Warning: co-working space memberships lock you into contracts that hurt the lifestyle

I signed a 6-month contract with a co-working spot in Medellin back in March, thinking it would save money. Three weeks later I got an offer for a beach town project in Cartagena, but the contract had a $400 early exit fee. I saw four other nomads at the same spot dealing with similar clauses. Has anyone else gotten stuck in a co-working membership that killed their flexibility?

2 comments

2 Comments

linda_mason822d ago

Well I actually think that's a fair point but I want to push back just a little on the idea that all co-working memberships are like that. I've been using them on and off for about four years now and I've learned to always read the fine print before signing. The real issue isn't the contract itself, it's that people don't realize they can negotiate those terms before they ever put pen to paper. I've gotten month to month deals at three different spots just by asking nicely and showing them I was a responsible traveler with good references. The $400 exit fee sounds rough but most places will let you pause a membership or switch to a different tier without that penalty if you talk to the manager ahead of time. It's more about knowing what questions to ask upfront than avoiding memberships altogether.

karen_sanchez102d ago

Yeah those $400 exit fees are exactly why I never sign anything longer than a month...