Picture two people. Same remote work setup, same job title, same city. One's employer covers their coworking membership. The other pays out of pocket and quietly debates whether to renew every month.
The difference between them? The first one had someone — or something — that helped them make the case to their manager. The second one didn't.
You can be that someone.
Getting an employer to pay for a coworking membership is more realistic than most remote workers realize. According to Gallup, replacing a single employee costs one-half to two times their annual salary. A coworking stipend of $150 to $400 per month is a rounding error by comparison.
Companies already pay for home office equipment, internet, professional development, and software. Coworking fits squarely into that same category.
But employees don't pitch it that way. They think of it as asking for something personal, which is exactly why most of these conversations never happen.
This is not just feel-good content for your newsletter. When a member's membership fee comes out of their employer's budget instead of their personal account, everything changes. They are less likely to cancel when finances get tight. They are more likely to upgrade. And when their employer sees it on a benefits summary, it becomes a line item that renews on its own.
Employer-backed memberships are stickier memberships.
And for prospects who hesitate on price? The real objection usually isn't price at all. It's "I can't justify this right now." Help them see they don't have to pay for it alone, and the objection disappears.
Most people don't ask their employer to cover coworking because they frame it wrong. "Can you pay for my coworking space?" sounds like a personal request. It sounds like a perk.
The reframe is simple: a coworking membership isn't a lifestyle upgrade. It's a retention and productivity investment that happens to cost less than most monthly software subscriptions.
When your members understand this, the conversation with their manager gets much easier. Here are the numbers worth knowing:
Armed with that context, the pitch becomes: "This keeps me sharper, less isolated, and it costs less than a software license."
Here is where you can make a real difference. Share this content directly with your prospects and members — or in a note to your existing community. You don't have to build anything from scratch. Just get the message in front of the right people.
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EMAIL YOUR MEMBERS CAN SEND TO THEIR MANAGER Subject: A quick ask about remote work support Hi [Manager's name], I've been working remotely for [X months/years], and I've been thinking about ways to stay focused and connected without making the full commute to the office every day. I'm looking at a membership at [your space name], a coworking space near me. The cost is around $[X] per month, and I wanted to ask whether that's something the company could support as part of my remote work setup -- similar to how teams cover home office equipment or internet. The research on this is pretty clear: Gallup found that 25% of fully remote employees experience loneliness regularly, which affects focus and retention. A coworking stipend is a small investment that helps prevent that, and it's typically less than what companies spend per person on office space. I'd love to chat about this at our next one-on-one, or I can put together a short proposal if that's helpful. Thanks for considering it. [Name] |
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BLURB FOR YOUR WEBSITE, PRICING PAGE, OR WELCOME PACKET Did you know your employer might pay for this? Many remote workers don't realize their company would cover part or all of a coworking membership, the same way they cover internet, equipment, or professional development. A coworking stipend is a legitimate remote work benefit that improves focus, reduces isolation, and helps employers hold onto good people. When you're ready to make the ask, we can help. Talk to our team about what to say and what to bring to the conversation. |
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SOCIAL MEDIA POST Quick reminder to every remote worker in [city]: your employer might cover your coworking membership. A coworking stipend is a legitimate remote work benefit, and more employers are open to it than you'd think. It's typically less than a monthly software subscription, and the case for it is easy to make. We've put together some language you can use to pitch it to your manager. DM us and we'll send it your way. [membership link] |
The email template above is a starting point, but timing matters. Pass this along to your members so they know when to bring it up:
If their company already covers home internet, equipment, or professional development, they have built-in precedent. A coworking membership fits the exact same category. Remind them of that.
Sometimes the first answer is no. That does not mean the conversation is over.
Help your members understand the three most common objections and how to handle them.
If your member wants the lowest-friction ask, this is it: propose a 30-day trial.
One month. A specific budget. An agreement upfront on what success looks like: tasks completed on time, availability during core hours, self-reported focus and energy. After 30 days, review it together.
Most managers will say yes to a trial. And once a member proves the value with real results, converting it to a standing benefit is a much shorter conversation.
If you offer day passes or flexible memberships, this is a natural entry point. Position it as the perfect way to pilot a company benefit before committing to anything long-term.
You don't need to build a whole campaign around this. A few simple touch points go a long way:
That last one is worth practicing. A simple question at the right moment can turn a lost lead into a new member.
Helping your members figure out how to fund their coworking memberships is one of the highest-return things you can do for your space right now. It removes the biggest objection in your sales process. It makes existing members more stable. And it positions you as a partner in their success, not just a place to sit and work.