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:
the person who collected it, or
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.
