2026**

Over the past months, we’ve explored:

• the legal foundations of co-working

• the risks of misclassification

• client ownership

• VAT structure

• digital footprint indicators

• payment separation

• block-based access

• Member independence

• and how Pod.World supports all of it

Now, more salon owners — and new entrepreneurs — are asking the same question:

“I want to build a co-working salon.
How do I do it legally, safely, and correctly from the beginning?”

This blog is written for you.

Whether you’re a traditional salon owner wanting to modernise your model,
or someone considering opening a new co-working space,
this is the clearest blueprint available for building a compliant co-working salon in Switzerland.

**1. Start by understanding co-working:

It’s not chair rental, and it’s not employment**

Switzerland recognises co-working as:

• non-exclusive use of a space

• shared access

• independence for each professional

• freedom of pricing, branding, and schedule

• a physical environment, not a business partnership

A compliant co-working space must not:

• assign stations

• require fixed hours

• share client lists

• set prices

• collect service revenue

• present stylists as staff

• run unified menus

• create team calendars

• make centralized marketing claims

• appear as "the service provider"

If any of these happen, you’ve accidentally built:

• an employment relationship

• or a rental salon

• or a unified business

…instead of co-working.

And that’s exactly why the structure must be correct from day one.

2. Build your financial structure first (this is where most people fail)

If the money flows incorrectly,
everything else breaks.

A compliant space must have:

✔ Service income sent directly to Members
✔ Retail income sent directly to the space owner
✔ No pooling of money
✔ No splitting
✔ No mixing
✔ No commissions
✔ No revenue-based rent
✔ Separate merchant accounts
✔ Separate receipts

If you skip this step, you will not pass an audit.

This is also why Pod.World exists —
to automate this structure for you so nothing is left to interpretation.

3. Client ownership must ALWAYS belong to the Member

This is one of the strongest indicators of independence.

A compliant co-working space must guarantee:

✔ The space owner cannot access Member client data
✔ Each Member controls their full clientele
✔ Each Member can export their data immediately
✔ Communication flows directly between client ↔ Member
✔ Receipts and confirmations come from the Member
✔ The Member’s branding is primary
✔ The website identifies Members as independent

If clients appear to belong to the space,
the entire structure shifts toward a traditional salon model.

4. The digital footprint must match the legal structure

This is where most salons accidentally fail compliance.

Your website, booking systems, social media and Google Maps must show:

✔ Independent professionals
✔ Individual booking links
✔ Individual pricing
✔ Individual branding
✔ No “team” language
✔ No unified menu
✔ No suggestion of employer control
✔ The space as a location — not a business providing services

This keeps your digital identity aligned with your contracts
and with Swiss co-working law.

5. Use block-based space access — NOT chairs or stations

To avoid being classified as a rental business:

✔ Members should book time, not furniture
✔ No one “owns a chair”
✔ Access should rotate
✔ The space stays non-exclusive
✔ The language reflects co-working, not renting

This mirrors the model used by:

• Impact Hub

• Westhive

• Trust Square

• therapy collectives

• creative studios

• consulting co-working

Pod.World enforces this automatically.

6. Your website must act like a directory, not a salon homepage

A compliant co-working website should:

✔ show who works there
✔ link to each Member’s independent booking page
✔ highlight independence clearly
✔ avoid selling “services”
✔ avoid group pricing
✔ avoid identical branding
✔ ensure transparency for clients and authorities

This is not only smart —
it’s the blueprint for audit-proof clarity.

**7. Use the right software

(Traditional salon systems create risk — co-working software removes it)**

Salon software is designed for:

• employees

• teams

• unified branding

• revenue oversight

• shared client lists

• centralised payment processors

These features contradict co-working law.

Pod.World was built specifically to prevent:

• VAT collapse

• revenue visibility

• salon-style appearance

• client-sharing

• misclassification

• digital footprint confusion

• co-mingled payments

• station rental signals

For most co-working spaces,
software is either the biggest risk or the biggest protection.

Pod.World was designed to be protection.

8. Final step: create a structure you can defend confidently

A compliant co-working space should be able to answer “YES” to:

✔ Are all Members independent?
✔ Are payment flows separated?
✔ Does the software reinforce independence?
✔ Does the digital footprint match the legal reality?
✔ Do Members own their clients?
✔ Does the space avoid controlling business operations?
✔ Are contracts aligned with co-working law?

If you can defend all of this without hesitation,
you have built a compliant co-working space.

If not, you are relying on luck —
and luck is not a strategy.

Conclusion — Switzerland Needs Modern Co-Working Spaces That Are Built Correctly From Day One

The demand for co-working salons, studios and creative spaces in Zürich is rising.
But with that rise comes stricter oversight, and the need for absolute clarity in:

• contracts

• payments

• digital identity

• booking flows

• ownership

• independence

• software

• operations

This is no longer optional.
It is foundational.

The good news?

Everything needed to build a compliant co-working space now exists —
the knowledge, the structure, and finally, the software.

If you’re planning to open a co-working salon in 2026,
you now have a framework you can follow confidently.

And with Pod.World launching publicly in early 2026,
you’ll also have the tool to execute it cleanly.

The future of independent work in Switzerland is co-working —
and it’s finally ready for the structure it deserves.

pod.world - The Client Journey

Pod.World From the Client’s Perspective:

How Clients Easily Find, Book & Stay Connected With Their Preferred Independent Stylist**

Co-working spaces aren’t just changing the way independent professionals work —
they’re changing the way clients discover them.

In Zürich, more and more stylists, tattoo artists, beauty practitioners and wellness providers are working independently inside modern co-working collectives. It’s a fantastic shift: clients get more choice, more authenticity, and more personalised service.

But clients also have one big question:

“How do I actually find my stylist?”

That’s where Pod.World steps in.

Pod.World brings clarity and structure to the client experience —
from discovery, to booking, to rebooking, to staying in touch.

Today we’re explaining how Pod.World looks and feels through the eyes of the person who matters most:
the client sitting in the chair.

1. Clients can find their stylist from anywhere they naturally search

Clients discover stylists in many different places:

• Instagram

• TikTok

• Google Maps

• Facebook

• personal websites

• link-in-bio pages

• walk-ins who saw the space from outside

• referrals from friends

Pod.World ensures that no matter where a client first meets a stylist, they can:

✔ click straight into that stylist’s personal booking page
✔ see only that stylist’s services
✔ read only that stylist’s pricing
✔ book directly with that stylist
✔ receive receipts and confirmations from that stylist

There is no confusion, no shared accounts, and no “booking under the wrong person.”

Each stylist has a fully independent digital identity — and Pod.World ties them together seamlessly.

2. Clients walking past the space can instantly understand who works there

Zürich is a walkable city.
Many new clients discover spaces simply by passing them on the street.

They see:

“8004.salon – Coworking Collective”

… and think:

“Interesting. Who actually works here?”

With traditional models, this question is impossible to answer without walking inside and asking.

With Pod.World, the solution is simple:

✔ The client goes to the main website
✔ They see a clean overview of all independent professionals who share the space
✔ They click on anyone they like
✔ They go directly to that professional’s booking page

The system is clear:

One address.
Many independent business owners.
The client chooses their match.

No crossovers.
No confusion.
No shared pricing.
No unified branding.

Just a clean, transparent lineup of professionals.

3. New clients searching on Google understand the space instantly

A client who has never been to the location may Google:

• “hairdresser Zürich 8004”

• “balayage near me”

• “tattoo studio Wiedikon”

• “independent stylist Zürich”

They land on the 8004.salon website and immediately see:

✔ who is in the space
✔ what each stylist offers
✔ their individual branding
✔ their direct booking link
✔ their Google Maps profile
✔ their personal website

Pod.World turns the website into a directory of independent talent, not a salon team page.

Clients get:

• transparency

• trust

• fast access

• simple navigation

• freedom to choose

• clarity on who does what

Everything is easy — even for someone who has never heard of co-working before.

4. Pod.World gives clients a seamless booking journey

Clients want simplicity.
They want clarity.
They want to avoid mistakes.

Pod.World delivers:

✔ Booking flows tailored to each stylist
✔ No need for a central login
✔ No shared menus
✔ No “choose your stylist” dropdowns
✔ No mixed receipts
✔ No surprise charges
✔ No confusion about who they booked

Clients understand immediately:

I’m booking this person, at this price, through this system, for this service.

This helps them trust the professional — not a faceless salon entity.

5. Returning clients always know exactly where to book

Because each stylist has their own Pod.World page, clients can rebook through:

• their stylist’s Instagram

• their stylist’s Google Maps page

• their stylist’s website

• their stylist’s link-in-bio

• the main co-working website (only if they want to look around)

No matter which doorway they choose, the result is always the same:

✔ clear, accurate booking
✔ direct relationship with their professional
✔ no interference from the space

The returning client always ends up exactly where they should be.

6. Pod.World protects client privacy and trust

Clients appreciate clarity about how their information is handled.

Pod.World ensures:

✔ their data goes only to the stylist they booked
✔ the space owner cannot access it
✔ other stylists cannot see their details
✔ no central salon database exists
✔ communication is always stylist ↔ client

This is modern, respectful, GDPR-aligned client management — the kind clients expect and deserve.

7. Clients feel the independence of each stylist — and that builds trust

Clients today want:

• authenticity

• transparency

• personality

• direct relationships

Pod.World highlights this independence:

✔ each stylist has their own branding
✔ each stylist sets their own pricing
✔ each stylist communicates in their own voice
✔ each stylist manages their own receipts
✔ each stylist builds their own identity

Clients can feel the independence — and independence feels trustworthy.

Conclusion — Pod.World Makes Co-Working Clear, Simple & Client-Friendly

To a client, Pod.World feels exactly like it should:

Simple. Clear. Transparent. Easy.

Whether they discover a stylist:

• on social media

• through Google

• from a friend

• or by walking past the space

Pod.World gives clients:

• a clean overview

• safe booking

• separate identities

• easy access

• accurate prices

• direct connections

• data protection

The co-working space looks organised.
The professionals look independent.
And the clients feel confident.

This is how modern service industries should operate.

pod.world for members & Happy Birthday Switzerland!

Why Independent Stylists & Service Professionals Should Encourage Their Co-Working Space to Use Pod.World

Most independent stylists, tattooists, and beauty professionals in Zürich choose self-employment for the same three reasons:

Freedom, flexibility, and ownership of their own career.

But here is something many independent service providers in Switzerland don’t realise:

Your independence is only as protected as the system your co-working space uses.

Even if you do everything right,

your space owner’s software can accidentally create the appearance of:

employee relationships

revenue sharing

chair rental

integrated business models

shared client ownership

VAT aggregation

or a unified salon structure

That’s enough to trigger questions you don’t want asked — even if you are fully self-employed and completely legitimate.

This is why Members should absolutely talk to their co-working space owners about using Pod.World.

Because Pod.World protects you just as much as it protects them.

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1. Salon software can accidentally make YOU look like an employee

Most booking systems were built for:

salons

employers

teams

unified service menus

shared databases

central revenue reporting

If your space owner uses software like this, it can accidentally create signals like:

❌ your bookings being visible to them

❌ your client list being stored under the salon

❌ your revenue appearing in aggregated numbers

❌ receipts being generated under the salon name

❌ a unified branding “team”

❌ a single combined Google Maps listing

❌ salon-style control over communication

None of this is your fault.

But you will still be included in any audit the space triggers.

Pod.World eliminates these risks.

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2. If everyone uses different booking systems, YOU lose clients

In many co-working spaces, every Member uses a different booking platform.

This is chaos for the client:

1 has Timely

1 uses ClientDiary

1 uses Square

1 uses Treatwell

1 uses a Google form

1 uses WhatsApp messages

Clients don’t know:

who works in the space

what services are offered

who is available

how to compare

which link belongs to whom

This confuses new clients, and confusion reduces bookings.

Pod.World gives Members:

✔ one central discovery page

✔ individual booking links

✔ individual branding

✔ individual receipts

✔ individual login

✔ individual financial flow

Clients can see everyone —

but still book you independently.

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3. Pod.World protects your client list from being absorbed into the salon

When Members leave a co-working space, the single biggest fear is:

“Will I lose my clients?”

If the salon software stores everything centrally, the answer is:

maybe.

With Pod.World, the answer is:

never.

Pod.World ensures:

✔ clients belong ONLY to the Member

✔ owners cannot access or export your data

✔ other Members cannot see your clients

✔ your entire client base follows you instantly

✔ all receipts are issued under YOUR identity

✔ your branding is always the point of contact

Your clients are your business asset —

not the co-working space’s.

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4. Pod.World protects you from VAT & employment misclassification risks

This is one of the areas most stylists are unaware of.

If the system your space uses:

mixes service + product payments

lets owners see your total revenue

shows your turnover in reports

issues receipts under the salon name

pulls everything into one merchant account

blends branding

combines your bookings with others

…you can appear — digitally — like an employee

even when your contract is correct.

Pod.World prevents those signals.

✔ owners never see your revenue

✔ your receipts are your receipts

✔ your services belong only to you

✔ payments go directly to your account

✔ no unified salon appearance online

✔ no risk of revenue aggregation

This protects your legal status as self-employed.

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5. Pod.World stabilises your professional reputation

Clients expect:

clear communication

consistent booking

predictable receipts

professional presentation

easy rescheduling

clean record-keeping

If your space uses messy, mismatched systems,

it reflects on you, even though it’s not your fault.

Pod.World gives Members:

✔ clean booking pages

✔ elegant confirmations

✔ clear policies

✔ standardised SMS/email flows

✔ beautifully structured receipts

You look more organised, more dependable, more trustworthy.

Which means:

more rebookings, more reviews, more referrals.

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**6. Pod.World protects your business long-term —

not just while you’re in the space**

If you leave a co-working space that uses mixed or outdated systems, you risk:

losing your client list

losing your client history

having no access to your own notes

being unable to export your data

missing your revenue records

looking unprofessional when you start over

With Pod.World:

✔ your data is always yours

✔ export is instant

✔ clients follow you seamlessly

✔ your profile continues uninterrupted

✔ no brand re-learning for clients

✔ no data held hostage

Leaving a space should never mean starting from zero.

Pod.World makes sure you don’t.

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7. Why Members should talk to their space owner about Pod.World

Because it’s not only in the owner’s interest —

it’s directly in yours.

Pod.World protects:

your legitimacy

your independence

your client base

your revenue

your brand

your future

If your owner isn’t using Pod.World yet, it’s worth the conversation.

Not as pressure.

Not as criticism.

But simply as:

> “This system protects both of us —

me as an independent professional, and you as the space owner.”

The safer the space is structurally,

the safer you are professionally.

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Conclusion — Independent Stylists Deserve a System That Matches Their Reality

Co-working is the future of the personal services industry.

Independence is growing.

Self-employment is increasing.

Clients love it.

Professionals love it.

The only thing that hasn’t kept up?

The technology.

Pod.World finally gives Members a sy

stem that protects:

their work

their data

their professional identity

their legal position

their income

their entire career

If you want your co-working environment to remain safe, compliant, and future-proof,

pod.world is the tool that makes that possible.

And the conversation starts with you.

pod.world for owners

Pod.World for Co-Working Space Owners:

Finally, One System That Protects You, Your Members, and Your Clients**

Running a co-working space in the hair, beauty, tattoo or wellness industry sounds simple on paper — independent people sharing a room.
But in reality, Zürich co-working owners face one of two broken situations:

1. Traditional Salon Software — Too Much Control, Too Much Liability

Most salon apps are designed for:

• single-salon businesses

• employees

• centralised calendars

• shared client lists

• revenue reports

• unified service menus

• one merchant account

If a co-working owner uses these, they automatically inherit:

• visibility into Member earnings

• responsibility for client data

• payment flow ownership

• a digital footprint that looks like employment

Even if the owner is innocent in practice,
the software makes them look like a salon boss.

2. Every Member Using Their Own Booking System — Total Chaos for Clients

The opposite setup is just as bad.

When each independent Member uses:

• their own booking system

• from a different company

• with different features

• different login requirements

• different receipts

• different client communication

Clients get lost instantly.

A new visitor walks in thinking:

“I just want to book someone at 8004.salon.”

But instead they must navigate:

• five different booking apps

• five different login screens

• five different verification codes

• five different calendars

Clients don’t know which system to trust.
Owners lose potential business.
Members become invisible behind the confusion.

This isn’t independence — it’s fragmentation.

Pod.World Solves Both Problems for Co-Working Owners

Pod.World is the first system built specifically for service-based co-working spaces.

It gives owners what they need:

✔ A single entry point for clients

Clients see everyone in the space without the owner controlling their business.

✔ Each Member still has their own separate business profile

Their own prices, services, branding, receipts, payments.

✔ Clean compliance protection for the owner

Pod.World ensures:

• no visibility into Member revenue

• no access to client lists

• no blended payments

• no salon-style features

• no employer-style controls

✔ Clear operational structure

• block-based access

• shared infrastructure

• owner control of the physical space

• Member control of their business

Exactly how co-working is supposed to function.

Why This Matters for Zürich Co-Working Owners

Authorities are becoming stricter.
Digital footprints matter more than ever.
And owners must show:

• independence

• separation

• correct payment flows

• no involvement in Member business

• no salon-style integrations

Pod.World protects all of this automatically,
while finally giving clients one clear way to book anyone in the space.

It’s the first time owners have a tool that keeps things simple and legally safe.

Coming Early 2026

Pod.World will be available to Zürich co-working spaces in early 2026.

• One clean system

• One transparent environment

• One compliance framework

• Hundreds of independent professionals protected

• Dozens of co-working spaces simplified

Co-working owners get clarity.
Members get freedom.
Clients get convenience.

This is the system the industry has been waiting for.

pod.world

Introducing Pod.World:

The First Co-Working Management App Designed for Swiss Compliance (Launching Publicly in Early 2026)**

For the past two years, the hair, beauty, tattoo, and wellness industries in Zürich have experienced something new:
a rapid shift from outdated chair-rental models into modern co-working structures that mirror the way every other professional sector already operates.

And yet, one thing has been missing.

A management system built specifically for co-working.
Not for salons.
Not for employees.
Not for rental studios.
But for independent professionals sharing a space — exactly as the law intends.

That is why we built Pod.World.

And today, June 2025, we’re finally ready to talk about it.

Why Pod.World Exists

Every other industry in Zürich — tech, design, therapy, consulting — operates flawlessly within the co-working model.
But service providers in hair, beauty, and tattoo have been forced to use outdated salon software designed for:

• employers + employees

• salon teams

• unified service menus

• central client databases

• revenue tracking systems

• commission structures

• fixed chairs and station assignments

• centralised payment systems

None of that fits co-working.
None of that fits Swiss law.
None of that protects the independence of the professionals using the space.

So in 2024, instead of trying to bend traditional salon software into something it could never be, we decided to build the tool our industry actually needed.

What Is Pod.World?

Pod.World is a true co-working management system designed specifically for:

• independent stylists

• independent tattoo artists

• independent beauty practitioners

• independent wellness providers

• co-working studio owners who want to remain compliant

It is the first platform in Switzerland engineered to ensure:

✔ legal separation

✔ clean financial architecture

✔ full client ownership

✔ data protection

✔ structural independence

✔ correct VAT handling

✔ no business integration signals

And it does all of this automatically — so co-working owners and Members don’t have to think about compliance every day.

That work has already been built into the system.

Why Early 2026 Matters

Pod.World has been used internally at 8004.salon throughout 2024–2025 as part of our compliance development process.
We used this period to:

• refine the payment architecture

• test client-ownership protections

• stress-test booking flows

• build role-based access systems

• eliminate any salon-style behaviour

• ensure zero revenue visibility for owners

• ensure Members maintain total autonomy

• comply with Swiss DSG data protection requirements

• solve the mixed payment problem for retail vs services

• integrate time-block access instead of “chair rental” logic

• produce transparent audit-ready reporting

By early 2026, Pod.World will be available to:

• co-working salons

• tattoo collectives

• beauty studios

• wellness co-working spaces

• any Swiss workspace hosting independent service providers

in the Zürich area.

These spaces will finally have a tool built for them, not for someone else’s business model.

What Pod.World Solves — That Other Systems Can’t

1. Revenue Separation at the Moment of Payment

Services → Member
Retail → Space Owner
No splitting.
No pooling.
No risk.

2. Complete Client-Data Isolation

Members own their clients.
Only they can access them.
Not the space.
Not other Members.

3. Independent Branding

Every Member gets their own booking page, their own branding, and their own digital presence — exactly as co-working requires.

4. Member Autonomy Built Into the System

Pricing, services, receipts, communication:
All controlled by the Member.

5. Compliance by Architecture

Pod.World is built to reflect real co-working, not traditional salons.
It prevents accidental violations before they happen.

6. Block-Based Space Access

Members book time, not chairs.
This removes every rental implication.

7. Legal Transparency

Contracts.
Policies.
Audit-ready documentation.
Everything stored in one place.

For Zürich Co-Working Owners: Pod.World Keeps You Safe

Swiss authorities are tightening their interpretation of chair-rental models.
They are scrutinising:

• payment flows

• booking systems

• branding

• client ownership

• digital footprints

• data visibility

• contracts

• VAT positioning

Pod.World ensures:

• you do not see Member revenue

• you do not control their clients

• you do not influence pricing

• you do not appear as the merchant

• you do not look like a salon employing workers

• you do not handle their income

• you do not risk VAT aggregation

• you do not accidentally create a shared business

This is not defensive compliance.
This is proactive protection.

For Independent Members: Pod.World Protects Your Freedom

Members get:

• full client ownership

• their own receipts

• their own merchant account

• their own booking page

• their own Google listing integration

• their own branding

• their own data

• instant export if they leave

And — critically — they keep their full business identity no matter where they work.

This is modern self-employment.
This is co-working exactly as other industries experience it.

What Happens Next

Throughout the second half of 2025, Pod.World will continue to evolve internally as we prepare for:

Public release in early 2026

offered first to co-working spaces in Zürich, then gradually throughout Switzerland.

We will be offering:

• early adopter onboarding

• compliance workshops

• contract templates

• payment-flow configuration

• branding separation audits

• step-by-step setup support

because our goal is simple:

Every co-working space in Zürich should be legally safe, structurally correct, and completely confident in how it operates.

Pod.World was built to make that possible.

**Conclusion: Pod.World Is More Than Software —

It’s the Future of Co-Working Compliance in Switzerland**

The shift from salon-style business models to independent co-working is already happening across Zurich.
But software has not kept up.
Regulations have become more demanding.
Audits more detailed.
Requirements more specific.

So we built the system the industry was missing.

A tool that protects:

• the owner

• the Members

• the clients

• the structure

• and the integrity of the co-working model itself

Pod.World isn’t just an app.
It’s a framework for the next era of self-employment in the service sector — one that is transparent, compliant, independent, and finally aligned with how Swiss co-working is supposed to function.

Early 2026: Pod.World goes public.
June 2025: we begin telling the world.

The Checklist

BLOG SERIES PART 10

The Complete Co-Working Compliance Checklist:
How 8004.salon and Pod.World Built a Legally Airtight Model for Independent Professionals in Switzerland**

Co-working in Switzerland is not new.
But co-working in service-based industries like hair, beauty, tattoo, wellness and personal services is still catching up to the legal structures that office co-working spaces have used for years.

The difference?

Office co-working has always understood one thing very well:

If you build the structure correctly, there is nothing to fear from an audit.
If you build the structure poorly, everything becomes a problem.

At 8004.salon, we didn’t guess.
We didn’t copy other salons.
We didn’t bend salon software into a shape it was never meant to take.

We studied the law.
We studied SVA criteria.
We studied MWST logic.
We studied audit case studies.
We consulted with high-ranking legal professionals.
And then — we built our own co-working infrastructure and our own software tool from scratch to enforce compliance by design.

This is not an accident.
This is not luck.
This is architecture.

This final blog lays out the Complete Co-Working Compliance Checklist — the same guidelines we used to build 8004.salon and the Pod.World co-working management system.

For authorities, Members, space owners, lawyers, and anyone evaluating co-working practices in Switzerland:
this is the gold standard.

**SECTION 1

Structural Independence Checklist**

A compliant co-working space must demonstrate clear independence at every level.

8004.salon + Pod.World provide:

✔ Independent businesses, not staff
✔ No employer-like control
✔ No unified service menu
✔ No influence over pricing
✔ No influence over appointment decisions
✔ No shared client lists
✔ No centralised revenue reporting
✔ No service payments flowing through the space
✔ No commission system
✔ No revenue-based fees
✔ No integration of branding or marketing
✔ No assigned or exclusive chairs
✔ Block-based workspace access
✔ Clean separation of responsibilities
✔ Members free to leave with 24 hours’ notice
✔ Members free to take all client data with them immediately

Every one of these is an SVA indicator.
8004.salon meets all of them.

**SECTION 2

Financial Flow Checklist**

Authorities always follow the money.
Which is why we built Pod.World to enforce the correct architecture automatically.

✔ Service payments → Member’s bank account
✔ Retail payments → Space Owner’s bank account
✔ No mixing of payments
✔ No splitting of payments internally
✔ No pooled income
✔ No commission payouts
✔ No turnover visibility for the owner
✔ Separate receipts from separate businesses
✔ No MWST confusion
✔ No revenue aggregation risk

If authorities want clarity, this is clarity.

**SECTION 3

Client Ownership & Data Protection Checklist**

Client ownership is one of the strongest legal indicators of independence.

At 8004.salon:

✔ Clients belong exclusively to the Member
✔ Member controls all client data at all times
✔ Member retains their full client list upon exit
✔ Space owner cannot view or export client data
✔ Pod.World uses role-based access to ensure separation
✔ No shared customer database
✔ No central branding in client communication
✔ Website transparently states Members are independent
✔ Departed Members remain listed for 3 months to assist client continuity (not for business gain)

This aligns with DSG (Swiss data protection) and with international GDPR standards.

**SECTION 4

Digital Footprint Checklist**

Online presence must reflect the real structure.

✔ Every Member has a separate Google Maps listing
✔ Every Member uses their own booking link
✔ Every Member has their own website
✔ Every Member uses their own branding
✔ 8004 lists Members clearly as independent professionals
✔ No unified “team page” implying employment
✔ No central service menu
✔ No “our stylists” language
✔ No salon-style promotion of Member work
✔ Social media bios reflect independence, not employment

This matches how Impact Hub, Westhive, Citizen Space, Trust Square and therapy collectives manage digital separation.

**SECTION 5

Contract & Legal Architecture Checklist**

A compliant co-working space must have:

✔ Membership agreements (not Mietverträge)
✔ Non-exclusive access (not fixed stations)
✔ Clear statements of independence
✔ No employer-style expectations
✔ No minimum working hours
✔ No revenue participation
✔ No service-related obligations
✔ Transparent termination rights (24 hours if necessary)
✔ No clauses that resemble employment law
✔ No clauses that resemble a salon-with-subcontractors model

8004’s contract was built with legal advisors to be fully aligned with Swiss co-working standards.

**SECTION 6

Space Owner Role Checklist**

A co-working space owner must provide:

✔ access
✔ infrastructure
✔ utilities
✔ cleanliness standards
✔ safety
✔ community
✔ optional retail for Members to recommend

They must not:

✘ manage Member business decisions
✘ set pricing
✘ manage clients
✘ assign tasks
✘ control branding
✘ supervise revenue
✘ take commission
✘ control marketing
✘ require loyalty

8004.salon follows these principles strictly.

**SECTION 7

Pod.World — The First Software Built to Protect the Law, Not Bend It**

Traditional salon software breaks co-working compliance because it was never designed for independent professionals.

So we built something new.

✔ Pod.World keeps the space owner blind to Member revenue
✔ Pod.World keeps Members blind to each other’s clients
✔ Pod.World splits payments at checkout
✔ Pod.World issues separate receipts
✔ Pod.World stores contracts
✔ Pod.World automates compliance structures
✔ Pod.World protects data
✔ Pod.World reinforces independence
✔ Pod.World prevents all the accidental violations salon software creates

Pod.World is not just software.
It is a compliance tool.

It protects:

• the client,

• the Member,

• the co-working space,

• and the legal integrity of the entire model.

No other system in Switzerland does this.

**SECTION 8

Conclusion: Compliance Is Not a Defence — It Is a Design**

Most salons try to defend themselves after something goes wrong.

8004.salon took the opposite approach.

We built an environment where:

• independence is visible,

• separation is structural,

• compliance is intuitive,

• data is protected,

• finances are clean,

• Members operate freely,

• the space owner has no involvement in business operations,

• and the co-working model is unmistakably clear — offline and online.

This is not a workaround or a loophole.
This is co-working as it exists across every other industry in Zürich — finally brought into hair, beauty and tattoo.

In other words:

We didn’t adapt the law to our space.
We adapted our space to the law.

And we’re ready to stand behind that — confidently, transparently, and with the full support of legal experts and custom-built software that protects everyone involved.

Digital Footprint

BLOG SERIES PART 9

Google Maps, Online Listings & Digital Footprints: How Co-Working Spaces Maintain Independence Everywhere They Appear Online**

A co-working space can structure everything perfectly inside its four walls — independent payments, separate receipts, individual pricing, clean contracts — and still face questions if its online presence tells a different story.

Google Maps, social media profiles, booking links, and business directories all speak loudly.
Sometimes louder than a contract.

Authorities know this.
It’s why digital footprints have quietly become part of the modern audit checklist.

The goal of every compliant co-working space is simple:

Offline and online must tell the same story:
One shared space. Many independent businesses.
Not one salon with multiple workers.

Here’s how that looks in practice — and how 8004.salon sets this standard clearly.

Every Member Has Their Own Google Maps Listing

This is one of the strongest indicators of true self-employment.

At 8004.salon, every Member has their own Google Maps profile:

• with their own business name

• their own branding

• their own reviews

• their own service descriptions

• their own phone number

• their own business hours

• their own booking link

• their own merchant details

Each listing simply states:

“Independent stylist/practitioner located inside 8004.salon Co-Working Collective.”

This mirrors how co-working is handled in Zürich’s office, therapy, consulting and wellness industries.
Impact Hub does not own its Members’ Google listings.
Westhive does not own them either.

Neither does 8004.salon.

And that’s exactly how it should be.

Every Member Has Their Own Booking Link — Everywhere

A booking link is not just a convenience —
it’s part of the legal structure.

Every Member at 8004.salon uses their own booking link on:

• Google Maps

• Instagram

• TikTok

• their personal website

• Facebook pages

• newsletter systems

• and any directory they choose

These links go directly to:

• their services

• their pricing

• their availability

• their receipts

• their payment account

No central booking link exists for the space.
No shared calendar.
No “book our stylists” page.

Each Member controls their own business completely.

This is how co-working works across every sector.

Members Maintain Their Own Branding Across All Platforms

Independence is clearest when it looks like independence.

At 8004.salon:

• Members use their own logos

• Members control their colours and aesthetics

• Members choose how to present their work

• Members speak in their own voice

• Members build and grow their own identity

The space is simply the environment — not the brand they operate under.

This is why 8004 allows Members to show their own branding even on the main 8004 website:

• their own tile

• their own images

• their own style

• their own links

This transparency is intentional.
It shows clients — and any authority — that each Member is operating a fully independent business.

8004.salon Lists Members Transparently, Without Suggesting a Unified Salon

The 8004 website does something very few co-working spaces understand how to do properly:

It showcases Members while making it clear they are not staff.

The website states openly:

“Every stylist and practitioner at 8004.salon is fully independent and operates their own business.”

And every Member profile connects directly to:

• their personal Google Maps

• their personal booking system

• their personal website

• their personal branding

It is a digital directory of independent businesses —
not a salon team page.

This mirrors how office co-working spaces list their Members, not their employees.

Why This Matters: Authorities Use Online Footprints to Understand the Real Relationship

When reviewing co-working spaces, auditors often check:

• Google Maps descriptions

• Instagram bios and captions

• TikTok profiles

• Facebook pages

• Booking system branding

• Directory listings

• Website wording

• Online service menus

If the digital footprint says:

• “Our team,”

• “Our stylists,”

• “Our services,”

• “Book with us,”

or presents a unified brand delivering services,
then the structure looks like a salon — even if everything else is correct.

But when the footprint reflects:

• independent businesses

• their own reviews

• their own booking funnels

• their own pricing

• their own branding

• their own online presence

then the structure looks like every other co-working model in Zürich.

And that is exactly the compliant reality.

How Pod.World Protects Digital Separation

Pod.World was built with online separation as a core design principle.

Inside the system:

• every Member has their own booking profile

• the space never appears as the merchant

• the space cannot override Member branding

• payment flows are independent

• receipts originate from the Member

• confirmations come from the Member

• URLs are personalised per Member

• no “central salon” identity exists

This ensures that even inexperienced Members accidentally posting the wrong thing cannot blur the compliance structure.

The software protects the model by default.

Conclusion: Your Digital Footprint Is a Legal Footprint

Online presence is not decoration —
it is evidence.

When a co-working space makes independence visible across:

• Google Maps

• social media

• personal websites

• booking links

• reviews

• branding

the entire structure becomes self-explanatory.

This is why 8004.salon’s digital system is designed the way it is:

• independent listings

• independent branding

• independent booking flows

• independent client ownership

• independent payment architecture

• transparent presentation

In Blog 10, we’ll bring everything together with a complete compliance checklist —
the exact elements auditors look for, and how co-working spaces can ensure they meet every requirement with confidence.

Branding and Marketing

BLOG SERIES PART 8

Branding & Social Media in Co-Working Spaces: How to Promote Yourself Without Creating the Appearance of a Single Salon Business**

Branding is one of the most misunderstood areas in modern co-working — especially in the hair, beauty, tattoo, wellness and creative industries.
In traditional salons, everyone posts under one brand.
In co-working, that structure can cause confusion and even compliance problems.

Swiss authorities already use online presence as part of their assessment of independence, and most space owners don't realise how much platforms like TikTok, Instagram or even Google Maps can reveal.

This blog breaks down:

• how Members should present themselves online,

• how the Space Owner should brand the space,

• how authorities interpret social media signals,

• and how to ensure your co-working environment always appears exactly as it is: a community of independent professionals, not a unified business.

Why Branding Matters for Compliance

Authorities often check:

• websites

• Instagram bios

• TikTok captions

• Google Maps listings

• client confirmation emails

• booking URLs

• advertisements and flyers

• Facebook pages

• hashtags and geotags

Because these reveal the actual relationship better than any contract.

If everything online suggests:

• a single salon brand,

• a unified team,

• employees rather than independent Members,

• or one owner actively promoting the work of others as their own service offering…

…then the co-working structure becomes harder to defend.

Marketing can unintentionally destroy the independence the legal structure carefully built.

The Golden Rule: One Space, Many Businesses — Not One Salon, Many Workers

Co-working branding must follow a simple logic:

The Space has its brand.
Each Member has their own brand.
They are separate, but connected through location.

Just like Impact Hub:
“Based at Impact Hub Zürich” does not make all its Members one company.

Just like Westhive:
A freelancer’s clients know they work inside Westhive, not for Westhive.

Same goes for:

• Citizen Space

• Trust Square

• therapy co-working clinics

• wellness co-working studios

Hair, beauty and tattoo co-working spaces operate exactly the same way.

How Members Should Present Themselves on Social Media

1. Their business identity comes first

A Member’s Instagram bio should say:

“Independent hairstylist based at 8004.salon Co-Working Space”
or
“Tattoo artist working independently inside a co-working studio at XYZ”

NOT:

• “Stylist at 8004.salon”

• “Part of the 8004 team”

• “Employee at…”

• “8004.salon hairstylist”

Those imply an employment or unified business structure.

2. Use location tags, not employer phrasing

Correct:

• “Based in Zürich, 8004.salon Co-Working Collective”

• “Working independently at a co-working space in Kreis 4”

Incorrect:

• “Working for 8004.salon”

• “8004.salon stylist”

3. Captions should highlight independence

Examples:

• “Loved creating this look today at my co-working space in Zürich.”

• “Another colour transformation in my studio chair inside 8004.salon’s co-working environment.”

Each sentence reinforces autonomy.

4. Receipts and booking confirmations must come from the Member

A screenshot saying:

“Booking confirmed by 8004.salon”
implies employment.

Instead:

“Booking confirmed by [Member Name] — Independent Stylist at 8004.salon Co-Working Space”

This distinction is extremely important.

How the Space Owner Should Present the Space

1. Promote the space, not the Members’ work as if it’s your service

Great:

• “Here are independent professionals who choose to work in our space.”

• “Meet the Members of our co-working community.”

• “A beautiful transformation created by [Name], who works independently from our co-working space.”

Risky:

• “Our stylists created…”

• “Our team did this colour…”

• “Look at what we did today…”

• “Our work. Our services.”

Those expressions imply a single business.

2. Use collective language only in relation to the space, not the services

Correct:

• “We provide a co-working environment.”

• “We host independent professionals.”

• “Our space supports Members who run their own businesses.”

Incorrect:

• “We offer haircuts, colours, tattoos…”

• “Our salon does…”

• “Our services include…”

The building provides space.
The Members provide services.

3. Use brand separation visually

Examples that reinforce co-working:

• Show the space empty.

• Show Members but caption them as independent.

• Use neutral branding in posts about the space.

• Avoid unified uniforms, aprons or branding that suggests employment.

How Authorities Interpret Social Media Signals

Auditors check:

• Does the space look like it controls the Members?

• Does the social media imply “one salon”?

• Do Members appear to be a “team”?

• Does the Space’s branding overshadow Member brands?

• Are posts framed like employer–employee communication?

• Do booking links all point to a central system?

• Does the Space appear to profit from Member services?

If the space appears like:

One brand → one service provider → multiple workers inside,
that triggers further inquiry.

If the space appears like:

Independent businesses → shared location → no unified service offering,
that aligns perfectly with co-working norms.

How Pod.World Reinforces Branding Separation

Pod.World, the co-working management tool built for service-based spaces, guarantees:

• each Member has their own booking profile

• each Member has their own receipts

• each Member has their own SMS/email templates

• space owners cannot override Member branding

• Members are presented as independent providers

• the space’s brand appears only where appropriate

• no unified “service list” exists for all Members

In other words:

The software prevents the appearance of a single business — even accidentally.

This makes compliance not just possible, but automatic.

Conclusion: Branding Is Not Just Marketing — It’s Legal Architecture

The way a co-working space presents itself online can either:

• protect the model, or

• unintentionally destroy it.

The right branding approach ensures:

• Members look independent

• The space looks like a landlord of infrastructure

• No unified “team” identity appears

• Auditors see clear separation

• Client relationships remain with the Member

• The co-working structure stays fully compliant

In Switzerland, where online presence is routinely reviewed during audits, this clarity isn’t optional — it’s essential.

In Blog 9, we’ll look at Google Maps, directories, and online listings, and how to structure your digital footprint so independence is unmistakable.

Data and Client Ownership

BLOG SERIES PART 7

Client Ownership, Data Protection & Real Independence: How Co-Working Spaces Must Handle Client Information in Switzerland**

In every industry where self-employed professionals work inside a shared environment — therapy, design, tech, wellness, beauty, tattoo, hair — one question defines independence more clearly than almost anything else:

Who owns the client relationship?

Swiss authorities rely heavily on this indicator when evaluating self-employment.
And data protection law (DSG) reinforces it even more strongly.

A true co-working space must treat client information as:

• private,

• controlled exclusively by the Member,

• not accessible to the space owner,

• and not integrated into a “salon” or “master” database.

This blog explains exactly how client ownership and data protection work inside a compliant co-working model — and why 8004.salon’s approach sets the standard for the entire industry.

Client Ownership Is the Strongest Proof of Independence

When SVA evaluates whether someone is truly self-employed, one question appears in almost every assessment:

“Does the person own their client base?"

If the answer is “yes,” then the individual is:

• independent,

• responsible for their own revenue,

• building their own business,

• and not dependent on the space owner.

If the answer is “no,” or if the space owner controls client data, then authorities may assume:

• hidden employment,

• salon-style management,

• business integration,

• or shared economic activity.

This is why a compliant co-working space must make it absolutely clear:

Clients belong to the Member.
Always.
Without exception.

At 8004.salon, this has been the structure from day one.

Each stylist:

• brings their own clients,

• books their own clients,

• manages their own appointments,

• invoices clients under their own business name,

• keeps full ownership of all client data.

That is the definition of independence — and it is exactly what the authorities look for.

Client Data = Personal Data (DSG) — and Cannot Belong to the Space Owner

Under Swiss data protection law:

• names,

• phone numbers,

• email addresses,

• appointment history,

• personal notes,

• preferences,

• colour formulas,

• health information for beauty/tattoo services

…all count as personal data.

This data can only be stored, accessed, and controlled by:

1. the person who collected it, or

2. the business responsible for the service.

This is another layer of proof:

A co-working space owner cannot own client data because they are not the service provider.

If a building or salon tries to control the client database, they are no longer a co-working space — they are running a salon business with multiple workers, even if the contract says otherwise.

At 8004.salon, the structure is exactly the opposite:

• The space owner cannot access member client lists.

• The space owner cannot modify client information.

• The space owner does not receive service payments.

• The space owner plays no role in service delivery.

This aligns perfectly with Swiss law and with co-working standards across other industries.

The 24-Hour Exit Policy: The Ultimate Proof of Non-Dependence

Another strong indicator of independence is the ability to leave immediately.

At 8004.salon:

• Members may terminate their membership with 24 hours’ notice.

• The space can also end the relationship immediately if necessary.

• There is no obligation, no minimum term, no dependency structure.

For authorities, this demonstrates:

• no employer–employee relationship,

• no economic dependency,

• no reliance on a shared client database,

• no continuation of business activities after separation.

The moment a Member chooses to leave:

• Their client list goes with them.

• Their online booking link goes with them.

• Their business continues unchanged.

• The co-working space does not retain or use their clients.

This is the purest form of self-employment.

Why 8004.salon Keeps Departed Member Profiles Visible for 3 Months

This is a unique detail worth explaining in the blog series because it shows:

• transparency,

• client care,

• and non-interference.

When a Member leaves, 8004.salon keeps a simple profile tile on the website for three months.
Why?

Because clients deserve clarity.

If a client searches online for their stylist, they should:

• see where that stylist has moved,

• find updated contact information,

• feel supported rather than abandoned,

• not assume “the salon” has taken over or blocked access.

This is not a contractual obligation.
This is simply ethical practice — just like many co-working spaces list “former members” or “alumni” for a transition period.

Importantly:

• No client data is shared.

• No bookings are routed through the space.

• No revenue flows through 8004.salon.

• No authority over clients is implied.

This is transparent, kind, and fully compliant.

Why This Matters: Authorities Use Client Data to Test the Real Business Relationship

When evaluating a co-working model, authorities often look for:

• shared client lists

• salon-wide mailing lists

• space-controlled booking systems

• client data visible to the space owner

• clients directed through the salon’s service channels

• unified branding that suggests a single commercial entity

None of these exist at 8004.salon, and they are not permitted in proper co-working.

Members manage:

• their own marketing,

• their own calendars,

• their own confirmation emails,

• their own receipts,

• their own payment accounts.

The space provides only the space — nothing more.

This is exactly how co-working works across Zürich's office, therapy, and wellness sectors.

How Pod.World Enforces Client Ownership by Design

Pod.World — the co-working management app built for service-based industries — enforces independence through architecture, not intention.

It ensures:

• each Member has a fully isolated client database

• the space owner has zero visibility into client lists

• booking flows go directly to the Member

• receipts are issued only by the Member

• appointment data belongs only to the Member

• space owners cannot access or export Member client information

• client data is encrypted and separated by role-based access

• leaving Members keep 100% of their data instantly

In other words:

The software ensures the business model remains compliant.

Not by policy.
By design.

Conclusion: Client Ownership Is the Heart of Co-Working Independence

Authorities evaluate independence in many ways, but nothing is as clear as:

• who owns the clients

• who controls the data

• who manages the bookings

• who issues the receipts

A true co-working model:

• protects Member autonomy

• protects client privacy

• protects the space owner from unnecessary liability

• protects compliance

• and supports fair, independent business growth

At 8004.salon, and through tools like Pod.World, client ownership is not a negotiation.
It is an absolute requirement.

In the next blog, we’ll explore branding, marketing, and online presence — and how a co-working space can promote itself without ever giving the impression of a unified salon business.

Follow The Money

BLOG SERIES PART 6
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025

Follow the Money: Why Payment Flow Defines Whether a Co-Working Space Is Compliant — or a Hidden Salon Model**

When authorities investigate whether a space is truly co-working or something else entirely, there is one rule that never fails:

They follow the money.

Not the marketing.
Not the furniture.
Not the website.
Not even the contract.

They look at how payments move.

Because payment flow is the strongest indicator of business structure, and it reveals whether a member is truly independent or whether everything is actually running through the space owner.

In Switzerland, the wrong payment setup can trigger:

• MWST aggregation

• shared turnover interpretation

• pseudo-employment

• financial supervision concerns

• hidden revenue participation

• suspicion of salon-style operations

This article explains exactly how money must flow inside a compliant co-working space — and why the wrong payment architecture can destroy the entire model overnight.

Rule #1: The Member Must Receive Service Payments Directly

This is the foundation of everything.

A self-employed professional must:

• invoice in their own name

• collect payment in their own account

• be responsible for their own VAT threshold

• manage their own financial records

If the building owner touches the service revenue — even temporarily — the audit becomes complicated.

Authorities immediately suspect:

• revenue sharing

• centralised business operations

• managed turnover

• salon-like structure

• non-independent work

This is why a compliant co-working setup ensures:

Client → pays → Member
Member → issues → Member’s receipt
Owner → has no access to service income

Anything else is not co-working.

Rule #2: The Space Owner Only Collects Co-Working Fees — Never Service Income

A co-working owner earns money from:

• membership fees

• access fees

• time blocks

• optional add-ons (like extra storage or additional utilities)

• retail products the owner personally sells

These are completely separate from the Member’s income.

A compliant space owner must never collect:

• a percentage of service turnover

• commissions

• split payments based on service revenue

• a “share” of what Members earn

• tiered fees based on how busy a Member is

Those models belong to rental salons, franchise systems, or employer-contractor setups — not co-working.

Authorities look for these signs early in an audit.

Rule #3: Retail Revenue Must Be Treated Separately

A classic grey area appears when Members sell retail products owned by the Space Owner.

Here is the compliant structure:

• Retail belongs to the Space Owner

• Retail revenue is paid to the Space Owner

• The Member may receive a fixed discount on future membership fees, not a percentage of retail turnover

• A Member must never receive retail money directly

• And a Member must never process a single payment that includes retail + services into their account

If retail and services blend, it looks like:

• mixed merchant transactions

• revenue splitting

• economic interdependence

• joint operation

Which undermines the entire co-working argument.

A compliant tool like Pod.World solves this through payment separation at the moment of sale, not after.

More on this below.

Rule #4: Payments Must Never Be Combined and Then Distributed Internally

This is the most dangerous pitfall.

If your system collects:

1. One payment from the client,

2. Into one central account,

3. And then splits it into:

   • the Member’s portion

   • the Owner’s portion

…this looks like a salon or a commission-based business.

Authorities interpret this structure as:

• turnover integration

• revenue supervision

• shared business activity

• possible VAT group characteristics

Even if the intention is innocent, the architecture is non-compliant.

A true co-working environment must ensure:

Split at checkout — not split later.

Meaning:

• Service → Member account

• Retail → Owner account

• Two receipts instantly generated

• Two payment flows, completely separate

This mirrors what happens at every major co-working space in Zürich.

Rule #5: The Space Owner Must Not See Member Revenue

In the eyes of authorities, visibility = control.

If software gives the Space Owner access to:

• Member income

• booking revenue totals

• client spend

• service price lists

• sales statistics

…this signals:

• supervision

• dependency

• lack of independence

• a single integrated business

In compliant co-working models, Members manage their own revenue privately — just like freelancers in Impact Hub, Westhive, Citizen Space, Trust Square, or shared medical practice co-working environments.

Those spaces do not track Member turnover.
And they are not held responsible for it.
Period.

Rule #6: Each Receipt Must Come From the Correct Business Entity

A compliant co-working transaction produces:

Receipt 1 → from the Member’s business (services)
Receipt 2 → from the Space Owner’s business (retail)
or
Receipt → for the Member’s service only, if no retail was purchased

This prevents confusion about:

• who sold what

• who is the merchant

• whose MWST number applies

• whose turnover is whose

• how tax liability flows

If a single receipt includes both service and retail sold by different businesses, the transaction becomes blurred and non-compliant.

This is exactly why Pod.World issues separate receipts automatically, ensuring both businesses remain cleanly separated.

Why This Matters in Switzerland: Money Flow Defines the Business Model

Authorities recognise one truth:

Businesses can pretend anything with marketing — but money flow reveals the truth.

A compliant co-working structure has:

• separate payment flows

• separate receipts

• separate merchants

• no internal revenue distribution

• no turnover visibility for the Owner

• no integrated financial dashboards

• no salon-style reporting

This mirrors every successful co-working space in Zürich’s tech, consulting, medical, design, and wellness industries.

Hair, beauty, tattoo and wellness co-working spaces operate under the same rules, not different ones.

Conclusion: If the Money Flows Correctly, Everything Else Follows

Payment architecture is the heart of co-working compliance.
It tells auditors:

• who is the business provider

• who is truly independent

• who earns what

• who bears risk

• and whether the structure is co-working or something else

When money flows properly — split instantly, never combined, never supervised — the co-working model becomes airtight.

This is exactly the standard Pod.World was built to enforce:
a co-working management tool designed specifically around Swiss legal and financial requirements, not retrofitted from outdated salon software.

In the next blog, we’ll explore client ownership, data protection, and why control of client information is one of the strongest indicators of independence.

Salon Booking Systems

BLOG SERIES PART 5

The Hidden Risks in Booking Systems: Why Most Salon Software Fails Co-Working Compliance (And What a Real Co-Working Tool Must Do)**

Even the best-run co-working spaces can undermine their entire legal structure with one mistake:
using the wrong software.

Most salon systems were built long before the rise of co-working. They were designed for a traditional model — one salon, one owner, one business, one central client list.
And when these tools are forced into a co-working environment, they quietly create risks that space owners often never notice until it's too late.

In Switzerland, the wrong booking system can affect:

• SVA classification

• MWST interpretation

• independence criteria

• turnover aggregation

• implied employer relationships

• data protection obligations

This blog breaks down how authorities look at booking and management systems, the typical “tripwires” inspectors watch for, and what a compliant co-working tool must do to avoid them.

Authorities Love Software Because Software Doesn’t Lie

Contracts can be reworded.
Websites can be cleaned up.
But software?
It reveals the actual relationship between Member and Space Owner.

During audits, Swiss authorities often ask two deceptively simple questions:

1. “Who controls the software?”

2. “What can the owner see?”

If the software shows:

• revenue for each Member,

• calendars for each Member,

• client lists for each Member,

• pricing control,

• commission reports,

• product-sales tracking by Member,

• or one unified salon dashboard…

…the authorities immediately assume:

This is not co-working. This is one business.

And once that assumption is made, it becomes the Space Owner’s burden to prove otherwise.

This is why software matters more than websites, contracts, or marketing.
It is the operational truth.

The Biggest Software Red Flag: Shared Revenue Visibility

If a system shows the Space Owner any of the following:

• “Total revenue per stylist”

• “Turnover dashboard”

• “Sales performance”

• “Commission report”

• “Income summary”

• “Team earnings overview”

• “Service totals by staff member”

…that is the fastest way for authorities to classify the entire setup as a single commercial enterprise.

Shared revenue displays imply:

• supervision

• financial control

• business integration

• employer-like oversight

• salon-style hierarchy

And none of these belong in a co-working environment.

A true co-working space does not track — or need — the income of its Members.

The Second Red Flag: A Single Business Identity in the Booking System

Another major clue for authorities:
If clients book through a system where the space appears to be the merchant.

For example:

• one central booking profile

• one brand at checkout

• one payment account

• one confirmation email template

• one cancellation email template

• one receipt sender

This looks like a classic salon.
Not a co-working collective.

Authorities simply follow the branding:

“If everything looks like it belongs to the space owner,
then the businesses inside must belong to them too.”

Software must reflect the fact that Members are independent entities, not “team members.”

The Third Red Flag: One Payment → One Merchant → Internal Splitting

This is a huge issue.

If the booking system takes:

1. the full service payment,

2. into one account belonging to the space,

3. and then “splits” the money in the backend…

It immediately looks like the space is:

• receiving service revenue,

• distributing income,

• operating a central business,

• controlling financial flows,

• participating in turnover.

This triggers:

• MWST aggregation concerns

• joint business interpretation

• employer vs contractor evaluation

• even potential FINMA issues in extreme cases

A compliant co-working space must never hold member revenue, even temporarily.

The Fourth Red Flag: Shared Client Lists

If the space owner can see:

• client names

• client phone numbers

• service history

• notes

• preferences

…this is no longer co-working.
This is a salon with multiple workers inside.

Authorities interpret shared data as:

• salon ownership

• employee oversight

• dependency on the space

• lack of independent business activity

In co-working, clients belong only to the Member, not the building.

What a Co-Working Management Tool MUST Do (and Why We Built Pod.World This Way)

A compliant co-working system must:

Give every Member their own business identity.
Their own profile, pricing, branding, policies, and receipt sender.

Protect Member client data from the Space Owner.
If the owner can see it, it’s no longer co-working.

Separate all payments at the moment of sale.
Service → Member
Retail → Space Owner
No mixing, no splitting, no centralised payout.

Issue separate receipts from separate businesses.
This prevents MWST confusion and shows clear separation.

Avoid any feature that treats Members like staff.
No team dashboards.
No staff performance metrics.
No salon reporting structure.

Prevent the Space Owner from controlling Member pricing or services.
Independence must be absolute.

Allow block-based access instead of fixed stations.
This supports true co-working rather than rental.

Ensure the software structure mirrors a real co-working environment.
Software is the strongest proof of independence.

This is precisely why Pod.World, our co-working management app for service-based spaces, was built from the ground up around these rules — instead of retrofitting salon logic that doesn’t belong in a shared workspace.

Why This Matters in Switzerland: Software Tells the Truth

When an inspector walks into a co-working space, they ask for:

• your contract

• your marketing

• your payment flow

• and your software

The first three can be rewritten.

The fourth cannot.

Software reveals:

• who controls the business

• who gets paid

• who sees what

• who manages what

• who directs what

• and who benefits from what

If a co-working space uses software that behaves like a salon system,
authorities will treat it like a salon system — regardless of intention.

If the software matches the co-working model recognized across Zürich’s office and therapy spaces,
authorities will treat it as co-working — because that’s exactly what it is.

Conclusion: The Booking System Can Make or Break Your Co-Working Structure

Co-working is fully legal in Switzerland.
It is recognised.
It is normal.
It exists everywhere.

The only time co-working becomes risky is when salon-style software is forced into a structure it was never designed for.

That’s why Pod.World exists:
a tool built specifically to match the legal, financial, and operational realities of modern co-working providers.

In the next blog, we’ll explore how money flows and receipt structures prove independence — and how the wrong payment architecture can accidentally create a shared business where none exists.

MWST, Co-Working and the “Hidden Trap”

BLOG SERIES PART 4

MWST, Co-Working and the “Hidden Trap”: Why Space Owners Are Not Responsible for Member Turnover — And Why Authorities Already Know This**

One of the most confusing areas for independent professionals is VAT (MWST).
Not because the rules are unclear, but because the beauty and hair industry has historically operated in models that look nothing like today’s co-working structures.
And when structures change, misunderstandings often follow.

Here’s the truth:

If a co-working space is structured correctly, the space owner does not collect MWST on the income earned by the independent professionals using the space.
Not now.
Not ever.

Some auditors or inspectors may test this boundary to see whether the business owner will misunderstand the rules.
But the law, the logic and the established practice across Switzerland are very clear.

This article explains exactly why co-working income is NOT subject to MWST by the space owner, how authorities sometimes test the limits, and why dozens of major co-working spaces in Zürich prove this every single day.

The “Dirty Little Trick”: Blurring the Line Between Rental, Subleasing and Co-Working

When a co-working space is audited, the first tactic often used is to look for signs that the space owner is operating:

• a joint business,

• a revenue-sharing structure,

• an employer-like system, or

• a sublease (Mietvertrag) instead of a co-working membership.

Because if any of these were true,
then there could be a theoretical argument for MWST aggregation or shared turnover responsibility.

This is the classic “gotcha” move.

But here’s the key:

None of those conditions apply to a true co-working space.

So the entire premise collapses before it begins.

How Authorities Try to Test the Space Owner

In audits, an inspector may ask questions like:

“Do you benefit from the members’ income?”
“Do you control their pricing?”
“Do you provide clients to them?”
“Is there a fixed chair allocated to each stylist?”
“Is the payment to you based on how much they earn?”
“Do you issue receipts for their services?”

These questions are designed to see whether your setup resembles:

• a salon-with-subcontractors,

• a pseudo-employment structure, or

• a revenue-integrated business.

If the owner answers incorrectly — even by accident — it can trigger deeper investigation.

But when the structure is designed properly (as in a true co-working space),
every answer is clean, simple, and fully compliant.

Why MWST Does NOT Apply to Co-Working Space Owners Based on Member Turnover

Because the law is clear:

MWST applies to the entity delivering the service.

In a co-working space:

• Members deliver their own services

• Members invoice their own clients

• Members collect their own revenue

• Members reach or do not reach the MWST threshold individually

Meanwhile:

• The space owner provides workspace access,

• Charges a fixed membership fee,

• And pays MWST only on that fee if required.

No joint business.
No shared turnover.
No VAT group.
No aggregation.

If MWST were applied to a co-working space owner based on member income, then:

Impact Hub would owe MWST on the earnings of every freelancer working inside it.
Westhive would owe MWST on every consultant’s revenue.
Citizen Space would owe MWST on every therapist’s session.
Trust Square would owe MWST on every blockchain developer’s invoice.
Therapeutic co-working practices across Zürich would owe MWST on every psychologist, physiotherapist, osteopath or nutritionist working inside the building.

And that would be absurd — because it is not how the law is written, interpreted or applied.

Authorities know this.

Co-working spaces everywhere in Zürich operate under this rule every day.

Why This Also Applies to Hair, Beauty, Tattoo and Wellness Co-Working Spaces

Some industries transitioned into co-working earlier than others, which means the “office-style” model is well understood by authorities.

But the profession doesn’t matter.

The structure does.

A co-working hairdresser, tattooist or beauty practitioner is no different from:

• a therapist treating clients at Citizen Space,

• a designer earning CHF 20,000 a month at Westhive,

• a consultant running international clients out of Impact Hub,

• a physiotherapist renting a treatment room in a shared wellness centre.

Not one of these spaces collects MWST based on the income their members earn.
They charge access fees.
Members run independent businesses.
The end.

To suggest otherwise would mean the entire co-working economy is functioning illegally — which, of course, it isn’t.

The Real Question Authorities Ask: Are You Truly a Co-Working Space?

When viewed through VAT and SVA lenses, the question isn’t:

“What industry are you in?”

The real question is:

Does this space operate as a co-working environment, or as a disguised rental or shared salon business?

If the structure is correct:

• Members invoice clients under their own business

• Members choose prices and services

• No turnover is shared

• No fixed stations are exclusively allocated

• The space charges membership, not rent

• There is no commission, no percentage, no revenue-based fee

• Payment flows are separate

• Branding is separate

• Financial visibility is separate

Then there is zero basis for MWST liability on member turnover.

This is exactly why Pod.World — a co-working management app for service-based spaces — was designed from the ground up to maintain these separations flawlessly.

Your structure is not an accident.
It is airtight.

Conclusion: Co-Working Is Legally Solid — and We Are Ahead of the Game

In Switzerland, co-working is not a loophole.
It is a mature, accepted, widespread working model across every industry.

The only time authorities push for MWST or shared turnover is when:

• structures look like classic chair rental,

• pricing is influenced,

• turnover is visible,

• payments flow through the wrong account,

• or the relationship resembles a mini-salon-with-subcontractors.

A well-designed co-working space avoids every one of these pitfalls.

We know the rules.
We respect the rules.
And we build our systems — including Pod.World — to fit squarely inside them.

In the next article, we’ll look directly at the VAT threshold, how aggregation actually works, and how co-working models stay far away from the risk zones.

Does it pass the test?

BLOG SERIES PART 3

How Swiss Authorities Evaluate Self-Employment in Co-Working Spaces (And Why a Proper Co-Working Model Passes Every Test)**

Co-working has become one of the most common ways for self-employed professionals to work in Zürich. Programmers, therapists, designers, architects, accountants, photographers, coaches — and yes, hairdressers, tattoo artists, beauty specialists and wellness providers — all share space while running completely independent businesses.

But independence in Switzerland comes with a clear set of expectations, especially from SVA, Steueramt, and sometimes MWST.
The good news:
A correctly structured co-working space fits these expectations naturally.

The problems only start when a space looks like something else — usually a disguised rental, a shared business, or a pseudo-employment setup.

This blog explains exactly how authorities look at self-employment inside co-working spaces, what they evaluate, and why a proper co-working structure (like the kind we promote) passes an audit with complete confidence.

Authorities Don’t Care What You Do — Only HOW the Structure Works

This is the part many people get wrong.

SVA doesn’t care whether you cut hair, build websites, do nails, draw tattoos, offer massages, coach executives, or design logos.

They care about:

• independence

• responsibility

• financial separation

• whether the person is running their own business

• and whether the space provider acts like a landlord, a business partner, or an employer

A tech freelancer at Impact Hub and a hairdresser in a co-working salon are assessed with the same criteria.

The industry is irrelevant.
The structure is everything.

The Core SVA Self-Employment Indicators (Explained Simply)

These indicators appear in nearly every SVA decision and audit process.

A self-employed professional should:

1. Work under their own business name

2. Set their own prices

3. Issue their own invoices directly to clients

4. Take economic risk (profit or loss)

5. Be free from employer-style instructions

6. Provide their own tools where appropriate

7. Maintain their own insurance and tax obligations

8. Build their own client base

A proper co-working space naturally supports all of these.

A chair rental or pseudo-employment model usually violates several of them.

How a Proper Co-Working Space Fits All of These Criteria

Let’s break it down.

Members invoice their own clients.
This alone differentiates co-working from rental structures or employment.
The space owner never issues receipts for services.

Members choose their own prices and services.
No authority will classify a professional as self-employed if the space owner dictates pricing.

Members operate under their own brand.
In co-working, the space is the environment — not the business identity.

Members bear economic responsibility for their success.
They win their own clients, manage their own marketing, and control their own schedules.

Members use shared infrastructure, not a rented exclusive station.
This is a major point:
Non-exclusive access clearly indicates co-working, not subletting or tenancy.

The space owner does not participate in service revenue.
No percentages. No commissions. No turnover-based fees.
The membership fee remains fixed, predictable, and independent.

Together, these elements satisfy every SVA requirement for legitimate self-employment.

What Authorities Look For When They Suspect Chair Rental or Hidden Employment

Most problems arise when a space is almost co-working but has hints of a salon or studio rental.
Authorities typically flag:

• revenue visibility or control by the space owner

• joint marketing and unified branding

• exclusive workstations

• rent tied to turnover

• commissions on product sales

• the space owner assigning clients

• unclear boundaries of responsibility

• one payment flowing through the space before being “split” internally

These factors can create the appearance of:

• a joint business

• a subleased mini-salon inside a salon

• employment (even unintended)

• economic dependence

This is where most rental-style setups collapse under scrutiny.

Why A Professionally Designed Co-Working Model Avoids All Audit Issues

A compliant co-working structure has:

• membership instead of rental

• block-based access instead of fixed chairs

• split payments with separate receipts

• no turnover sharing

• no employer-style influence

• no shared client lists

• no shared revenue or statistics

• no authority over Member pricing

• independent business identities

• transparent roles and responsibilities

This is why co-working passes audits — not because of loopholes, but because it is structurally correct.

Authorities recognise these models because they already exist across Zürich in hundreds of locations.
The beauty industry is simply applying the same logic.

Co-Working Is Not the Exception — It Is the Standard

The important message for independent professionals, space owners, and anyone in an audit role:

There is nothing unusual about self-employed individuals earning their own income inside a shared workspace without contributing MWST or turnover percentages to the space owner.

This happens every day at:

• Impact Hub

• Westhive

• Citizen Space

• Trust Square

• dozens of medical / therapy co-working environments

• creative studios

• photographer collectives

• wellness co-working spaces

These locations operate legally and successfully with the same structure we apply in service-based co-working spaces.

The profession changes.
The compliance rules do not.

Conclusion: Co-Working, Done Properly, Meets Swiss Self-Employment Criteria Perfectly

Authorities have clear criteria.
Co-working meets them when correctly structured.
Chair rental often doesn’t.

A well-designed co-working model:

• protects independence

• protects compliance

• protects the space owner

• protects the Members

• and removes every ambiguity around employment, VAT, and revenue separation

In our next article, we will look at VAT (MWST), the 100,000 CHF threshold, and why co-working avoids the common pitfalls that push traditional rental models into risky territory.

What and Why it matters.

BLOG SERIES PART 2

Contracts That Keep You Safe: Why Membership Agreements Protect Co-Working Spaces (and Why Chair Rental Contracts Don’t)**

In Switzerland, the fastest way for a hair, beauty, nail or tattoo business to drift into legal grey zones is through the wrong kind of contract.
Most problems do not start with the work itself — they start with paperwork that describes the wrong relationship.

A chair rental contract (Stuhlmiete Vertrag) often implies a rental structure that resembles a sublease within a salon. This model can easily trigger questions from SVA, Steueramt or the MWST authorities.

A co-working membership agreement, on the other hand, is the same type of document used across Zürich in hundreds of shared workspaces — from tech to therapy to design to consulting. It clearly defines independence, separates businesses properly, and matches how co-working actually functions.

This blog explains what to look for, what to avoid, and how both stylists and space owners can protect themselves through correct contract language.

Why Traditional Chair Rental Contracts Create Problems

Chair rental contracts commonly include:

• a fixed, exclusive station

• a “Mietvertrag” structure

• wording that resembles subleasing

• unclear boundaries between businesses

• references to revenue, commissions or turnover

• terms that restrict pricing or service decisions

• language implying integration into the salon business

Authorities can interpret these signals as:

• economic dependence

• employment-like behaviour

• a joint commercial operation

• unclear VAT responsibility

• turnover aggregation risk

• pseudo self-employment

This is why so many stylists search online for Stuhlmiete legal Schweiz — because the model often doesn’t meet the criteria of real self-employment.

The issue is not the work.
The issue is the structure.

Co-Working Membership Agreements Solve These Issues

A proper co-working membership contract makes everything clear from the start. It reflects the same principles used by established Swiss co-working spaces such as Impact Hub, Westhive or Citizen Space.

A compliant membership agreement includes:

1. Clear independence
Each member operates under their own business name with full responsibility for their own clients, pricing, bookings, taxes, and insurance.

2. Access, not rental
Members purchase access to shared infrastructure for defined time blocks. They do NOT rent a fixed or exclusive station.

3. No revenue sharing
The Space Owner does not take a percentage of income and has no access to member turnover.

4. No employer-like control
The member decides their own services, prices, hours, and client communication.

5. Separate invoicing and receipts
Members issue receipts for their own services.
The space issues receipts only for workspace access or retail sales.

6. No collective branding requirement
Members may present themselves with their own brand identity.

7. No integration into the owner’s business
The contract makes it clear: the Space Owner provides infrastructure, not employment or business management.

These elements mirror the structure already accepted for co-working in Switzerland.

For Stylists: What You Should Look For in a Co-Working Agreement

If you're considering joining a space, check for the following:

• Does the agreement call it “Miete”, “Stuhlmiete”, “Vermietung eines Arbeitsplatzes”?
  That’s a red flag.

• Does it guarantee you a fixed station?
  Also a red flag — that is not co-working.

• Does the owner require access to your revenue, pricing or client data?
  Not compliant with independent self-employment.

• Does the contract talk about “commission”, “percentage”, or “share of income”?
  Very risky — avoid.

Positive signs include:

• flexible workspace allocation

• membership fees per time block

• clear separation of responsibilities

• separate invoicing

• explicit statements of independence

If it reads like a normal co-working membership — you’re in the right place.

For Space Owners: What Your Contract Must NEVER Say

If you operate or plan to open a co-working space, remove the following terms immediately:

• “Stuhlmiete”

• “Mietvertrag”

• “fixer Arbeitsplatz / fixer Stuhl”

• “Umsatzbeteiligung”

• “Provision”

• “der Salon entscheidet …”

• “Preise werden festgelegt durch …”

Replace them with:

• “Mitgliedschaft”

• “Zugang zu gemeinsam genutzter Infrastruktur”

• “nicht-exklusive Nutzung”

• “Eigenständiges Unternehmen”

• “Mitglied bestimmt eigene Preise und Leistungen”

• “Keine Umsatzbeteiligung, keine Provisionen”

This aligns you with recognized co-working standards in Zürich and protects both you and your members.

Why These Distinctions Matter to Swiss Authorities

Authorities do not focus on the industry.
They focus on the nature of the relationship.

A contract that looks like subleasing or employment leads to questions.

A contract that matches the well-understood co-working model is unproblematic, because Switzerland already accepts co-working in every sector — with thousands of independent workers using these agreements daily.

If a therapist at Citizen Space or a programmer at Impact Hub can operate independently inside a shared environment, a hairdresser or tattoo artist can too — as long as the structure is correct.

Conclusion: A Contract Is Not Just Paper — It Defines Your Business Model

For an owner, the contract protects your co-working structure.
For a stylist, the contract protects your independence.
For authorities, the contract demonstrates whether the relationship is compliant.

A membership agreement built around the co-working model keeps everything transparent, fair, and aligned with Swiss regulations.

In the next part of this series, we’ll look at how SVA and Steueramt evaluate self-employment inside co-working spaces — and the practical indicators they use.

Co-Working Series

BLOG SERIES PART 1

Renting vs Co-Working in Switzerland: Why Chair Rental Creates Risk — but Co-Working is Fully Legal and Widely Accepted.

In Switzerland, “chair rental” (Stuhlmiete) and “co-working” are often confused, especially in the hair and beauty world. Many stylists search for Stuhlmiete Zürich or “renting a chair” without realising that the traditional rental model can lead to compliance issues with SVA, Steueramt, and MWST.

Meanwhile, across Zürich, hundreds of self-employed people work inside co-working spaces every day — earning money, running their own businesses, invoicing their own clients — and not paying the co-working owner a percentage of their revenue or contributing MWST on the money they earn.

Why?
Because co-working is a legally recognised structure in Switzerland, and has been for over a decade.

The beauty industry is not an exception.
It simply hasn’t caught up to what every other sector already understands.

This article explains the difference between renting and co-working, and why co-working is the compliance-safe pathway for independent providers in hair, beauty, tattoo, wellness, nails, and other service professions.

Co-Working Is Everywhere in Zürich — and Self-Employed Members Keep 100% of Their Income

To understand how normal and accepted co-working really is, look at what already exists in Zürich today.

Impact Hub Zürich (Viadukt, Colab, Kraftwerk)
Hundreds of self-employed consultants, designers, developers, lawyers, therapists, and freelancers work here every week. They pay a membership fee for the space.
They earn money inside that space.
They invoice clients directly.
They do NOT owe MWST or a percentage of income to Impact Hub.

Citizen Space Zürich
Same model. Members run their own businesses, issue their own invoices, and pay only for workspace access.
No turnover sharing.
No revenue reporting to the space owner.
No MWST contribution beyond their private tax obligations.

Westhive Zürich (Hardturm & Seestrasse)
Used by self-employed consultants, IT professionals, designers, even small law firms.
They pay for desks, meeting rooms, and community access.
They keep 100% of the money they earn from their own clients.

Trust Square Bahnhofstrasse
Independent crypto, blockchain, and fintech specialists sharing space.
Each invoices under their own company.
Again, no revenue-based fees, no MWST passed to the co-working landlord.

These spaces operate legally, transparently, and fully compliant — and none of their members share revenue with the space, regardless of how much money they make.

This is the exact model the beauty world is slowly transitioning toward.

Why Chair Rental (Stuhlmiete) Often Fails Compliance Tests

Traditional chair rental usually includes features that authorities find problematic:

• A fixed, exclusive workstation

• A rental contract resembling a sublease

• A salon appearing to function as one unified business

• Influence over pricing or service structure

• Revenue-based payments or commissions

• Shared branding

• A single owner controlling client flow

These signals can lead authorities to conclude:

• pseudo-employment

• a joint commercial operation

• aggregated turnover for VAT

• economic dependence inconsistent with self-employment

This is why chair rental has been “grey area” for years — and why many stylists and owners have faced questions from SVA or Steueramt.

Co-Working, in contrast, is legally clean — and already standard in every sector

Co-working meets all criteria for independent professional activity:

• Members are entirely self-employed.

• They bring their own clients, pricing, branding, and business identity.

• The space provides infrastructure only, not business integration.

• Payments go directly from client to Member.

• The co-working owner does not control revenue.

• Members do not owe income percentages.

• MWST is calculated only on the co-working fees, not on Member turnover.

This is why co-working survives every audit — in every industry.

And this is why a hairdresser or tattoo artist inside a properly structured co-working space should be recognised in the same way as a consultant at Impact Hub or a designer at Westhive.

The Key Distinction: Renting a Space vs Accessing a Shared Workspace

The simplest way to understand the difference:

Chair Rental = fixed, exclusive physical space + tenancy characteristics.
Co-Working = shared workspace access without exclusivity + membership structure.

Authorities focus on structure and behaviour, not scissors and hairdryers.

If you operate like a co-working space, you are treated like one.

If you operate like a mini-salon with sub-renters, you get treated like a traditional salon — with all the tax and social security implications that come with it.

Co-Working Solves Every Compliance Risk Chair Rental Creates

True co-working has:

• membership instead of a rental contract

• non-exclusive stations instead of fixed chairs

• independent invoicing and branding

• no turnover sharing

• no commissions

• no employer behaviour

• clear separation between Member and Space Owner

• compliant payment flows

This is why co-working is growing rapidly in Switzerland — not just in offices, but in beauty, hair, tattoo, massage, and wellness.

Conclusion: Chair Rental May Be a Legal Trap, but Co-Working Is a Proven, Accepted Structure

Every day in Zürich:

• designers earn money at Impact Hub,

• coaches earn money at Citizen Space,

• programmers earn money at Westhive,

• lawyers earn money at Trust Square,

and not a single one of them owes MWST or revenue-based fees to the co-working owner.

They use the space — they do not share their business.

Hairdressers, beauty providers, nail artists, and tattoo professionals deserve the same clarity and the same working model.

Co-working is not a loophole.
It is not a workaround.
It is the legally recognised, structurally correct model for independent professionals sharing a workplace in Switzerland.

This series will guide you through each step of how to understand, design, and verify a fully compliant co-working structure — whether you’re a stylist, a space owner, or someone assessing these models on behalf of the state.

Blog - Persönliches Wachstum

Persönliches Wachstum als selbstständiger Stylist entfalten

1. Kontinuierliches Lernen fördern

Als selbstständige Stylistin oder selbstständiger Stylist geht es um weit mehr als Schneiden und Färben. Neugierde, Weiterbildung und die Lust auf Weiterentwicklung gehören zum Handwerk. Workshops, Trends und neue Techniken helfen Ihnen, Ihr eigenes Angebot zu verfeinern und Ihren Kundinnen und Kunden weiterhin höchste Qualität zu bieten.

1. Finanzielles Verständnis stärken

Selbstständigkeit bedeutet, die eigenen Einnahmen, Ausgaben und steuerlichen Pflichten im Blick zu behalten. Klare finanzielle Ziele – ob Weiterbildung, Urlaub oder der Aufbau eines finanziellen Polsters – geben Orientierung und Stabilität. Finanzielle Klarheit schafft Freiheit, nicht nur Umsatz.

1. Zeit bewusst gestalten

Zeit ist eine der wertvollsten Ressourcen. Als Mitglied eines Co-Working-Raums bestimmen Sie Ihre Arbeitszeiten selbst. Diese Freiheit eröffnet Raum für Ausgleich: Familie, Bewegung, Kreativität oder Ruhepausen. Ein ausgewogener Alltag unterstützt die künstlerische und berufliche Entwicklung.

1. Kundenbeziehungen pflegen

Nachhaltiger Erfolg basiert auf Vertrauen. Achtsames Zuhören, zuverlässige Kommunikation und persönliche Aufmerksamkeit stärken die Beziehung zu Ihren Kundinnen und Kunden. Zufriedene Menschen empfehlen weiter – und dadurch wächst Ihr Unternehmen organisch.

1. Austausch im Co-Working-Kollektiv

8004.salon ist ein Co-Working-Space, der unabhängige Profis unter einem Dach zusammenbringt. Der Austausch mit anderen Mitgliedern – über Fachthemen, Erfahrungen oder Projekte – kann inspirierend wirken und neue Perspektiven eröffnen. Eine unterstützende Umgebung bereichert die eigene berufliche Reise.

1. Wellness und Selbstpflege ernst nehmen

Kreative Arbeit verlangt Energie und Fokus. Regelmässige Selbstpflege, sei es Bewegung, Entspannung oder ein bewusster freier Tag, stärkt Körper und Geist. Wer sich gut fühlt, arbeitet besser und begegnet seiner Kundschaft mit mehr Präsenz und Freude.

1. Ziele setzen und Fortschritte anerkennen

Eigene Ziele – gross oder klein – geben Richtung. Schritt für Schritt neue Techniken erlernen, bestimmte Kundenziele erreichen oder persönliche Meilensteine feiern: Jede Entwicklung zählt. Diese Fortschritte bewusst wahrzunehmen, stärkt Motivation und Selbstvertrauen.

Fazit

Selbstständig als Stylistin oder Stylist zu arbeiten bedeutet, die eigene berufliche und persönliche Entwicklung aktiv zu gestalten. Es geht nicht nur um technische Fähigkeiten, sondern um Wachstum, Klarheit und Selbstbestimmung. Jeder Schritt auf dieser Reise – jeder Schnitt, jede Begegnung, jede Weiterentwicklung – formt Ihren individuellen Weg.

Weitere Impulse, Einblicke und Geschichten aus dem 8004.salon Co-Working-Kollektiv folgen in Kürze.

BLOG - Cost Of Business.

Finanzielle Angelegenheiten im Griff: Mietkosten und Geschäftsausgaben bei 8004.salon

Einleitung Willkommen zurück zu unserer Serie über den Erfolg als selbstständiger Stylist bei 8004.salon in Zürich, Schweiz. In dieser 6. Folge beschäftigen wir uns mit dem wichtigen Thema der Finanzverwaltung, insbesondere mit den Mietkosten und den Gesamtkosten des Geschäftsbetriebs.

Mietkosten Bei 8004.salon glauben wir an die Förderung einer gesunden Work-Life-Balance. Deshalb beträgt unsere Mietgebühr erschwingliche 100 CHF pro Schicht, die jeweils 6 Stunden dauert. Wir ermutigen Stylisten, nicht mehr als 36 Stunden pro Woche zu arbeiten, um diese Balance zu wahren. Mit einer Mindestanforderung von nur zwei Schichten pro Woche ist unser Modell darauf ausgelegt, Ihr Wohlbefinden zu unterstützen und Ihnen gleichzeitig zu ermöglichen, beruflich erfolgreich zu sein.

Geschäftskosten Als selbstständiger Stylist ist es wichtig, die verschiedenen Kosten zu berücksichtigen, die mit der Führung Ihres Unternehmens verbunden sind. Dazu gehören:

Versicherung: Der Schutz Ihrer selbst und Ihrer Kunden sollte oberste Priorität haben.

Steuern: Es ist wichtig, dass Sie Ihre Steuerpflichten verstehen und erfüllen.

Mietgebühren: Obwohl wir unsere Preise wettbewerbsfähig halten, sind dies notwendige Ausgaben für Ihren Arbeitsplatz.

Produkte: Hochwertige Produkte sind eine Investition in die Zufriedenheit Ihrer Kunden.

Marketing: Die effektive Werbung für Ihre Dienstleistungen ist der Schlüssel zur Gewinnung und Bindung von Kunden.

Buchhaltung: Eine genaue Finanzverfolgung hilft Ihnen, den Überblick über die Gesundheit Ihres Unternehmens zu behalten.

Andere damit verbundene Kosten: Verschiedene Ausgaben können sich summieren, daher ist es wichtig, sie zu berücksichtigen.

Die Einbeziehung dieser Kosten in Ihre Preisstrategie ist unerlässlich, um sicherzustellen, dass Sie nicht nur Ihre Ausgaben decken, sondern auch einen Gewinn erzielen, der Ihre Fachkompetenz und Ihr Engagement widerspiegelt.

Fazit Das Verständnis der finanziellen Aspekte der Selbstständigkeit bei 8004.salon ist grundlegend für Ihren Erfolg. Indem Sie die Kosten für Miete und Geschäftsausgaben berücksichtigen, können Sie eine nachhaltige und lohnende Karriere in einem der besten Salons von Zürich aufbauen.

Seien Sie gespannt auf unseren nächsten Blogbeitrag, in dem wir Strategien zur Maximierung Ihres Einkommens bei gleichzeitiger Aufrechterhaltung höchster Servicestandards untersuchen.

Denken Sie daran: Bei 8004.salon sind wir mehr als nur ein Arbeitsplatz. Wir sind eine Gemeinschaft, die sich dafür einsetzt, das Wachstum und den Erfolg des jeweils anderen zu unterstützen.

Blog - Online Booking

Optimieren Sie Ihre Selbstständigkeit mit der Online-Buchung von Timely bei 8004.salon

Willkommen zurück im 8004.salon-Blog! In unserer fortlaufenden Serie über die Vorteile der Selbstständigkeit in unserem Salon freuen wir uns heute, darüber zu sprechen, wie Timely, ein Online-Buchungssystem, Ihr Geschäft revolutionieren kann.

Die Vorteile einer Online-Buchung rund um die Uhr

Die Verwaltung Ihrer eigenen Termine kann eine zeitaufwändige Aufgabe sein, insbesondere wenn Kunden Sie außerhalb der Geschäftszeiten anrufen oder Ihnen Nachrichten senden. So kann Timely helfen:

Komfort für Kunden: Mit Timely können Ihre Kunden Termine zu jeder Tages- und Nachtzeit buchen, was bedeutet, dass sie ihre Besuche dann planen können, wenn es für sie am günstigsten ist, ohne auf Geschäftszeiten warten zu müssen.

Seelenfrieden für Stylisten: Keine Unterbrechungen mehr während Ihrer Freizeit. Kunden können Ihre Verfügbarkeit einsehen und ihre Termine online buchen, sodass Sie von den ständigen „Reifen tretenden“ Anfragen befreit sind.

Effizienz: Durch die Automatisierung des Buchungsprozesses wird die Hin- und Her-Kommunikation reduziert, was Ihnen Zeit spart und Ihnen ermöglicht, sich mehr auf Ihr Handwerk zu konzentrieren.

Termine mit einer Anzahlung von 50 % sichern

Eine der herausragenden Funktionen von Timely ist die Möglichkeit, eine Anzahlung zu verlangen, bevor Kunden ihre Termine buchen können:

Finanzielle Sicherheit: Indem Sie eine Anzahlung von 50 % verlangen, stellen Sie sicher, dass Ihre Zeit geschätzt wird, und verringern die Wahrscheinlichkeit von Nichterscheinen oder kurzfristigen Absagen.

Kundenbindung: Wenn Kunden ein finanzielles Interesse an ihren Terminen haben, ist es wahrscheinlicher, dass sie ihre Buchungen einhalten oder rechtzeitig Bescheid geben, wenn sie einen Termin verschieben müssen.

Cashflow-Management: Vorausbezahlte Anzahlungen können Ihren Cashflow verbessern und für einen vorhersehbareren Einnahmestrom sorgen.

Kundendaten für Marketingzwecke nutzen

Timely hilft nicht nur bei Buchungen, sondern sammelt auch wertvolle Kundeninformationen, die Sie für das Wachstum Ihres Unternehmens nutzen können:

Sammlung von Kundendaten: Sammeln Sie während des Buchungsvorgangs wichtige Kundendaten wie E-Mail-Adressen und Telefonnummern. Diese Daten sind entscheidend, um mit Ihren Kunden in Kontakt zu bleiben und ihre Vorlieben zu verstehen.

Integriertes Marketing: Verwenden Sie diese Informationen mit Marketingsoftware wie Mailchimp, um gezielte Kampagnen zu erstellen. Ob Sie Newsletter, Sonderangebote oder Geburtstagsrabatte versenden, der Kontakt zu Ihren Kunden kann Folgeaufträge fördern und die Kundenbindung stärken.

Personalisierter Service: Durch den Zugriff auf Kundenhistorien und -präferenzen können Sie einen persönlicheren Service bieten, das Kundenerlebnis verbessern und Mundpropaganda fördern.

Warum sollten Sie sich für Timely bei 8004.salon entscheiden?

Bei 8004.salon haben wir uns verpflichtet, die besten Tools und Ressourcen bereitzustellen, um unseren selbstständigen Stylisten zum Erfolg zu verhelfen. Das Online-Buchungssystem von Timely ist nur eine der vielen Möglichkeiten, mit denen wir unsere Stylisten unterstützen. Durch die Optimierung der Terminverwaltung, die Sicherung von Buchungen mit Anzahlungen und die Nutzung von Kundendaten für Marketingzwecke ermöglicht Ihnen Timely, Ihr Geschäft effizient und effektiv auszubauen.

Vielen Dank, dass Sie unseren Blog lesen. Bleiben Sie dran für weitere Tipps und Einblicke von 8004.salon und entdecken Sie, wie wir Ihnen helfen können, als selbstständiger Stylist erfolgreich zu sein.