I’m a software developer based here in Harare. I just secured a 25sqm commercial office space right in the CBD. I don't need the whole space to myself, but instead of just sub-letting desks for rent, I’m thinking of building a "micro creative studio" / collective agency. The Idea: I want to bring in a UX Designer, a Videographer, and an Animator to fill the other three desks. The Deal for Them: They get a free desk in a premium CBD office. I cover the high-speed fibre internet and inverter backup power. They keep their own freelance businesses, their own clients, and 100% of their own revenue. The Catch / My Benefit: When I land large enterprise software, they act as my exclusive, built-in team. For those specific projects, we pitch as one unified agency under my brand, and I pay them as subcontractors out of the project budget. They also get a professional space to bring their own clients, which creates a "halo effect" ,meaning their clients might see my dev work on the whiteboard and become cross-sell leads for me. For All of Us (Cross-Pollination): If the videographer's client needs a website, they pass it to me. If my client needs a promotional video or 3D asset, I pass it to them. We kill the isolation of working alone while sharing a premium space. My goal is to look like a massive, full-service tech and interactive studio to corporate clients without taking on the crippling overhead of full-time payroll. My Questions: Has anyone successfully run a collective/subcontractor model like this locally? What are the legal or operational pitfalls I’m not seeing? (I plan to use a strict 30-day probation clause so people don't just use my Wi-Fi to download movies). Local freelancers: Would you take this deal? Or would the blurred lines between your brand and my brand bother you? Appreciate any brutal honesty!   submitted by   /u/Optimal-Leg-2736 [link]   [comments]