When starting a coworking space, it can be difficult to know what you need for your small business. As the owner or manager of a coworking space, it’s your job to keep things running smoothly. But let’s face it, sometimes that can be a tall order. To help you out, we’ve gathered a list of our top five helpful tools that every new coworking space manager should have ready in their toolkit.

Our Picks

1. Task Organizer

Having a good planning and organizational foundation for your business is key. There are free versions of project management tools, such as Trello, that you can use to track projects and tasks among your team.

At CoWello we use a paid version of Asana. You can create a variety of projects in Asana, and each project has a “board” with related tasks. But as you get started, you’ll probably find that your tasks are pretty simple and you might not need to pay for a full-featured tool.

2. Member Communication

Being able to quickly and easily communicate with members who rent your space is essential to keep everyone on the same page. Slack is a great tool for quick communication. In Slack you can organize channels by topic to keep related messages and thread replies together. Plus, it’s easy to send messages to a specific person or group of people.

There are also free alternatives to Slack, or you could even create a Facebook Group for your members to join.

3. Layout Plan

A floor plan template will help you figure out the dimensions of your space and how to best utilize your available square footage. By creating a floor plan, you can make sure you have enough space for all your major furniture items and some much-needed breathing room. It’s also a great way to get an idea of how the space will flow or and be used for your members.

A generic floor plan template can be useful, but it’s even better to create one that’s tailored to your specific spaces, inventory, and features. You can pay for various floor plan software online, or you could use a free diagramming and visualization tool, like Miro, to make a scaled-down version of your space. 

4. Access Control

A keyless access control management software, like the one provided by Latch, gives you more flexibility when it comes to door access control. With so many people coming and going, a top-notch access control system is a must. Being able to configure it from anywhere means you can grant or restrict access at any time.

Latch and similar providers also have security offerings that let space members enter and exit with their smartphone. These solutions eliminate the need to keep track of keys, key cards, or key fobs, and manage access in real time to help new members get started quickly.

5. Space Management Software

If you’re running a coworking space, it’s vital to have the right software to help manage your operations. At CoWello, we understand the challenges of picking the right one. When hunting down the best software for your business, asking yourself the right questions is key to finding a good fit. 

Some products offer more features than others, and some are more important for some spaces compared to others. It’s important to find software that’s easy to use for both you and your space members to use. Consider all the factors that are important to you and your business and go from there. It can also be helpful to take the time to view a demo or sign up for a free trial to get more familiar with different programs.

Wrapping Up

Starting a coworking space will keep you busy. Your top priority is to make sure everything runs smoothly, which can be easier said than done. With these tools at your disposal, running a successful coworking space will be a breeze.

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