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Shared Labs: A Guide for CFOs

The Capital-Efficient Path for Emerging Biotechs

Helping CFOs optimize resources, manage costs, and drive scientific productivity

The Challenge: Cost-Effective Lab Operations for Emerging Companies

Emerging biotech and life science companies face significant financial hurdles in establishing laboratory operations. Incubators can be a solution for a company’s first 12 months, but incubators don’t allow companies to seamlessly scale from Seed through Series A, B, and C funding. Alternatively, traditional laboratory leases (or sub-leases) demand long-term commitments, significant capital investment, and specialized operational expertise—costly distractions from scientific progress.

For CFOs, managing these challenges while preserving precious capital is a critical task. Time wasted on operational hurdles directly impacts burn rate and delays scientific progress.

The Solution: Why Shared Labs Are the Smart Choice

Shared laboratories provide a cost-effective and scalable solution for emerging biotechs, allowing CFOs to maximize financial resources while scientists can focus on their work.

  • Capital Efficiency:
    • Shared labs provide access to expensive lab equipment, obviating the need for emerging companies to purchase or lease this equipment independently.
    • Bundled pricing includes lab space, equipment, and operational services, significantly reducing hidden costs like taxes, utilities, and maintenance fees.
    • Avoid hiring a dedicated lab manager, saving approximately $200,000 annually.
  • True Cost Perspective:
    • Don’t be fooled by the "dollars per square foot" fallacy: While traditional leases (or sub-leases) might appear cheaper, shared labs also cover the true operational costs—equipment, services, and management—that make a lab functional.
  • Scalability and Flexibility:
    • Start with a single bench and scale seamlessly as the company grows. Typical growth-stage biotechs incur hard costs of more than $10k for a move, not including the larger costs of employee downtime and scientific disruption.
    • Shared labs offer the option of much shorter contract terms, preserving and maximizing financial flexibility.
  • Faster Scientist Onboarding:
    • Scientists can be up and running within days, reducing delays that waste valuable time and resources.
    • Eliminates distractions and costs associated with permitting, medical waste management, and other non-core activities.

Labshares: Designed for Finance Professionals

A black and white image of a person in a lab coat.

Labshares’ approach to shared laboratories aligns with the priorities of CFOs, emphasizing cost transparency, operational efficiency, risk mitigation, and capital preservation.

  • Flexible & Transparent Pricing:
    • Availability of shorter contract terms mitigates risk
    • Flexibility to support both short-term needs and long-term growth.
    • Shorter contract terms lower risks
    • Some shared labs impose hidden, layered fees: one fee for lab space, another for team members, and a third for desk usage. Labshares’ pricing is straightforward, with one, all-inclusive rate.
  • Operational Efficiency:
    • Access to more than $7 million in cutting edge lab equipment.
    • Labshares handles safety, maintenance, and equipment calibration, reducing the need for internal operational hires.
  • Online Purchasing System:
    • Labshares' purchasing system offers access to vendor discounts with net 60 payment terms, saving costs on supplies and startup overhead.
  • Convenient Location and Savings:
    • Labshares parking is always free and abundant for members and their guests. Parking in Kendall Sq. and the Seaport is at least $40 per day.
    • Public transportation and biking options available.

Trusted by CFOs

Labshares has supported over 90 innovative biotech companies with a cost-effective, scalable model. Shared laboratories allow CFOs to mitigate overall risk, drive financial efficiency, and enable their scientists to focus on hitting scientific milestones.

Visit Labshares.com or contact us to learn more.

Appendix A: Cost Comparison

To understand the true cost of operating a lab,  below is a cost analysis that compares (A) the total cost for a laboratory sublease, including rent, equipment and lab services, and (B) the total cost for a shared laboratory.

The Fallacy of “Dollars Per Square Foot”

Labs are sometimes evaluated by one simple metric: “What’s my dollars per square foot?”

However, for shared labs, “dollars per square foot” is a deeply deceiving metric.
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First, the lab space reserved exclusively for your company – whether a single bench, a group of benches, or a private suite – represents only a tiny fraction of the space to which your team has access. High-quality shared labs offer unfettered access to entire shared rooms dedicated to tissue culture, chemistry, bacteria / viral work, and microscopy. Shared labs also provide office and open desk seating, conference rooms space, kitchens, and more.
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Second, lab equipment, lab services, and the cost of a lab manager are not included in a traditional lease or sublease “dollars per square foot”. But what emerging biotechs need is a fully functioning laboratory to advance their science. Lab rent only accounts for 40%-55% of the total cost.