Leasing / Subleasing vs. Shared Labs: Why Labshares is the Capital-Efficient Choice for Biotechs
For emerging biotech and life science companies, securing lab space is often the biggest hurdle to launching and scaling. The main options—building out your own lab, subleasing, or joining a shared lab like Labshares—differ widely in cost, flexibility, and risk. For teams under 25 scientists, the numbers overwhelmingly favor Labshares.
Let’s break it down using a comparative analysis for two common biotech sizes: a small team (2-4 full-time employees, FTEs) and a growing company (10-15 FTEs)
The shared laboratory value proposition is so compelling that we’re seeing companies transition toLabshares as soon as their lease or sublease terms expire—opting not to renew even after investing heavily in their prior space. The operational flexibility and cost savings make Labshares the obvious next step.
Here’s how the savings break down:
Lab Rent: Uncovering the Hidden Costs
Subleasing even a small space (2,000-6,500sq. ft.) in the biotech hub of Boston can total $200K–$650K per year, once you factor in $100 / sq. ft. rent, utilities, taxes, and CAM (common are a maintenance) fees. Rent is typically the largest cost driver; however, these often “hidden” fees—utilities, taxes and CAM fees—tend to run an additional $20-$30/ sq. ft.
At Labshares, your rent and all of those other “hidden” costs are fully included in your license fee. You know exactly how much you’ll pay, no surprises.
Lab Equipment Cost: Included at Labshares
Equipping your lab is a major expense, but one that has to be included in analyzing lease or subleased space. A lab without equipment isn’t functional—yet outfitting it can cost hundreds of thousands annually. Our analysis shows a leasing arrangement, where companies lease essential lab equipment for three years at a cost between $187K-$290K annually, depending on your team’s size and needs. Alternatively, some companies buy their equipment outright and shoulder the burden all upfront.
Labshares gives you immediate access to over $7 million in state-of-the-art, calibrated equipment with 99%+ uptime—no capital expense, no maintenance, no delays. Some highly advanced lab equipment—like cell sorters or spectral flow cytometers—cost $350K–$600K, yet it’s all available on day one through your Labshares membership.
Back-End Lab Services and Personnel
Running your own lab requires hiring or contracting back-end services like lab managers, safety officers, and waste disposal staff. It also involves paying outsiders for a variety of lab services like lab coat laundering, janitorial services, equipment maintenance contracts, medical waste disposal, internet, security, permitting, and more. All of this costs $593K annually for larger teams.
Labshares includes all these services in your membership—so you can focus on science, not admin.
A Harsh Reality: Today’s Funding Environment Demands Efficiency
Biotech funding has declined sharply since its 2021 peak—down more than 40% globally in2023 alone. Early-stage rounds are smaller, less frequent, and come with greater investor scrutiny.
Capital is no longer being deployed based on promise alone. Investors now expect lean operations, milestone-driven planning, and clear ROI. Every dollar must stretch further—and every operational decision is under the microscope.
In this environment, fixed infrastructure costs can be a liability. Building out your own space or committing to a long-term sublease can quickly consume runway and slow progress. That’s why capital-efficient models like Labshares are gaining traction: they eliminate unnecessary overhead, reduce risk, and help companies focus their spend where it matters most—on science.
The Strategic Edge of Labshares
- Streamlined Science: Start working on day one. No buildout. No equipment delays. No issues with going through permitting.
- Flexibility:Grow from a single bench to a private suite as your team scales.
- Capital Efficiency: Keep your burn rate low and allocate more funding toward R&D.
- Community:Join a collaborative environment with like-minded companies, advisors, and events.
In today’s capital-constrained climate, every dollar must work harder. Investors are rewarding operational discipline and penalizing waste. Labshares gives biotechs a strategic edge by removing unnecessary overhead and allowing teams to hit critical scientific milestones faster—and more affordably.
Before committing to a sublease or buildout, ask: is there a smarter way? With Labshares, there is.
