You've poured your heart into creating a beautiful space. The lighting is perfect, the chairs are ergonomic, and the Wi-Fi is lightning-fast. But some days, you look at a few too many empty desks and wonder, "What's missing?"
In a world full of options, what makes a coworking space stand out among the crowd isn't just the desks and offices—it's the whole vibe and experience. That's where membership benefits come in. They are essential components of your community, serving as your best marketing tool and protection against member churn.
This guide is your new playbook for creating a benefits package so good, your members will be bragging about it and new prospects will see undeniable value in joining your community.
First things first: what are we talking about?
Coworking space benefits are any value-added offerings you provide on top of the basics (desk, internet, coffee). Think of them as the exclusive "thank you" your members get for being part of your community.
But let's be clear: a 5% discount at a dry cleaner down the street isn't going to make anyone sign a year-long contract. The best benefits solve a real problem, create a genuine connection, or just add a little bit of joy to a member's day. They are the tangible proof that you "get" them.
The modern benefits playbook: What members actually want in 2025
Let's break down the most impactful benefits into four areas that matter most to your members.
1. The business boosters (helping them win)
Your members are there to work. Benefits that help them grow their business provide a massive, direct ROI on their membership fee.
- Tech & software deals (the heavy hitters): Don't just list them; explain the value.
- Cloud credits: Instead of just "AWS Activate," say: "We offer up to $5,000 in AWS Activate credits, helping our startup members build and scale their product without the huge initial server costs." Also, pursue partnerships with Google Cloud for Startups and Microsoft for Startups.
- Productivity Tools: Think beyond the basics. Negotiate deals for Canva Pro for easy graphic design, a percentage off Notion or Slack premium plans for better organization, or discounted QuickBooks subscriptions.
- Professional services (the brain trust):
- Free legal/accounting consultations: Partner with a local law firm or accountant to offer a free 30-minute "Office Hours" session once a month. This is incredibly valuable for new freelancers and startups.
- Marketing & SEO audits: Team up with a marketing agency in your space. They get potential leads, and your members get a free audit of their website or social media. It's a perfect win-win.
- Startup consulting: Connect with a local venture consultant or experienced entrepreneur to offer mentorship sessions.
2. The community builders (creating a "sticky" vibe)
This is your defense against the "I can just work from home" argument. These benefits make your space the place to be.
- Events with a purpose:
- Skill-share lunches: A member who's a wizard at Excel teaches a brown-bag lunch session. You provide the pizza. It's a low-cost, high-engagement perk that builds authority for your members.
- "Member wins" happy hour: Once a month, celebrate the wins. Did someone launch a product? Land a big client? Get funding? Pop a bottle of bubbly and toast them. It makes people feel seen and celebrated.
- Panel discussions: Invite 3-4 local experts (maybe even your own members!) to talk about a hot topic like AI in marketing, fundraising, or remote work trends.
- Networking made easy:
- Professional headshot day: Hire a photographer for a day and offer professional headshots for a fraction of the usual cost. Every professional needs one, and this is a high-value, tangible benefit.
- Curated introductions: As the operator, you're the super-connector. When a new member joins, think, "Who do they need to meet?" and make a warm, personal introduction. This is a powerful, free benefit.
Best events to build community at your coworking space
3. The lifestyle enhancers (for work-life balance)
Your members are whole people, not just workers. Acknowledging this builds deep loyalty and shows you care.
- Real wellness:
- On-site yoga & meditation: A weekly 45-minute yoga or guided meditation class can be a huge draw. It's a physical and mental break from the screen.
- Mental health support: Partner with services like Calm, Headspace, or a local therapy practice to offer discounted subscriptions or sessions. This is a modern, high-impact benefit that shows you prioritize well-being.
- Ergonomic assessments: Bring in a physical therapist for a day to help members set up their workstations properly to avoid back and neck pain.
- Convenience is king:
- Food & drink: Go beyond stale coffee. Partner with a popular local coffee shop for a "house blend" or a daily delivery of pastries. A Friday beer-on-tap is a classic perk for a reason.
- Local love: Build a network of real, valuable local discounts. Think 15% off at the gym next door, a standing discount at the healthy lunch spot, or a deal with a nearby childcare facility.
- Surprise & delight: It doesn't have to be big. A bowl of fresh fruit on Mondays, a surprise delivery of gourmet donuts, or even just remembering someone's favorite type of tea can make a huge difference.
Generate recurring revenue and offer exceptional customer experience at your shared or coworking space
Your action plan: How to build a killer benefits package
Ready to make it happen? Here's your step-by-step guide.
Step 1: Stop guessing, start asking
You have a goldmine of information walking through your doors every day. Use it.
- The simple survey: Create a 3-question survey using Google Forms. Send it to your members through the community feed. Ask them:
- "On a scale of 1-10, how valuable are our current membership benefits to you?"
- "If you could have any new benefit to help your business, what would it be?"
- "What's one thing that would make your workday here more convenient or enjoyable?"
- The "Benefit Idea" board: Put up a whiteboard or a digital Slack channel where members can drop ideas anytime.
Step 2: Master the art of the partnership pitch
Approaching another business can be intimidating. It shouldn't be. You're offering them direct access to a community of potential customers.
Here's a simple email template:
Subject: A win-win partnership with [Your Coworking Space]
Hi [Partner's Name],
My name is [Your Name], and I run [Your Coworking Space], a community hub for [Number] local freelancers, startups, and remote workers right here in [Your Neighborhood].
Our members are huge fans of what you do at [Partner's Business], and I'd love to explore a simple way we could partner up.
We're looking to offer our members an exclusive benefit for a local gym they'll love, and we immediately thought of you. Would you be open to offering something like a 15% discount on monthly memberships or a free first class?
In return, we would actively promote [Partner's Business] to our entire community as our official fitness partner through our newsletter, our in-space digital screens, and our welcome package for new members.
It's a great way for you to get new customers and for us to offer a fantastic benefit to our members.
Let me know if you're open to a quick chat next week!
Best, [Your Name]
Step 3: Showcase your benefits like a pro
A great benefits package is useless if no one knows about it.
- Create a digital "Benefits Hub": Have a dedicated, visually appealing page on your website or management platform. Don't just list the benefits; use the partner's logo and write a sentence about why it's a great offering. Organize it into categories like "Grow Your Business" and "Wellness & Lifestyle."
- The onboarding tour: When a new member signs up, don't just show them the bathroom and the printer. Walk them over to your physical "Benefits Board" and point out 2-3 of the most popular offerings.
- Monthly newsletter spotlight: Dedicate a section of your newsletter each month to a "Benefit of the month." Tell a short story about the partner or how a member has used the benefit.
Benefit catalog on Spacebring
The secret weapon: Use data to get smarter
Don't let your benefits package get stale. Track what's working.
- Digital perks: Use unique discount codes or UTM links for each partner so you can see which ones are getting clicks, or just check analytics in your coworking software.
- In-person benefits: For events, track attendance. For something like the monthly happy hour, do a quick poll: "What kind of events do you want to see more of?"
- Review quarterly: Every three months, look at the data. Is nobody using that dry-cleaning discount? Maybe replace it with something more relevant. Is the yoga class always full? Maybe add a second one.
Over to you
Building an amazing benefits program is an ongoing conversation with your members. It's how you show them you're invested in their success and well-being.
As you start implementing this playbook, you'll quickly find that managing partnerships, tracking usage, and communicating all these amazing benefits can feel like a full-time job. You might ask yourself: "How can I manage all of this without getting buried in spreadsheets and emails?"
This is where technology can handle the heavy lifting. Imagine a central, beautiful hub where members can browse your entire collection of benefits and perks like a digital catalog, and you can see exactly what's popular at a glance.
Platforms like Spacebring are designed to solve this exact challenge. Their benefit catalog feature lets you effortlessly organize, promote, and track all your membership benefits in one place, automating the administrative work. This frees you up to do what you do best: building your community.
