Partnering with Local Businesses: A Guide for Coworking Spaces

Local partnerships work best when they solve real needs for your members and help nearby businesses grow. Focus on perks people actually use, events people want to attend, and clear value both sides can measure. Then use your tools to track visits, promote offers, and learn what to do next.

Why do local partnerships matter?

People trust other people: Nielsen research shows that recommendations and social proof are more persuasive than ads, which makes genuine partner perks and co-hosted events spread quickly by word of mouth. Eventbrite data confirms that events bring in new faces and multiple revenue streams, a benefit that both you and your partners can share.

Beyond just adding perks, local collaborations help build stronger ties in the neighborhood, create a sense of identity, and generate goodwill for your coworking space.

What partnerships should you start first?

Start with member needs: food and coffee, wellness, childcare, printing, learning, and quick errands.

• Member discounts and perksNegotiate simple, exclusive offers your members will actually redeem. Customer loyalty research shows that perks are a proven lever for retention. Track redemptions per month, repeat use, and the churn of members who use perks compared to those who don’t.
• Co-hosted events and workshopsRun monthly skill classes, lunch sessions, or showcases with local experts. Eventbrite reports that in-person events are driving diversified revenue and high attendee demand. Measure RSVPs, new visitors, partner leads, and email signups.
• Cross-promotion and referralsTrade shout-outs, place flyers in each location, and set up a two-way referral. Nielsen found that 83% of consumers trust recommendations from friends and family, so referral programs compound across both communities.
• Shared resources and bundlesBundle offers like “desk + gym pass” or “meeting room + café catering.” These simplify decisions and strengthen routine use. Track bundle sales and repeat bookings.
• Civic and education partnersCollaborate with libraries, universities, or city development programs. Community business case studies show these partnerships expand your reach and profile.

How do you find and pitch the right partners?

• Ask your members first: Run quick surveys or informal check-ins to see where they already spend money, such as cafés, gyms, childcare, or services. These insights point you to partners your members will actually value.
• Lead with mutual benefits: Frame your pitch around what the partner gains, including new customers, increased visibility, and credibility through your community. Be ready with data on your member demographics and foot traffic.
• Start small and prove value: Propose a simple 90-day pilot with clear terms that cover the offer, how it will be promoted, and how results will be tracked. Keep the agreement to one page so it is easy to commit.
• Measure and share results: Track indicators such as redemption rates, new visitors, tours booked, conversions to membership, and revenue uplift. Share these numbers with partners to demonstrate impact and build trust.

How Cobot helps you run and measure partnerships

Cobot’s built-in tools make it easier to move from idea to execution.

• Events and booking: Use Cobot’s event management features to create public or member-only event pages, sell tickets, manage RSVPs, and list events directly on your site. Perfect for co-hosted talks, pop-ups, and workshops.
• Visitor tracking: Track who comes in for partner events or trial passes with visitor management tools. You can also enable external bookings so non-members can reserve rooms—ideal for partner-led sessions.
• Check-ins and attendance: Connect check-in options like Wi-Fi, RFID, or door integrations to log attendance at partner activations and gather reliable usage data.
• Member communication: Share updates, perks, and invitations with Cobot’s email and member communication features, or connect to your newsletter tool for broader campaigns.
• Getting started resources: Cobot’s First Steps guides include practical advice on running events and partnerships that bring in local businesses and media coverage.

Key takeaways

• Start with member needs like coffee, wellness, or printing.
• Keep partnerships simple, mutually beneficial, and measurable.
• Promote actively across both communities.
• Use Cobot to handle the logistics, tracking, and communications so you can focus on relationships.