By Lewi Lewis

myBusinessBar is an innovative, local business, but regardless of what you may think, there is no quaffing of spirits here … at least not in the traditional sense. 

Local business owner and entrepreneur Kathryn Christiansen believes that small business is vital for the progression and growth of local communities. She also knows, from experience, the many pitfalls there are along the way of establishing one’s own business. 

Enter myBusinessBar, a co-working business center located at 4535 S 2300 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 . 

“My passion has always been helping other business owners succeed and hopefully avoid some of the pitfalls I have personally experienced as a serial entrepreneur,” she said. 

Christiansen had the idea to bring coworking space that she has seen on the west and east coasts, respectively, to Utah. At the time, there were no other coworking spaces in the Beehive state and, to date, she remains the only woman in Utah to own such a business; she was something of a pioneer and is fiercely passionate about collaboration.  

“We opened as the first hybrid mix coworking business center in Utah in 2012,” she said, with a focus specifically on 2nd- stage business owners. 

Christiansen’s business model is unique to other shared/coworking businesses in the sense that members can come in, work independently, or meet with clients as if they own the place.

“We are here to support their [members] growth and successes collectively by helping to make connections, offering networking events with our Business on Tap series, organizing after-hour socials and offering a Coworking Ambassador Program,” Christiansen said, explaining that this is possible because myBusinessBar has a direct pulse on the community.

Christiansen has been called a “trailblazer” in the industry, being recognized in Symmetry50’s “The Top 100 Coworking Spaces in the U.S.”

myBusinessBar offers a wide range of services, from virtual offices, meeting rooms, and private offices to a virtual receptionist – prepared to cheerfully take your calls for you – all of which is designed with the business owner in mind. 

“One aspect of my business that I just love is that I offer free virtual office mail services to nonprofit organizations that need a home base,” Christiansen said. “I am grateful that I have positioned my business to be able to help them so that they can in turn help our communities and those in need.”

Speaking with Christiansen, her passion is palpable; less about the brick and mortar of the business itself, but more about helping people reach their full potential and seeing them succeed. 

“At myBusinessBar we have tried to think ahead of our client’s needs so that we are prepared for every stage of growth, even if that means helping our tenants find their own space when the time comes. If our members succeed it makes my job absolutely rewarding.”