Getting Started as an Operator
What Is Co-Desk?
Co-Desk is a space management platform built for coworking spaces, coliving properties, event venues, and short-term rental operators. It replaces the spreadsheets, disconnected tools, and manual processes most operators start with — and puts everything in one admin panel.
Here's what it covers:
Bookings — Members can book hot desks, dedicated desks, meeting rooms, offices, and coliving rooms directly from the member portal. You set the availability, pricing, and rules. Bookings can be hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly.
Memberships & Plans — Create recurring membership plans (weekly, monthly, yearly) with automatic billing. Members subscribe, get invoiced automatically, and you get paid without chasing anyone.
Billing & Invoices — Every booking and subscription generates an invoice automatically. Co-Desk handles invoice creation, payment collection, and credit notes in one place.
Payments — Connect Stripe to accept card payments online. Cash and bank transfer are also available for in-person collection. All payment activity is logged per member.
Members — Members register and manage their own accounts through the member portal. You can also create and manage member profiles from the admin panel, including subscriptions, bookings, deposits, and transaction history.
Door Access — Optional Kisi integration unlocks doors automatically based on active bookings or memberships. No key management required.
Analytics — Track occupancy rates, revenue, and member growth from your dashboard. Filter by time range or location. Export to Excel for your accounting software.
Help Desk — Members can submit support requests through the portal. Your team manages and responds to tickets from the admin panel.
Multi-Location — If you run more than one location, each is configured separately but managed from the same login. Use the location switcher to move between sites.
How the platform is structured
Co-Desk is built on two layers:
- Operations layer — everything you run day-to-day: bookings, billing, subscriptions, reporting, and member management for your location(s). This is what you interact with in the admin panel.
- Network layer — the infrastructure underneath: central member identity, cross-location access credentials, and platform-level payments. Members get one account that works across every Co-Desk location — yours and any others in the network. You don't configure this directly; it's built in.
Most operators are live within 30 minutes of signing up.
Before You Start
If you don't have an account yet, start a free 30-day trial at co-desk.app/register. No credit card required. See Plans and Pricing for details on what's included.
Step 1 — Log In
Go to your workspace URL and add /admin at the end (e.g., yourspace.co-desk.app/admin). Log in with the credentials you created during sign-up, or with those provided by your Co-Desk account manager.
Step 2 — Set Up Your Location
Go to Inventory → Locations and confirm your location details:
- Name — how your workspace appears to members
- Address — your full postal address
- Currency and Timezone — used for pricing, invoices, and booking times
- Logo — your branding shown in the member portal
If you manage more than one site, each location is configured separately. Use the location switcher at the top of the admin panel to move between them.
Step 3 — Create Your Resources
Go to Inventory and add the resources members can book — desks, meeting rooms, offices, coliving rooms, or day passes. Each type has its own section in the menu.
See the Setting Up Desks, Meeting Rooms, and Offices guides for details.
Step 4 — Connect a Payment Method
Go to Settings → Integrations and connect at least one payment option:
- Stripe — online card payments (recommended)
- Cash or Bank Transfer — manual options you record yourself
Members cannot complete a booking until a payment method is active.
See Setting Up Stripe for full instructions.
Step 5 — Invite Your First Member
Go to Operations → Members and click Create member. Fill in their name and email — they'll receive a welcome email with a link to verify their account and set a password.
You're Live
Once a resource, a payment method, and at least one member exist, your workspace is operational. Members can log in, browse resources, and make their first booking.
Next Steps
- Settings & Configuration — users, roles, amenities, and branding
- Memberships & Plans — recurring billing for regular members
- Smart Door Access — automatic door unlock via Kisi
- Plans and Pricing — Founder vs Growth plan limits and fees
Common Questions
What's the member portal URL?
Your main workspace domain (without /admin). Share this with members.
Can I manage multiple locations from one login? Yes — use the location switcher at the top of the admin panel.
Do I need Kisi to use Co-Desk? No — Kisi is optional. Co-Desk works fully without it.
How do I contact Co-Desk support? Email [email protected] — responses typically within 24 hours. You can also use the contact form at co-desk.us/contact.
Where can I find pricing and plan information? See the Plans and Pricing article, or visit co-desk.us/pricing.