The Hidden Pressures of Running a Coworking Space

From the outside, running a coworking space can look deceptively simple. Open the doors, fill the desks, and let the community take care of itself.

But anyone who has ever run an independent or neighbourhood coworking space knows that behind every thriving workspace is an operator quietly carrying an enormous and often invisible load.

About this article:

This article is adapted and rewritten for this website by Suzanne Murdock, Co-Founder & Operator of The Hub Newry and Coach & Mentor for neighbourhood coworking operators and micro business leaders.

It is based on a recorded conversation between Suzanne Murdock and Lucy McInally, Founder of The Inclusive Coworker, exploring the hidden pressures of running independent and neighbourhood coworking spaces.

The original co-authored article was first published on Lucy McInally’s Substack and has been adapted and republished here with permission.

🎥 Watch the conversation: The Hidden Pressures of Running a Coworking Space

🎧 Prefer to listen?

Hear the full conversation on the Powering Productivity podcast S4Ep12

 

Managing the Invisible Load

Coworking is a people-first business. Operators are simultaneously hosts, troubleshooters, marketers, cleaners, strategists, therapists, accountants, community catalysts and sometimes emergency responders.

Many are doing this without a team, while running another business alongside their coworking space. Suzanne often refers to this cumulative pressure as the “invisible load.”

“There’s that human aspect of the unexpected… We don’t know what’s going to happen from one day to the next. You feel that you’re the community manager, you’re the one holding space. You’re there for them, so you have to drop things when your members need you.”

The challenge isn’t just the number of tasks, but the unpredictability and emotional responsibility that comes with holding space for others every day.

Suzanne emphasises the importance of regularly revisiting the purpose behind your space and asking:

• Are you serving the right members?
• Does your space still align with your values?

This clarity can help distinguish between feeling overwhelmed by workload and feeling out of alignment with your community.

 

Creating the Magic of Community

Community is one of the most talked-about and misunderstood aspects of coworking.

For Suzanne, community building is deeply human and long-term. Over more than 13 years at The Hub Newry, she has witnessed members grow not only in their businesses, but in their personal lives too. Some members’ children have quite literally grown up alongside the space, creating multi-generational connections that make the community feel like an extended family.

While coworking communities can bring immense joy and shared purpose, there can also be a quieter challenge: individuals who unintentionally drain time or shift the cultural dynamic within a space.

Building community requires a balance between empathy and boundaries.

To help maintain that balance, Suzanne recommends:

• Regular check-ins with members
• Keeping the door open for informal conversations
• Putting soft boundaries in place around time and energy
• Considering mental health first aid training

As Suzanne notes:

“The community isn’t just the people within the four walls, it’s the businesses outside as well that we’ve got to know over the years and are very much a part of it.”

Coping with the Financial Reality of Coworking

Cash-flow pressures hit neighbourhood coworking operators particularly hard. Empty offices, unpaid invoices, unexpected repairs, and rising costs can quickly pile up.

Suzanne reflects:

“Cash flow is always a worry for a lot of us local operators. The margins can be quite tight, and we don’t have the deep pockets that the bigger branded spaces have got… so you feel the pressure there.”

Smaller operators are constantly balancing member expectations with financial sustainability.

Key strategies include:

• Knowing your numbers
• Maintaining a buffer for unexpected costs
• Diversifying revenue streams

This might include:

• A mix of private offices and coworking memberships
• Registered office or virtual address services
• Coaching or mentoring alongside space operations
• Referral partnerships with local businesses

Trusted peers, mentors, and advisors play an important role in navigating the financial side of running an independent workspace.

Working Smarter with Marketing

Marketing is one of the most time-consuming roles a coworking operator takes on. For Suzanne, it can account for 30–40% of her working time.

Content creation never really stops, but creating content without a strategy can quickly lead to burnout.

Suzanne encourages operators to:

• Choose platforms that suit their personality and energy
• Plan content themes in advance
• Focus on quality and authenticity over trends

“Find your platform, your outlet, and then repurpose that. If you’re doing video or podcasting, pull out the audio, clips, and transcripts and build from that one piece of content.”

AI tools can support efficiency, but in coworking, trust and human-centred storytelling still matter most.

Overcoming Loneliness as a Coworking Operator

Running a coworking space can be deeply rewarding and deeply isolating.

For operators outside major cities, leadership loneliness often comes from carrying responsibility alone.

“Small business owners say it can be a lonely place because they’re holding so much space for others, and they don’t always feel able to share their own concerns.”

In smaller towns, competition can feel personal, making openness harder. Other factors that amplify isolation include:

• Regulatory complexity
• Limited access to peer networks
• Seasonal quiet periods

Structure, boundaries, peer connections, and mentor support can help counteract this isolation.

Coworking Operators You’re Not Alone

Coworking leaders carry many hidden pressures that shape how they build community, manage finances, and lead their spaces.

Support exists and seeking it early matters.

Small steps, trusted peers, clear boundaries, and regular check-ins can help prevent burnout and sustain people-led work over the long term.

 

As this conversation reminds us, coworking operators are rarely struggling because they’re doing something wrong. More often, they’re carrying too much – quietly, consistently, and without enough space to reflect or be supported.

Reaching out to peers, mentors, or trusted advisors matters. So does taking small, manageable steps rather than trying to fix everything at once. Regularly checking in with your own wellbeing, setting boundaries that protect your energy, and asking for support before burnout hits are all part of sustaining people-led work over the long term.

If this conversation resonates and you’re looking for more tailored guidance, Suzanne’s coaching and mentoring work supports neighbourhood coworking operators and micro business leaders navigating the hidden pressures of leadership, visibility, and responsibility.

You can also explore further writing, research, and discussion on coworking culture and leadership via The Inclusive Coworker.

Above all, remember: share what you’re carrying, stay connected, and take it one step at a time.

 

With heart 💛

Suzanne & Lucy