6 Types of Coworking Membership Plans For Your Space

Membership plans are the backbone of your monthly revenue strategy… but where do you even start?

Optix has helped coworking space operators across 25+ countries set up plans for their space using our platform. We’ve seen firsthand what types of coworking membership packages work well for coworking spaces, along with best practices to employ.

In this article, we’ll break down the six common types of membership plans that coworking operators use today. They’re ordered from lowest to highest according to the level of commitment required from a member to help you choose the best option for your needs.

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1. The Community Membership Plan

The community membership plan gives members access to the coworking community, without forcing them to commit to the space long-term. It provides great value with a low cost of entry.

Who is it for?

This package appeals to prospective members who may be interested in participating in the coworking community but aren’t looking for regular access to a workspace.

What does this package include?

• 1 day of hot desk access per month
• Access to your venue’s digital community
• Discounts on event and workshop tickets
• Discounts on meeting room rentals

Pro-tip: pricing your plan

Price this monthly membership plan to come out to about $5-10 above the price of a drop-in pass. This creates an easy way for you to upsell visitors to your space and ensure your community remains vibrant and ever-changing.

It’s a perfect option for those who are unlikely to frequent your space for workdays but still want to be part of your community.

2. The Virtual Office Membership Plan

The virtual office or virtual coworking membership plan gives members a physical mailing address, office related services, and a community to engage with without having to come in to the physical space.

Who is it for?

Virtual offices are appealing to solopreneurs and new business owners who need a professional address but may not have the capital to finance a full-time desk in an office.

What does this package include?

• Mail service and a business address
• Discounts on meeting room rentals
• Access to your venue’s digital community

Pro-tip: member acquisition

Attend events in your community targeted at new entrepreneurs to find prospective members who may benefit from a virtual office.

You can also host an event for entrepreneurs in your own space and invite current members to attend to create a networking opportunity for prospects.

3. The Weekender Membership Plan

The weekender membership plan includes use of the desks in your coworking space  during non-peak hours, such as on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning.

Who is it for?

This coworking package appeals to side hustlers, cash-strapped entrepreneurs, and those looking to get their business off the ground outside of their 9-5.

What does this package include?

• Unlimited weekend-only access to hot desks (option to include weekdays 6pm onwards as well)
• Access to your venue’s digital community
• Discounts on event and workshop tickets
• Discounts on weekday hot desk and meeting room rentals

Pro-tip: member acquisition

Use this plan to get the price-conscious side hustlers on the hook. They’ll love the discounted price, and you’ll get more traffic on your typically slower days.

4. The Hot Desk Membership Plan

The hot desk membership plan is the original coworking space package. It includes a limited number of hot desking days a month and is offered on a part-time or full-time basis.

Who is it for?

This plan is a great option for freelancers and hybrid or remote workers looking for a change of scenery from their typical home office.

What does this package include?

• 8-10 days (part time) or 20 days (full time) of hot desk use
• 5-10 hours of meeting room rental included
• Discount on overage hours for hot desks and meeting rooms
• Access to your digital community
• Discounts on events and workshop tickets

Pro-tip: pricing your plan

Want to offer your part time members even more flexibility? Price your plans based on the number of hours they can book (ie. a part time membership of 50-80 hours per month).

This allows members to drop in for part of the day without charging them for a full day’s allowance.

5. The Dedicated Desk Membership Plan

The dedicated desk membership plan gives members a desk in your open area to call their own, just like in a traditional office setting. They can often leave things on the desk or in a private dedicated locker space.

Who is it for?

Your most committed solopreneurs will love the dedicated desk membership. It’s also a good fit for start-ups who don’t need their own private office and people who work for themselves.

What does this package include?

• A dedicated desk for them on a part-time or full-time basis
• 5-10 hours of meeting room rental included (plus a discount if they go over their allocated hours)
• Access to your coworking digital community
• Discounts on event and workshop tickets
• Locked personal storage

Pro-tip: access control

Explore an access control system like Kisi as a way to offer secure after-hours access to full-time members without needing to staff your space past 5pm (or even staff your space at all).

6. The Private Office Membership Plan

Private office memberships give members access to the security and privacy of their own office while still allowing them to be a part of your coworking community.

Who is it for?

This package is a popular option for start-ups, small to medium-sized remote or hybrid teams, and members who need a bit more privacy.

What does this package include?

• 24/7 access to their private, secure office
• 5-15 hours of meeting room rental included (plus discount on overage)
• Access to your digital community
• Discount on event and workshop tickets

Pro-tip: structuring plans

If you run out of private offices to rent, you can suggest renting a group of dedicated desks instead. You can create a custom plan that includes extra meeting room time to ensure they have plenty of opportunity to collaborate and chat in a quiet setting.

Make sure you add these teams to the top of your private office waitlist to ensure their needs are met as soon as possible.

Experiment until you find the right mix of membership options for you

When it comes to creating plans, nothing is set in stone. Using a coworking management software allows you to test out plan offerings and measure key performance indicators to determine which plans are worth keeping.

At the end of the day, finding the right combination of membership plans for your coworking space is an iterative process. With a bit of time and experimentation, you’ll find what works best for your space and your community’s needs.

Create flexible membership plans in Optix

We’ve invested a lot of time and energy to build a coworking management software that gives coworking operators the flexibility they need to run a successful business.

If you’re interested in learning more about what’s possible with Optix, reach out to a member of our team to learn more.