# Member 30 day notice policy

**URL:** <https://forum.coworking.org/t/member-30-day-notice-policy/5764>\
**Category:** Policies & Best Practices\
**Created:** [March 11, 2016, 12:06am UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/member-30-day-notice-policy/5764 "2016-03-11T00:06:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Elizabeth\_Trice](https://forum.coworking.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/e79b87/32.png) [@Elizabeth\_Trice](https://forum.coworking.org/u/Elizabeth_Trice)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 12:06am UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/member-30-day-notice-policy/5764/1 "2016-03-11T00:06:56Z")

</div>

When members sign up they sign an agreement that says they need to give 30 days notice to the first of the month if they want to discontinue their membership. We’ve done this both to not have surprise drops in revenue, but also to because we’ve noticed that it results in members who haven’t been coming in much to start coming in again. Recently a few people got angry when they requested a change only a week in advance. How do others handle this?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jerome](https://forum.coworking.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a587f6/32.png) [@Jerome](https://forum.coworking.org/u/Jerome)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 12:20am UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/member-30-day-notice-policy/5764/2 "2016-03-11T00:20:14Z")

</div>

We use their deposits on file to pay for the remainder of the 30days.

> **···**
>
> On Thu, Mar 10, 2016 at 4:06 PM, Elizabeth Trice [lizt...@gmail.com](mailto:lizt...@gmail.com) wrote:
> 
> > When members sign up they sign an agreement that says they need to give 30 days notice to the first of the month if they want to discontinue their membership. We’ve done this both to not have surprise drops in revenue, but also to because we’ve noticed that it results in members who haven’t been coming in much to start coming in again. Recently a few people got angry when they requested a change only a week in advance. How do others handle this?
> 
> > –
> > 
> > Visit this forum on the web at [http://discuss.coworking.com](http://discuss.coworking.com)
> > 
> > * * *
> > 
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups “Coworking” group.
> > 
> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [coworking+...@googlegroups.com](mailto:coworking+...@googlegroups.com).
> > 
> > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout).
> 
> **JEROME CHANG**
> 
> **CENTRAL: Mid-Wilshire**  
> 5405 Wilshire Blvd (2 blocks west of La Brea) | ph: (323) 330-9505
> 
> **EAST: Downtown**  
> 529 S. Broadway, Suite 4000 (@Pershing Square) | ph: (213) 550-2235
> 
> **NORTH: _Hollywood (Opening May 2016!)_**  
> 6600 Sunset Blvd. (@Vine)
> 
> **NORTHEAST: _Pasadena (Opening 2016 Q2!)_**  
> 600 E. Colorado Blvd. (@Los Robles)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rachael\_Wishart](https://forum.coworking.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/ecae2f/32.png) [@Rachael\_Wishart](https://forum.coworking.org/u/Rachael_Wishart)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 5:13pm UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/member-30-day-notice-policy/5764/3 "2016-03-11T17:13:08Z")

</div>

Depending on the situation we allow ‘downgrades’ in membership so as to promote return of this member if and when they might need their membership back. Not everyone is happy with that but if they but up a big enough stink then we allow them to depart within the ten days. It really is on a case to case basis when it comes to desk memberships as we do not take a deposit but private offices are a 1 months deposit and then we do apply the deposit to their last months rent.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Glen\_Ferguson](https://forum.coworking.org/user_avatar/forum.coworking.org/glen_ferguson/32/447_2.png) [@Glen\_Ferguson](https://forum.coworking.org/u/Glen_Ferguson)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 5:28pm UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/member-30-day-notice-policy/5764/4 "2016-03-11T17:28:04Z")

</div>

We adopted the same policy as Jerome, and for the same reasons you cited. We explain that while we want 30 days notice, we understand that work today often doesn't function that way. New contracts, new assignment by employers; they often don't give the member themselves much notice.

W also use the comparison to an apartment lease that collects first and last month's rent up front. (Yes, I know there are legal reasons to avoid terms like "lease", "deposit", and "rent". It's not a perfect analogy, but it helps). They make the mental connection and we've had zero complaints in over 2 years of doing it this way.

Glen FergusonTummler, Cowork Frederick  
Phone:301-732-5165(tel:301-732-5165)  
Email...@coworkfrederick.com(mailto:gl...@coworkfrederick.com)  
Website:[http://coworkfrederick.com](http://coworkfrederick.com)([Cowork Frederick – Work for yourself, not by yourself.](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=hOBFNJQde5xdQoVn4ogqwuppxK3mfNmObodKMFVhwKI-3D_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKp-2B9bkPsOy4Afgxs39H7nHyQ02yPjXx-2FhH2qm2-2FBkLwMHZm-2FJ0sEqm2EW6JZcC-2FFZTN7mXDKY-2Fka-2BJ8AGuUhoylLBVJfP83xaxIbMIky9SiVY-2BScSuBH2OH1OpVT8jXDCAo5t-2BRZhcdezGXFntj090CC0-2F2NfWWWwgRzDSATLNHfq9On8f8Nd4pYQcJFcVi-2B-2Fhvs15ar9KzNJVtt5sG0xew-3D-3D))  
Address:122 E Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21701(x-apple-data-detectors://0/4)

> **···**
>
> On Mar 10, 2016, 6:07 PM -0600, Elizabeth Trice\<lizt...@gmail.com\>, wrote:
> 
> > When members sign up they sign an agreement that says they need to give 30 days notice to the first of the month if they want to discontinue their membership. We've done this both to not have surprise drops in revenue, but also to because we've noticed that it results in members who haven't been coming in much to start coming in again. Recently a few people got angry when they requested a change only a week in advance. How do others handle this?
> > 
> > --  
> > Visit this forum on the web athttp://discuss.coworking.com  
> > ---  
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group.  
> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email tocoworking...@googlegroups.com(mailto:coworking+...@googlegroups.com).  
> > For more options, visithttps://groups.google.com/d/optout.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tonybgoode](https://forum.coworking.org/user_avatar/forum.coworking.org/tonybgoode/32/341_2.png) [@tonybgoode](https://forum.coworking.org/u/tonybgoode)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 5:41pm UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/member-30-day-notice-policy/5764/5 "2016-03-11T17:41:46Z")

</div>

I was always pretty adamant about not taking money from people for services  
they weren't going to use. If the only reason I can come up with for  
keeping someone's money is that it's "policy" or because we want to keep  
the money, that doesn't pass muster for me.

I'd rather have their goodwill than their money. I've never been the  
awesomest at making money, but I'd like to think there are better ways to  
go about it.

That being said, we focused on monthly individual memberships. I could see  
that working differently if you're subleasing offices and such. But  
coworking's not a real estate business, right?

Plenty of members pay for services they don't use, and space owners profit  
from that. Once in a rare while a member will complain; giving them their  
money back is part of the cost of doing business.

If a member's angry, I'd want to communicate with them, find out why  
they're angry, and let them know they're heard.

Maybe you can give them a partial refund and ask them to leave an honest  
testimonial on Yelp/Google Maps/etc so they can help you better attract  
their replacements.

Tony

![](https://forum.coworking.org/uploads/default/original/1X/2b81c780ad0afc2158f5310fc04eb9b016328b40.png)

![](https://forum.coworking.org/uploads/default/original/1X/4354a8e675428484bcd444ec1f985e3c3bd174b6.png)

![](https://forum.coworking.org/uploads/default/original/1X/07d1fe6605fda3c62c93afd4fffcbd4a88a2460d.png)

![](https://forum.coworking.org/uploads/default/original/1X/c0727e6dd46c7fbcb7e31b901c589dc04e099cec.png)

> **···**
>
> \*---\*  
> \*New Work Cities \<[http://nwc.co/consulting&gt](http://nwc.co/consulting&gt); - Helping people build better  
> coworking cultures.\*  
> \*Open Coworking \<[http://opencoworking.org/&gt](http://opencoworking.org/&gt); - Championing the global  
> coworking movement.\*
> 
> [image: Inline image 8] \<[http://tonybacigalupo.com/&gt;\](http://tonybacigalupo.com/&gt;%5C)[image:  
> [http://twitter.com/tonybgoode\](http://twitter.com/tonybgoode%5C)] \<[http://twitter.com/tonybgoode&gt;\](http://twitter.com/tonybgoode&gt;%5C)[image:  
> [http://facebook.com/tonybacigalupo\](http://facebook.com/tonybacigalupo%5C)] \<[http://facebook.com/tonybacigalupo&gt;\](http://facebook.com/tonybacigalupo&gt;%5C)[image:  
> [http://linkedin.com/in/tonybacigalupo\](http://linkedin.com/in/tonybacigalupo%5C)]  
> \<[http://linkedin.com/in/tonybacigalupo&gt](http://linkedin.com/in/tonybacigalupo&gt);
> 
> On Friday, March 11, 2016, Glen Ferguson \<gl...@coworkfrederick.com\> wrote:
> 
> > We adopted the same policy as Jerome, and for the same reasons you cited.  
> > We explain that while we want 30 days notice, we understand that work today  
> > often doesn't function that way. New contracts, new assignment by  
> > employers; they often don't give the member themselves much notice.
> > 
> > W also use the comparison to an apartment lease that collects first and  
> > last month's rent up front. (Yes, I know there are legal reasons to avoid  
> > terms like "lease", "deposit", and "rent". It's not a perfect analogy, but  
> > it helps). They make the mental connection and we've had zero complaints in  
> > over 2 years of doing it this way.
> > 
> > \*Glen Ferguson\* Tummler, Cowork Frederick  
> > Phone: 301-732-5165  
> > Email: gl...@coworkfrederick.com  
> > Website: [http://coworkfrederick.com](http://coworkfrederick.com)  
> > \<[Cowork Frederick – Because together is better.](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=hOBFNJQde5xdQoVn4ogqwuppxK3mfNmObodKMFVhwKI-3D_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKp-2B9bkPsOy4Afgxs39H7nHyQ02yPjXx-2FhH2qm2-2FBkLwMHZm-2FJ0sEqm2EW6JZcC-2FFZTN7mXDKY-2Fka-2BJ8AGuUhoylLBVJfP83xaxIbMIky9SiVY-2BScSuBH2OH1OpVT8jXDCAo5t-2BRZhcdezGXFntj090CC0-2F2NfWWWwgRzDSATLNHfq9On8f8Nd4pYQcJFcVi-2B-2Fhvs15ar9KzNJVtt5sG0xew-3D-3D&gt);  
> > Address: 122 E Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21701
> > 
> > \<[http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=vpKJERi1tY7PB5Tngc96A8GMKz6vw7z0JI8fZ2-2FFUEKeUDpKRYMDliKzBO-2Bh6KbQ\_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKEMhW-2B40p6aeK-2FnYfufKui5X3yXXrCEJ2LAZEF-2BXc63to1kAmvLqlFm4601WxoxkZfyqgK6hF2t3ppQ7iL-2Bw5Lmm71ml3wmYwoyCIReMudhtHH85DJP6bop-2FJ2TGwpl-2B80-2B97G5wM-2B5aYK8qTB3WcX0lkFR-2Fjat8mWvxnHy350qjowrRAm6uxMOP-2BPziA5znmeAcqgpRVFMz6PzcAdiZgQQ-3D-3D&gt](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=vpKJERi1tY7PB5Tngc96A8GMKz6vw7z0JI8fZ2-2FFUEKeUDpKRYMDliKzBO-2Bh6KbQ_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKEMhW-2B40p6aeK-2FnYfufKui5X3yXXrCEJ2LAZEF-2BXc63to1kAmvLqlFm4601WxoxkZfyqgK6hF2t3ppQ7iL-2Bw5Lmm71ml3wmYwoyCIReMudhtHH85DJP6bop-2FJ2TGwpl-2B80-2B97G5wM-2B5aYK8qTB3WcX0lkFR-2Fjat8mWvxnHy350qjowrRAm6uxMOP-2BPziA5znmeAcqgpRVFMz6PzcAdiZgQQ-3D-3D&gt);
> > 
> > \<[http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=frqkw0-2BXQfUAqxIenKLOlEu-2FpxKX6jxgrO2YUXu2V3n3gNeFoNOcxvfdhHoTSaKi\_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKGgR-2BPo8kK-2BYo-2F-2B0JIpdbg-2FPSiQRjqYwQqsksGYc0vWRxxriV32gIDYAYEeZkLi0Jhs2KbLriz0JIhCgD-2Bf5zbWtjNQhawhS8Jbs5OOjgWqlOL77ONDmg5IGRJRnQKaTTX-2FvtrWHOgqqHVbiZcwESLgAdXaibQX-2B1LIq1fEHb-2BUBXL2APeqLSAz3KqjVh8AZrRd2FJWu83SGwmynZXpA5fw-3D-3D&gt](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=frqkw0-2BXQfUAqxIenKLOlEu-2FpxKX6jxgrO2YUXu2V3n3gNeFoNOcxvfdhHoTSaKi_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKGgR-2BPo8kK-2BYo-2F-2B0JIpdbg-2FPSiQRjqYwQqsksGYc0vWRxxriV32gIDYAYEeZkLi0Jhs2KbLriz0JIhCgD-2Bf5zbWtjNQhawhS8Jbs5OOjgWqlOL77ONDmg5IGRJRnQKaTTX-2FvtrWHOgqqHVbiZcwESLgAdXaibQX-2B1LIq1fEHb-2BUBXL2APeqLSAz3KqjVh8AZrRd2FJWu83SGwmynZXpA5fw-3D-3D&gt);
> > 
> > \<[http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=JpWBgyEnwHH-2BZ-2F6q0khuJM5k-2FxEUD4mWNZQVK1HDwzWC7HKYshpD0Roky5gXt7avdJ2szRciN-2F4agckv3ZFxeA-3D-3D\_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKQdwpiCs9ZuBQrPUEj7sQUbBOvtdzrl9T1Z2O-2FRwX8nQZ3PNCXIHpzVNf4A2wFEDltVOhB4bbpG7CWozlv5aafhJ2vHyewhhP-2BCoDVAKOz1VurQlEzJzvq7V8p47BRUyJvJDHuVeCPg4O5SQ13qyjlXwU3WVysYiVTGVNrujqbDwDAWwiXh7-2FLP3KEp3sA45lL6rcLKwrU09FJJyMz1M-2B2A-3D-3D&gt](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=JpWBgyEnwHH-2BZ-2F6q0khuJM5k-2FxEUD4mWNZQVK1HDwzWC7HKYshpD0Roky5gXt7avdJ2szRciN-2F4agckv3ZFxeA-3D-3D_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKQdwpiCs9ZuBQrPUEj7sQUbBOvtdzrl9T1Z2O-2FRwX8nQZ3PNCXIHpzVNf4A2wFEDltVOhB4bbpG7CWozlv5aafhJ2vHyewhhP-2BCoDVAKOz1VurQlEzJzvq7V8p47BRUyJvJDHuVeCPg4O5SQ13qyjlXwU3WVysYiVTGVNrujqbDwDAWwiXh7-2FLP3KEp3sA45lL6rcLKwrU09FJJyMz1M-2B2A-3D-3D&gt);
> > 
> > \<[http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=LgCARJHnjtd3UE8bx6jzpg32zgjKYf8aPLFsr-2FxjMXR-2FCax144kUcm6o9L6ovRQS\_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKDAgeqOLETuyPdJgM-2BEz3a4V72e7iQQu2XN0M-2FPFm3GYD1EdMpqYx-2FaTLQopStzwsSaaCW5pd04sCnGS-2FNXGe4G9vlGcAiOJmV8PdTfAI9Yo8t14MeLzjOG0PMqwAiOPq77kTtLu5Kd6qNWs9W1H6LzXqhQ-2BJeKdbbcpWKJdqoufb9XHHED5AficSuof8HXB2e7x0u6gFLnDV0f9EPWb-2BSg-3D-3D&gt](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=LgCARJHnjtd3UE8bx6jzpg32zgjKYf8aPLFsr-2FxjMXR-2FCax144kUcm6o9L6ovRQS_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKDAgeqOLETuyPdJgM-2BEz3a4V72e7iQQu2XN0M-2FPFm3GYD1EdMpqYx-2FaTLQopStzwsSaaCW5pd04sCnGS-2FNXGe4G9vlGcAiOJmV8PdTfAI9Yo8t14MeLzjOG0PMqwAiOPq77kTtLu5Kd6qNWs9W1H6LzXqhQ-2BJeKdbbcpWKJdqoufb9XHHED5AficSuof8HXB2e7x0u6gFLnDV0f9EPWb-2BSg-3D-3D&gt);
> > 
> > On Mar 10, 2016, 6:07 PM -0600, Elizabeth Trice \<lizt...@gmail.com\>, \> wrote:
> > 
> > When members sign up they sign an agreement that says they need to give 30  
> > days notice to the first of the month if they want to discontinue their  
> > membership. We've done this both to not have surprise drops in revenue, but  
> > also to because we've noticed that it results in members who haven't been  
> > coming in much to start coming in again. Recently a few people got angry  
> > when they requested a change only a week in advance. How do others handle  
> > this?
> > 
> > --  
> > Visit this forum on the web at [http://discuss.coworking.com](http://discuss.coworking.com)  
> > ---  
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups  
> > "Coworking" group.  
> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an  
> > email to coworking+...@googlegroups.com.  
> > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout\](https://groups.google.com/d/optout%5C).
> > 
> > --  
> > Visit this forum on the web at [http://discuss.coworking.com](http://discuss.coworking.com)  
> > ---  
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups  
> > "Coworking" group.  
> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an  
> > email to coworking+...@googlegroups.com.  
> > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout\](https://groups.google.com/d/optout%5C).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jerome](https://forum.coworking.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a587f6/32.png) [@Jerome](https://forum.coworking.org/u/Jerome)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 6:13pm UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/member-30-day-notice-policy/5764/6 "2016-03-11T18:13:46Z")

</div>

We may or may not be in the real estate business, but is a hotel?

Regardless, members have to understand that we turned away inquiries for their occupied desks. We at least need some time to re-occupy.

> **···**
>
> A compromise to an exiting member would be to say, “up to 30 days or if we fill that seat quicker”
> 
> Jerome
> 
> [www.BLANKSPACES.com](http://www.blankspaces.com)
> 
> On Mar 11, 2016, at 9:41 AM, Tony Bacigalupo [tonybac...@gmail.com](mailto:tonybac...@gmail.com) wrote:
> 
> > I was always pretty adamant about not taking money from people for services they weren’t going to use. If the only reason I can come up with for keeping someone’s money is that it’s “policy” or because we want to keep the money, that doesn’t pass muster for me.
> 
> > I’d rather have their goodwill than their money. I’ve never been the awesomest at making money, but I’d like to think there are better ways to go about it.
> 
> > That being said, we focused on monthly individual memberships. I could see that working differently if you’re subleasing offices and such. But coworking’s not a real estate business, right?
> 
> > 
> 
> > Plenty of members pay for services they don’t use, and space owners profit from that. Once in a rare while a member will complain; giving them their money back is part of the cost of doing business.
> 
> > 
> 
> > If a member’s angry, I’d want to communicate with them, find out why they’re angry, and let them know they’re heard.
> 
> > 
> 
> > Maybe you can give them a partial refund and ask them to leave an honest testimonial on Yelp/Google Maps/etc so they can help you better attract their replacements.
> 
> > 
> 
> > Tony  
> > _—_
> 
> > _[**New Work Cities**](http://nwc.co/consulting) - Helping people build better coworking cultures._
> 
> > _[**Open Coworking**](http://opencoworking.org/) - Championing the global coworking movement._
> 
> > 
> 
> > [\<web.png\>](http://tonybacigalupo.com/)[\<tw.png\>](http://twitter.com/tonybgoode)[\<fb.png\>](http://facebook.com/tonybacigalupo)[\<li.png\>](http://linkedin.com/in/tonybacigalupo)
> 
> > 
> 
> > On Friday, March 11, 2016, Glen Ferguson [gl...@coworkfrederick.com](mailto:gl...@coworkfrederick.com) wrote:
> > 
> > > We adopted the same policy as Jerome, and for the same reasons you cited. We explain that while we want 30 days notice, we understand that work today often doesn’t function that way. New contracts, new assignment by employers; they often don’t give the member themselves much notice.
> > > 
> > > W also use the comparison to an apartment lease that collects first and last month’s rent up front. (Yes, I know there are legal reasons to avoid terms like “lease”, “deposit”, and “rent”. It’s not a perfect analogy, but it helps). They make the mental connection and we’ve had zero complaints in over 2 years of doing it this way.
> 
> > > **Glen Ferguson** Tummler, Cowork Frederick  
> > > Phone: 301-732-5165
> > > 
> > > Email: gl…@coworkfrederick.com
> > > 
> > > Website: [http://coworkfrederick.com](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=hOBFNJQde5xdQoVn4ogqwuppxK3mfNmObodKMFVhwKI-3D_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKp-2B9bkPsOy4Afgxs39H7nHyQ02yPjXx-2FhH2qm2-2FBkLwMHZm-2FJ0sEqm2EW6JZcC-2FFZTN7mXDKY-2Fka-2BJ8AGuUhoylLBVJfP83xaxIbMIky9SiVY-2BScSuBH2OH1OpVT8jXDCAo5t-2BRZhcdezGXFntj090CC0-2F2NfWWWwgRzDSATLNHfq9On8f8Nd4pYQcJFcVi-2B-2Fhvs15ar9KzNJVtt5sG0xew-3D-3D)
> > > 
> > > Address: 122 E Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21701  
> > > [![](https://forum.coworking.org/uploads/default/original/2X/6/634685d0b48b794db9c8c8ea2a18f3c43e928cae.png)](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=vpKJERi1tY7PB5Tngc96A8GMKz6vw7z0JI8fZ2-2FFUEKeUDpKRYMDliKzBO-2Bh6KbQ_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKEMhW-2B40p6aeK-2FnYfufKui5X3yXXrCEJ2LAZEF-2BXc63to1kAmvLqlFm4601WxoxkZfyqgK6hF2t3ppQ7iL-2Bw5Lmm71ml3wmYwoyCIReMudhtHH85DJP6bop-2FJ2TGwpl-2B80-2B97G5wM-2B5aYK8qTB3WcX0lkFR-2Fjat8mWvxnHy350qjowrRAm6uxMOP-2BPziA5znmeAcqgpRVFMz6PzcAdiZgQQ-3D-3D) [![](https://forum.coworking.org/uploads/default/original/2X/0/07541900541da2983eab9f0e05bb3ba8218a646a.png)](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=frqkw0-2BXQfUAqxIenKLOlEu-2FpxKX6jxgrO2YUXu2V3n3gNeFoNOcxvfdhHoTSaKi_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKGgR-2BPo8kK-2BYo-2F-2B0JIpdbg-2FPSiQRjqYwQqsksGYc0vWRxxriV32gIDYAYEeZkLi0Jhs2KbLriz0JIhCgD-2Bf5zbWtjNQhawhS8Jbs5OOjgWqlOL77ONDmg5IGRJRnQKaTTX-2FvtrWHOgqqHVbiZcwESLgAdXaibQX-2B1LIq1fEHb-2BUBXL2APeqLSAz3KqjVh8AZrRd2FJWu83SGwmynZXpA5fw-3D-3D) [![](https://forum.coworking.org/uploads/default/original/2X/e/e7c9d6e8525afdb2dfeb54f0ecd2553f4f075566.png)](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=JpWBgyEnwHH-2BZ-2F6q0khuJM5k-2FxEUD4mWNZQVK1HDwzWC7HKYshpD0Roky5gXt7avdJ2szRciN-2F4agckv3ZFxeA-3D-3D_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKQdwpiCs9ZuBQrPUEj7sQUbBOvtdzrl9T1Z2O-2FRwX8nQZ3PNCXIHpzVNf4A2wFEDltVOhB4bbpG7CWozlv5aafhJ2vHyewhhP-2BCoDVAKOz1VurQlEzJzvq7V8p47BRUyJvJDHuVeCPg4O5SQ13qyjlXwU3WVysYiVTGVNrujqbDwDAWwiXh7-2FLP3KEp3sA45lL6rcLKwrU09FJJyMz1M-2B2A-3D-3D) [![](https://forum.coworking.org/uploads/default/original/2X/f/fbfd3506cd197ade6294cc1b3ae989cd621ea912.png)](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=LgCARJHnjtd3UE8bx6jzpg32zgjKYf8aPLFsr-2FxjMXR-2FCax144kUcm6o9L6ovRQS_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKDAgeqOLETuyPdJgM-2BEz3a4V72e7iQQu2XN0M-2FPFm3GYD1EdMpqYx-2FaTLQopStzwsSaaCW5pd04sCnGS-2FNXGe4G9vlGcAiOJmV8PdTfAI9Yo8t14MeLzjOG0PMqwAiOPq77kTtLu5Kd6qNWs9W1H6LzXqhQ-2BJeKdbbcpWKJdqoufb9XHHED5AficSuof8HXB2e7x0u6gFLnDV0f9EPWb-2BSg-3D-3D)
> 
> > >
> 
> > > On Mar 10, 2016, 6:07 PM -0600, Elizabeth Trice [lizt...@gmail.com](mailto:lizt...@gmail.com), wrote:
> > > 
> > > > When members sign up they sign an agreement that says they need to give 30 days notice to the first of the month if they want to discontinue their membership. We’ve done this both to not have surprise drops in revenue, but also to because we’ve noticed that it results in members who haven’t been coming in much to start coming in again. Recently a few people got angry when they requested a change only a week in advance. How do others handle this?
> 
> > > > –
> > > > 
> > > > Visit this forum on the web at [http://discuss.coworking.com](http://discuss.coworking.com)
> > > > 
> > > > * * *
> > > > 
> > > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups “Coworking” group.
> > > > 
> > > > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+…@googlegroups.com.
> > > > 
> > > > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout).
> 
> > > –
> > > 
> > > Visit this forum on the web at [http://discuss.coworking.com](http://discuss.coworking.com)
> > > 
> > > * * *
> > > 
> > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups “Coworking” group.
> > > 
> > > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+…@googlegroups.com.
> > > 
> > > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout).
> 
> > –
> > 
> > Visit this forum on the web at [http://discuss.coworking.com](http://discuss.coworking.com)
> > 
> > * * *
> > 
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups “Coworking” group.
> > 
> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to coworking+…@googlegroups.com.
> > 
> > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wbennis](https://forum.coworking.org/user_avatar/forum.coworking.org/wbennis/32/474_2.png) [@wbennis](https://forum.coworking.org/u/wbennis)\
**Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 6:27am UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/member-30-day-notice-policy/5764/7 "2016-03-12T06:27:09Z")

</div>

My personal feeling is that there are several different "right" ways to do  
this depending on what kind of space you're operating, your values and  
goals for the business, and the kinds of members you attract (and want to  
attract). I think the more you have a strict policy with a deposit and  
deduct the percentage of the deposit for any time they go over as a matter  
of policy, the more you set up clear expectations and also a business  
relationship. They're the client, you're the service provider. That can be  
a great relationship to set up and if it's a clear relationship, you'll  
have very little trouble with members being upset when you take their  
deposit if they don't give you proper notice: that's what they'll expect.  
Gyms/fitness clubs do it. Executive suites do it. I'd imagine We Work does  
it (maybe with a little more focus on customer service and willingness to  
give refund to unhappy customers). And I would guess for the most part,  
these businesses are more profitable than the average coworking space. I  
think with that approach, to the extent it fits with other approaches of  
your coworking space, you'll also probably attract a different kind of  
member: one who is more concerned with the quality of the amenities and  
that everything runs well than they are with the quality of the community  
and feeling a sense of identity with the space (not "more" in an objective  
sense, but "more" relative to coworking spaces that take the other  
approach). Again, that can be a fine thing and may be more likely to  
attract the corporate clients and people who are happy to pay a higher  
premium, and it may end up in higher average profits.

Our own space really tries to emphasize the community aspect and trying to  
improve the life of freelancers and other location independent workers. It  
fits my own values for why I started a coworking space, and I figure if I  
can't be profitable with that approach, I'd rather not be in this business  
(which I started in large part because I wanted to run a business that I  
felt did social good). This is NOT to criticize people who take a more  
"business first" approach. I feel pretty ambivalent about my approach, and  
I've had a hard time being profitable, probably in part because I haven't  
taken the former approach. That said, I think we're doing well, and I also  
think that's in large part because I have taken the latter approach. We do  
a lot like what Tony suggested: We don't take a deposit and we only ask for  
two weeks notice, but as long as people tell me before their new membership  
starts, I let them cancel without any penalty. We have expectations and we  
set them up clearly when they sign up, but generally I let people off  
completely as long as it's for time they're not going to work in the space  
either because they're upset about the service or because they had to move  
or work inside their company or they broke their leg (or they just  
disappear and stop paying, which I have a hard time enforcing because I  
didn't take a deposit, although this happens with maybe 1 out of 40 members  
in my experience).

I'm sure I'm motivated to think this way, but it's my sense that this  
approach has created a lot more goodwill and return customers than the cost  
of the money I've lost.

BUT I only think that's the case for my coworking space and the kinds of  
members I attract and want to attract. I attract mostly freelancers and  
micro-entrepreneurs and solo-remote workers (a lot of location-independent  
professionals / digital nomads, given my location in Prague, Czech Republic  
and the fact that we're an "English-language" coworking space). They tend  
to want a funkier, more personal, more community focused space. They also  
REALLY prize flexibility. I used to have a big incentive for committing for  
long-term (6 month or 1 year) memberships. I dropped that and started  
emphasizing month-by-month membership value and ease of starting and  
stopping. It might just be a chance correlation, but my membership number  
greatly improved after these changes, and there's no longer any sense of  
regret that people signed up for something that wouldn't have been their  
first choice and then were locked into a membership they no longer wanted.  
I also think I've lost very few paid membership months as a result (and in  
fact have gained because more people join as a result of the policy.

My 5 cents.

Will

> **···**
>
> On Friday, March 11, 2016 at 7:13:55 PM UTC+1, Jerome wrote:
> 
> > We may or may not be in the real estate business, but is a hotel?  
> > Regardless, members have to understand that we turned away inquiries for  
> > their occupied desks. We at least need some time to re-occupy.
> > 
> > A compromise to an exiting member would be to say, "up to 30 days or if we  
> > fill that seat quicker"
> > 
> > Jerome  
> > [www.BLANKSPACES.com](http://www.BLANKSPACES.com) \<[http://www.blankspaces.com/&gt](http://www.blankspaces.com/&gt);
> > 
> > On Mar 11, 2016, at 9:41 AM, Tony Bacigalupo \<tonyb...@gmail.com\> wrote:
> > 
> > I was always pretty adamant about not taking money from people for  
> > services they weren't going to use. If the only reason I can come up with  
> > for keeping someone's money is that it's "policy" or because we want to  
> > keep the money, that doesn't pass muster for me.
> > 
> > I'd rather have their goodwill than their money. I've never been the  
> > awesomest at making money, but I'd like to think there are better ways to  
> > go about it.
> > 
> > That being said, we focused on monthly individual memberships. I could see  
> > that working differently if you're subleasing offices and such. But  
> > coworking's not a real estate business, right?
> > 
> > Plenty of members pay for services they don't use, and space owners profit  
> > from that. Once in a rare while a member will complain; giving them their  
> > money back is part of the cost of doing business.
> > 
> > If a member's angry, I'd want to communicate with them, find out why  
> > they're angry, and let them know they're heard.
> > 
> > Maybe you can give them a partial refund and ask them to leave an honest  
> > testimonial on Yelp/Google Maps/etc so they can help you better attract  
> > their replacements.
> > 
> > Tony  
> > \*---\*  
> > \*New Work Cities \<[http://nwc.co/consulting&gt](http://nwc.co/consulting&gt); - Helping people build better  
> > coworking cultures.\*  
> > \*Open Coworking \<[http://opencoworking.org/&gt](http://opencoworking.org/&gt); - Championing the global  
> > coworking movement.\*
> > 
> > \<web.png\> \<[http://tonybacigalupo.com/&gt;&lt;tw\.png&gt](http://tonybacigalupo.com/&gt;&lt;tw%5C.png&gt);  
> > \<[http://twitter.com/tonybgoode&gt;&lt;fb\.png&gt](http://twitter.com/tonybgoode&gt;&lt;fb%5C.png&gt);  
> > \<[Facebook](http://facebook.com/tonybacigalupo&gt;&lt;li%5C.png&gt);  
> > \<[http://linkedin.com/in/tonybacigalupo&gt](http://linkedin.com/in/tonybacigalupo&gt);
> > 
> > On Friday, March 11, 2016, Glen Ferguson \<gl...@coworkfrederick.com\> \> wrote:
> > 
> > > We adopted the same policy as Jerome, and for the same reasons you cited.  
> > > We explain that while we want 30 days notice, we understand that work today  
> > > often doesn't function that way. New contracts, new assignment by  
> > > employers; they often don't give the member themselves much notice.
> > > 
> > > W also use the comparison to an apartment lease that collects first and  
> > > last month's rent up front. (Yes, I know there are legal reasons to avoid  
> > > terms like "lease", "deposit", and "rent". It's not a perfect analogy, but  
> > > it helps). They make the mental connection and we've had zero complaints in  
> > > over 2 years of doing it this way.
> > > 
> > > \*Glen Ferguson\* Tummler, Cowork Frederick  
> > > Phone: 301-732-5165  
> > > Email: gl...@coworkfrederick.com  
> > > Website: [http://coworkfrederick.com](http://coworkfrederick.com)  
> > > \<[Cowork Frederick – Work for yourself, not by yourself.](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=hOBFNJQde5xdQoVn4ogqwuppxK3mfNmObodKMFVhwKI-3D_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKp-2B9bkPsOy4Afgxs39H7nHyQ02yPjXx-2FhH2qm2-2FBkLwMHZm-2FJ0sEqm2EW6JZcC-2FFZTN7mXDKY-2Fka-2BJ8AGuUhoylLBVJfP83xaxIbMIky9SiVY-2BScSuBH2OH1OpVT8jXDCAo5t-2BRZhcdezGXFntj090CC0-2F2NfWWWwgRzDSATLNHfq9On8f8Nd4pYQcJFcVi-2B-2Fhvs15ar9KzNJVtt5sG0xew-3D-3D&gt);  
> > > Address: 122 E Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21701
> > > 
> > > \<[Redirecting...](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=vpKJERi1tY7PB5Tngc96A8GMKz6vw7z0JI8fZ2-2FFUEKeUDpKRYMDliKzBO-2Bh6KbQ_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKEMhW-2B40p6aeK-2FnYfufKui5X3yXXrCEJ2LAZEF-2BXc63to1kAmvLqlFm4601WxoxkZfyqgK6hF2t3ppQ7iL-2Bw5Lmm71ml3wmYwoyCIReMudhtHH85DJP6bop-2FJ2TGwpl-2B80-2B97G5wM-2B5aYK8qTB3WcX0lkFR-2Fjat8mWvxnHy350qjowrRAm6uxMOP-2BPziA5znmeAcqgpRVFMz6PzcAdiZgQQ-3D-3D&gt);  
> > > &nbsp;&nbsp;  
> > > \<[http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=frqkw0-2BXQfUAqxIenKLOlEu-2FpxKX6jxgrO2YUXu2V3n3gNeFoNOcxvfdhHoTSaKi\_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKGgR-2BPo8kK-2BYo-2F-2B0JIpdbg-2FPSiQRjqYwQqsksGYc0vWRxxriV32gIDYAYEeZkLi0Jhs2KbLriz0JIhCgD-2Bf5zbWtjNQhawhS8Jbs5OOjgWqlOL77ONDmg5IGRJRnQKaTTX-2FvtrWHOgqqHVbiZcwESLgAdXaibQX-2B1LIq1fEHb-2BUBXL2APeqLSAz3KqjVh8AZrRd2FJWu83SGwmynZXpA5fw-3D-3D&gt](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=frqkw0-2BXQfUAqxIenKLOlEu-2FpxKX6jxgrO2YUXu2V3n3gNeFoNOcxvfdhHoTSaKi_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKGgR-2BPo8kK-2BYo-2F-2B0JIpdbg-2FPSiQRjqYwQqsksGYc0vWRxxriV32gIDYAYEeZkLi0Jhs2KbLriz0JIhCgD-2Bf5zbWtjNQhawhS8Jbs5OOjgWqlOL77ONDmg5IGRJRnQKaTTX-2FvtrWHOgqqHVbiZcwESLgAdXaibQX-2B1LIq1fEHb-2BUBXL2APeqLSAz3KqjVh8AZrRd2FJWu83SGwmynZXpA5fw-3D-3D&gt);  
> > > &nbsp;&nbsp;  
> > > \<[http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=JpWBgyEnwHH-2BZ-2F6q0khuJM5k-2FxEUD4mWNZQVK1HDwzWC7HKYshpD0Roky5gXt7avdJ2szRciN-2F4agckv3ZFxeA-3D-3D\_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKQdwpiCs9ZuBQrPUEj7sQUbBOvtdzrl9T1Z2O-2FRwX8nQZ3PNCXIHpzVNf4A2wFEDltVOhB4bbpG7CWozlv5aafhJ2vHyewhhP-2BCoDVAKOz1VurQlEzJzvq7V8p47BRUyJvJDHuVeCPg4O5SQ13qyjlXwU3WVysYiVTGVNrujqbDwDAWwiXh7-2FLP3KEp3sA45lL6rcLKwrU09FJJyMz1M-2B2A-3D-3D&gt](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=JpWBgyEnwHH-2BZ-2F6q0khuJM5k-2FxEUD4mWNZQVK1HDwzWC7HKYshpD0Roky5gXt7avdJ2szRciN-2F4agckv3ZFxeA-3D-3D_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKQdwpiCs9ZuBQrPUEj7sQUbBOvtdzrl9T1Z2O-2FRwX8nQZ3PNCXIHpzVNf4A2wFEDltVOhB4bbpG7CWozlv5aafhJ2vHyewhhP-2BCoDVAKOz1VurQlEzJzvq7V8p47BRUyJvJDHuVeCPg4O5SQ13qyjlXwU3WVysYiVTGVNrujqbDwDAWwiXh7-2FLP3KEp3sA45lL6rcLKwrU09FJJyMz1M-2B2A-3D-3D&gt);  
> > > &nbsp;&nbsp;  
> > > \<[http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=LgCARJHnjtd3UE8bx6jzpg32zgjKYf8aPLFsr-2FxjMXR-2FCax144kUcm6o9L6ovRQS\_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKDAgeqOLETuyPdJgM-2BEz3a4V72e7iQQu2XN0M-2FPFm3GYD1EdMpqYx-2FaTLQopStzwsSaaCW5pd04sCnGS-2FNXGe4G9vlGcAiOJmV8PdTfAI9Yo8t14MeLzjOG0PMqwAiOPq77kTtLu5Kd6qNWs9W1H6LzXqhQ-2BJeKdbbcpWKJdqoufb9XHHED5AficSuof8HXB2e7x0u6gFLnDV0f9EPWb-2BSg-3D-3D&gt](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=LgCARJHnjtd3UE8bx6jzpg32zgjKYf8aPLFsr-2FxjMXR-2FCax144kUcm6o9L6ovRQS_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKDAgeqOLETuyPdJgM-2BEz3a4V72e7iQQu2XN0M-2FPFm3GYD1EdMpqYx-2FaTLQopStzwsSaaCW5pd04sCnGS-2FNXGe4G9vlGcAiOJmV8PdTfAI9Yo8t14MeLzjOG0PMqwAiOPq77kTtLu5Kd6qNWs9W1H6LzXqhQ-2BJeKdbbcpWKJdqoufb9XHHED5AficSuof8HXB2e7x0u6gFLnDV0f9EPWb-2BSg-3D-3D&gt);
> > > 
> > > On Mar 10, 2016, 6:07 PM -0600, Elizabeth Trice , wrote:
> > > 
> > > When members sign up they sign an agreement that says they need to give  
> > > 30 days notice to the first of the month if they want to discontinue their  
> > > membership. We've done this both to not have surprise drops in revenue, but  
> > > also to because we've noticed that it results in members who haven't been  
> > > coming in much to start coming in again. Recently a few people got angry  
> > > when they requested a change only a week in advance. How do others handle  
> > > this?
> 
> On Friday, March 11, 2016 at 7:13:55 PM UTC+1, Jerome wrote:
> 
> > We may or may not be in the real estate business, but is a hotel?  
> > Regardless, members have to understand that we turned away inquiries for  
> > their occupied desks. We at least need some time to re-occupy.
> > 
> > A compromise to an exiting member would be to say, "up to 30 days or if we  
> > fill that seat quicker"
> > 
> > Jerome  
> > [www.BLANKSPACES.com](http://www.BLANKSPACES.com) \<[http://www.blankspaces.com](http://www.blankspaces.com)\>
> > 
> > On Mar 11, 2016, at 9:41 AM, Tony Bacigalupo \<tonyb...@gmail.com \> \<javascript:\>\> wrote:
> > 
> > I was always pretty adamant about not taking money from people for  
> > services they weren't going to use. If the only reason I can come up with  
> > for keeping someone's money is that it's "policy" or because we want to  
> > keep the money, that doesn't pass muster for me.
> > 
> > I'd rather have their goodwill than their money. I've never been the  
> > awesomest at making money, but I'd like to think there are better ways to  
> > go about it.
> > 
> > That being said, we focused on monthly individual memberships. I could see  
> > that working differently if you're subleasing offices and such. But  
> > coworking's not a real estate business, right?
> > 
> > Plenty of members pay for services they don't use, and space owners profit  
> > from that. Once in a rare while a member will complain; giving them their  
> > money back is part of the cost of doing business.
> > 
> > If a member's angry, I'd want to communicate with them, find out why  
> > they're angry, and let them know they're heard.
> > 
> > Maybe you can give them a partial refund and ask them to leave an honest  
> > testimonial on Yelp/Google Maps/etc so they can help you better attract  
> > their replacements.
> > 
> > Tony  
> > \*---\*  
> > \*New Work Cities \<[http://nwc.co/consulting&gt](http://nwc.co/consulting&gt); - Helping people build better  
> > coworking cultures.\*  
> > \*Open Coworking \<[http://opencoworking.org/&gt](http://opencoworking.org/&gt); - Championing the global  
> > coworking movement.\*
> > 
> > \<web.png\> \<[http://tonybacigalupo.com/&gt;&lt;tw\.png&gt](http://tonybacigalupo.com/&gt;&lt;tw%5C.png&gt);  
> > \<[http://twitter.com/tonybgoode&gt;&lt;fb\.png&gt](http://twitter.com/tonybgoode&gt;&lt;fb%5C.png&gt);  
> > \<[Facebook](http://facebook.com/tonybacigalupo&gt;&lt;li%5C.png&gt);  
> > \<[http://linkedin.com/in/tonybacigalupo&gt](http://linkedin.com/in/tonybacigalupo&gt);
> > 
> > On Friday, March 11, 2016, Glen Ferguson \<gl...@coworkfrederick.com \> \<javascript:\>\> wrote:
> > 
> > > We adopted the same policy as Jerome, and for the same reasons you cited.  
> > > We explain that while we want 30 days notice, we understand that work today  
> > > often doesn't function that way. New contracts, new assignment by  
> > > employers; they often don't give the member themselves much notice.
> > > 
> > > W also use the comparison to an apartment lease that collects first and  
> > > last month's rent up front. (Yes, I know there are legal reasons to avoid  
> > > terms like "lease", "deposit", and "rent". It's not a perfect analogy, but  
> > > it helps). They make the mental connection and we've had zero complaints in  
> > > over 2 years of doing it this way.
> > > 
> > > \*Glen Ferguson\* Tummler, Cowork Frederick  
> > > Phone: 301-732-5165  
> > > Email: gl...@coworkfrederick.com  
> > > Website: [http://coworkfrederick.com](http://coworkfrederick.com)  
> > > \<[Cowork Frederick – Work for yourself, not by yourself.](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=hOBFNJQde5xdQoVn4ogqwuppxK3mfNmObodKMFVhwKI-3D_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKp-2B9bkPsOy4Afgxs39H7nHyQ02yPjXx-2FhH2qm2-2FBkLwMHZm-2FJ0sEqm2EW6JZcC-2FFZTN7mXDKY-2Fka-2BJ8AGuUhoylLBVJfP83xaxIbMIky9SiVY-2BScSuBH2OH1OpVT8jXDCAo5t-2BRZhcdezGXFntj090CC0-2F2NfWWWwgRzDSATLNHfq9On8f8Nd4pYQcJFcVi-2B-2Fhvs15ar9KzNJVtt5sG0xew-3D-3D&gt);  
> > > Address: 122 E Patrick St, Frederick, MD 21701
> > > 
> > > \<[Redirecting...](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=vpKJERi1tY7PB5Tngc96A8GMKz6vw7z0JI8fZ2-2FFUEKeUDpKRYMDliKzBO-2Bh6KbQ_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKEMhW-2B40p6aeK-2FnYfufKui5X3yXXrCEJ2LAZEF-2BXc63to1kAmvLqlFm4601WxoxkZfyqgK6hF2t3ppQ7iL-2Bw5Lmm71ml3wmYwoyCIReMudhtHH85DJP6bop-2FJ2TGwpl-2B80-2B97G5wM-2B5aYK8qTB3WcX0lkFR-2Fjat8mWvxnHy350qjowrRAm6uxMOP-2BPziA5znmeAcqgpRVFMz6PzcAdiZgQQ-3D-3D&gt);  
> > > &nbsp;&nbsp;  
> > > \<[http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=frqkw0-2BXQfUAqxIenKLOlEu-2FpxKX6jxgrO2YUXu2V3n3gNeFoNOcxvfdhHoTSaKi\_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKGgR-2BPo8kK-2BYo-2F-2B0JIpdbg-2FPSiQRjqYwQqsksGYc0vWRxxriV32gIDYAYEeZkLi0Jhs2KbLriz0JIhCgD-2Bf5zbWtjNQhawhS8Jbs5OOjgWqlOL77ONDmg5IGRJRnQKaTTX-2FvtrWHOgqqHVbiZcwESLgAdXaibQX-2B1LIq1fEHb-2BUBXL2APeqLSAz3KqjVh8AZrRd2FJWu83SGwmynZXpA5fw-3D-3D&gt](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=frqkw0-2BXQfUAqxIenKLOlEu-2FpxKX6jxgrO2YUXu2V3n3gNeFoNOcxvfdhHoTSaKi_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKGgR-2BPo8kK-2BYo-2F-2B0JIpdbg-2FPSiQRjqYwQqsksGYc0vWRxxriV32gIDYAYEeZkLi0Jhs2KbLriz0JIhCgD-2Bf5zbWtjNQhawhS8Jbs5OOjgWqlOL77ONDmg5IGRJRnQKaTTX-2FvtrWHOgqqHVbiZcwESLgAdXaibQX-2B1LIq1fEHb-2BUBXL2APeqLSAz3KqjVh8AZrRd2FJWu83SGwmynZXpA5fw-3D-3D&gt);  
> > > &nbsp;&nbsp;  
> > > \<[http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=JpWBgyEnwHH-2BZ-2F6q0khuJM5k-2FxEUD4mWNZQVK1HDwzWC7HKYshpD0Roky5gXt7avdJ2szRciN-2F4agckv3ZFxeA-3D-3D\_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKQdwpiCs9ZuBQrPUEj7sQUbBOvtdzrl9T1Z2O-2FRwX8nQZ3PNCXIHpzVNf4A2wFEDltVOhB4bbpG7CWozlv5aafhJ2vHyewhhP-2BCoDVAKOz1VurQlEzJzvq7V8p47BRUyJvJDHuVeCPg4O5SQ13qyjlXwU3WVysYiVTGVNrujqbDwDAWwiXh7-2FLP3KEp3sA45lL6rcLKwrU09FJJyMz1M-2B2A-3D-3D&gt](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=JpWBgyEnwHH-2BZ-2F6q0khuJM5k-2FxEUD4mWNZQVK1HDwzWC7HKYshpD0Roky5gXt7avdJ2szRciN-2F4agckv3ZFxeA-3D-3D_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKQdwpiCs9ZuBQrPUEj7sQUbBOvtdzrl9T1Z2O-2FRwX8nQZ3PNCXIHpzVNf4A2wFEDltVOhB4bbpG7CWozlv5aafhJ2vHyewhhP-2BCoDVAKOz1VurQlEzJzvq7V8p47BRUyJvJDHuVeCPg4O5SQ13qyjlXwU3WVysYiVTGVNrujqbDwDAWwiXh7-2FLP3KEp3sA45lL6rcLKwrU09FJJyMz1M-2B2A-3D-3D&gt);  
> > > &nbsp;&nbsp;  
> > > \<[http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=LgCARJHnjtd3UE8bx6jzpg32zgjKYf8aPLFsr-2FxjMXR-2FCax144kUcm6o9L6ovRQS\_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKDAgeqOLETuyPdJgM-2BEz3a4V72e7iQQu2XN0M-2FPFm3GYD1EdMpqYx-2FaTLQopStzwsSaaCW5pd04sCnGS-2FNXGe4G9vlGcAiOJmV8PdTfAI9Yo8t14MeLzjOG0PMqwAiOPq77kTtLu5Kd6qNWs9W1H6LzXqhQ-2BJeKdbbcpWKJdqoufb9XHHED5AficSuof8HXB2e7x0u6gFLnDV0f9EPWb-2BSg-3D-3D&gt](http://link.wisestamp.com/wf/click?upn=LgCARJHnjtd3UE8bx6jzpg32zgjKYf8aPLFsr-2FxjMXR-2FCax144kUcm6o9L6ovRQS_r-2BdYbSjRm9r0i9vSiPZtW-2BAPKyQklbPxdjb2bvgjOXUKay-2Fzcj6elT2l43mgUwrKDAgeqOLETuyPdJgM-2BEz3a4V72e7iQQu2XN0M-2FPFm3GYD1EdMpqYx-2FaTLQopStzwsSaaCW5pd04sCnGS-2FNXGe4G9vlGcAiOJmV8PdTfAI9Yo8t14MeLzjOG0PMqwAiOPq77kTtLu5Kd6qNWs9W1H6LzXqhQ-2BJeKdbbcpWKJdqoufb9XHHED5AficSuof8HXB2e7x0u6gFLnDV0f9EPWb-2BSg-3D-3D&gt);
> > > 
> > > On Mar 10, 2016, 6:07 PM -0600, Elizabeth Trice \<lizt...@gmail.com\>, \>\> wrote:
> > > 
> > > When members sign up they sign an agreement that says they need to give  
> > > 30 days notice to the first of the month if they want to discontinue their  
> > > membership. We've done this both to not have surprise drops in revenue, but  
> > > also to because we've noticed that it results in members who haven't been  
> > > coming in much to start coming in again. Recently a few people got angry  
> > > when they requested a change only a week in advance. How do others handle  
> > > this?
> > > 
> > > --  
> > > Visit this forum on the web at [http://discuss.coworking.com](http://discuss.coworking.com)  
> > > ---  
> > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups  
> > > "Coworking" group.  
> > > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an  
> > > email to coworking+...@googlegroups.com.  
> > > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout\](https://groups.google.com/d/optout%5C).
> > > 
> > > --  
> > > Visit this forum on the web at [http://discuss.coworking.com](http://discuss.coworking.com)  
> > > ---  
> > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups  
> > > "Coworking" group.  
> > > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an  
> > > email to coworking+...@googlegroups.com.  
> > > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout\](https://groups.google.com/d/optout%5C).
> > 
> > --  
> > Visit this forum on the web at [http://discuss.coworking.com](http://discuss.coworking.com)  
> > ---  
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups  
> > "Coworking" group.  
> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an  
> > email to cowork...@googlegroups.com \<javascript:\>.  
> > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/d/optout\](https://groups.google.com/d/optout%5C).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jeannine](https://forum.coworking.org/user_avatar/forum.coworking.org/jeannine/32/8_2.png) [@Jeannine](https://forum.coworking.org/u/Jeannine)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2016, 10:39am UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/member-30-day-notice-policy/5764/8 "2016-03-18T10:39:40Z")

</div>

Our basic contract calls for one calendar month to be paid in advance. At any time during a calendar month, a coworker can let us know that in the following month they want to terminate or upgrade or downgrade to a different plan. The last day is also good though almost nobody does that; in that case we issue a credit for the invoice which has already issued but is not yet late.

Several coworkers have asked for longer arrangements, quarterly is the most popular. But we have several who pay semi annually or annually in advance.

It does solve a number of problems.

> **···**
>
> On Friday, March 11, 2016 at 1:06:56 AM UTC+1, Elizabeth Trice wrote:
> 
> > When members sign up they sign an agreement that says they need to give 30 days notice to the first of the month if they want to discontinue their membership. We’ve done this both to not have surprise drops in revenue, but also to because we’ve noticed that it results in members who haven’t been coming in much to start coming in again. Recently a few people got angry when they requested a change only a week in advance. How do others handle this?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Angel\_Kwiatkowski](https://forum.coworking.org/user_avatar/forum.coworking.org/angel_kwiatkowski/32/433_2.png) [@Angel\_Kwiatkowski](https://forum.coworking.org/u/Angel_Kwiatkowski)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://forum.coworking.org/t/member-30-day-notice-policy/5764/9 "2016-03-23T20:58:54Z")

</div>

I used to have a 30 day cancellation policy and I hated it. I was always going around my own policy to not have to enforce it so I just took it away. If a person can’t be a member anymore, it’s for a good reason and I don’t want some dumb contract to help me force a member to pay for days they will never use.

Angel

> **···**
>
> On Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 5:06:56 PM UTC-7, Elizabeth Trice wrote:
> 
> > When members sign up they sign an agreement that says they need to give 30 days notice to the first of the month if they want to discontinue their membership. We’ve done this both to not have surprise drops in revenue, but also to because we’ve noticed that it results in members who haven’t been coming in much to start coming in again. Recently a few people got angry when they requested a change only a week in advance. How do others handle this?