Operating flex like a business, not a bet.

Overview

Flex isn’t a trend. It’s a business. And too many operators forget that.

In this episode of The Flexible Office Economy, Mark Gilbreath sits down with Jacob Bates, former CEO of CommonGrounds and a longtime commercial real estate leader, to explore what it really takes to make flexible office work—operationally and financially.

Jacob shares his unfiltered take on why many flex ventures failed, what it means to run flex like a business (not a venture play), and how landlords and occupiers can partner smarter to unlock shared value. From scaling operations across dozens of locations to wrestling with profitability, Jacob brings the receipts—and the reality check.

This is a must-listen for anyone in the trenches of operating or underwriting flex office today.

Episode Highlights

• What CommonGrounds got right—and what the industry still gets wrong
• Why experience alone isn’t enough: flex must operate like a platform
• The economics of margin: lessons from scaling, setbacks, and iteration
• Why landlords need to think like brand managers, not leaseholders
• The difference between flexible office as amenity vs. asset class
• How to build for sustainability—not just headlines or hype

The flex category is maturing. The players who succeed won’t be the ones chasing buzz—they’ll be the ones who know how to drive profit, brand value, and user experience at scale.

Jacob Bates has built flex businesses from the inside out. In this episode, he shares the lessons most operators had to learn the hard way.

It’s strategic. It’s honest. It’s the flex operating playbook you wish you had two years ago.