Office Evolution Breaks Ground in Indianapolis Suburbs

While the small business population continues to climb nationwide, cities like Indianapolis are capitalizing on the growing number of entrepreneurs, with a relatively low cost of living and a healthy job market. But this rapid growth requires a high level of support, and shared office space franchise Office Evolution is stepping in by looking for development opportunities in the market. The brand signed its first franchisees in the area this year which recently opened in the affluent suburb of Carmel.

Before joining Office Evolution, franchise owners Kris and Brian Monson were looking for ways to become a part of the local small business community. The two have lived in Carmel for more than 20 years and while they have been actively involved, they wanted to step up to make an even bigger contribution to the success of the city where they raised their kids.

“Like many suburbs of Indianapolis, Carmel is completely re-developing and becoming extremely small business-focused. You walk into the local butcher shop, pizza place or library and everyone knows your name. We wanted to be a part of that,” said Kris Monson.

Kris and Brian attended the Small Business Carmel class at the Carmel Library to get a sense of what was available. Through the course, they were introduced to a franchising consultant who talked to them about a number of concepts, but Office Evolution stuck out. They were immediately impressed with the franchise model and, as a Management Consultant and former Banking Customer Service Representative, the level of support it provides to local small business owners. The Monsons knew this business would not only give them the chance to fulfill their dream of business ownership but also a chance to support their entrepreneurial-minded friends and neighbors.

“With the large number of entrepreneurs in Carmel, the various services offered by Office Evolution will address their needs; including private offices, shared workspace, conference rooms, and live phone answering” said Kris. “It provides business owners with the option to stay in their community without having to make the commute downtown. The concept resonated with us and we knew it would make a big impact in the lives of those that wanted a quiet, comfortable space to work but didn’t have one.”

After researching the brand further, Brian and Kris drove out to Ohio to check out a couple of locations in the Columbus area and were impressed by the professional, family-oriented environment and culture at Office Evolution. They found that the brand provided a work environment for business owners and professionals of all sizes and industries. Because the work environment is shared, the franchise encourages collaboration and community, yet still provides the privacy and discretion that any business requires.

“The Business Center Managers we met and their members genuinely seemed so happy to be a part of Office Evolution. Everyone was upbeat and welcoming. When we went to the corporate office in Denver, CO and met their team and heard about their commitment to Ohana (a Hawaiian term for family) all of the pieces fell into place for us. We knew we had found our next adventure,” said Kris.

The shared office space brand tends to thrive in territories that offer a similar demographic to metropolitan Indianapolis, including Naperville, Illinois, suburban Columbus, Ohio and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. These markets are heavily populated with independent business owners who benefit from Office Evolution’s all-inclusive, dedicated work space. With the Monsons paving the way for future growth, the development team believes there’s a great opportunity to expand.

“The Midwest has proven to be a lucrative market for us and Indianapolis is no exception,” said Mark Hemmeter, CEO and Founder of Office Evolution. “The small business community in the Indianapolis market is thriving and we’re getting in at the ground level. Areas of the country that support entrepreneurial growth and success are ultimately where we want to be, and this opening in Carmel is a great start.”