Lively hive

Newly founded businesses can get up and running with a stable Internet connection and intense sweat equity from the founder.

But building business relationships can be difficult from a home office. That's one advantage at Cowork Hive, a shared, open-floor office space for small business owners that would generally work from home or a place such as Starbucks. The core of the business is to build a social environment for members.

Cowork Hive, which opened in June 2014, stands out for another reason: It's in North Port, a city in south Sarasota County, near the Charlotte County line, that's not known for its tech-infused startup culture. With 59,212 residents in 2013, according to U.S. Census data, it's the largest city in Sarasota County.