Will Your Employer Pay for Coworking? How to Ask (and What to Say)

If you work remotely and your kitchen table has stopped working, there’s a decent chance your company will pay for a coworking membership. Plenty already do. Some have a formal remote-work stipend, some reimburse day passes, and some just approve it when an employee asks well. The difference between a yes and a polite no is usually the ask itself, not the policy.

Here’s how that conversation tends to go, what to put in writing, and how to make the number easy to approve.

Why companies say yes more often than you’d think

From the company’s side, a coworking membership is a small, predictable line item that solves a few problems they already care about:

• Retention. Remote workers who feel isolated leave. A place to go a few days a week is cheap compared with replacing someone.
• Professionalism. Client calls from a quiet room with good WiFi sound different from calls with a dishwasher running in the background.
• Security. A business-grade network with keyless entry is a better answer to the IT team than a coffee shop’s open WiFi.
• No lease. For a company without a local office, a membership gives them a presence in a city without signing anything long-term.

None of that is guaranteed to move your manager. But it’s the language budget holders already use, which is why it works better than “I’d just like to get out of the house.”

First, find out what already exists

Before you write anything, check three places:

1. Your benefits portal or handbook. Search for “remote work,” “home office,” “stipend,” “wellness” or “workspace.” Some companies fold coworking into a broader allowance and never mention it by name.
2. Your expense policy. Day passes may already be reimbursable as a business expense for client work or travel days.
3. A coworker who’s done it. If someone on your team already has a membership, ask how they got it approved. Precedent is the strongest argument you’ll have.

If there’s a program, you’re mostly just filling out a form. If there isn’t, you’re writing a short proposal.

How to ask: keep it short and specific

Managers approve specific requests. Vague ones go to “let me check.” A good ask fits in five sentences:

• What you want: a named plan at a named place, with the monthly cost.
• Why: one or two concrete problems it fixes — dropped calls, no quiet space for client meetings, a noisy house.
• What the company gets: better focus hours, a professional room for client calls, fewer connectivity problems.
• The cost in context: it’s month-to-month, so it’s easy to stop if it doesn’t work.
• A trial: offer to start with a few day passes or one month and report back.

Here’s a version you can adapt:

I’d like to request a coworking membership at Tucker Collective in Midtown Memphis. A hot desk is $129 a month, month-to-month, and includes two meeting-room hours for client calls. My home setup has been the weak point on video calls, and this would give me reliable WiFi, phone booths and a real room for client meetings. Could we try it for a month and review?

That’s the whole email. Attach the plan page link and stop.

Pick the plan you can defend

Asking for the right rung makes approval easier. At Tucker Collective the options look like this:

If you’re not sure you’ll use it enough, start with day passes. Five $29 days is an easy reimbursement, and it gives you real usage data for the monthly conversation later. You can see the full breakdown on our coworking prices page.

If you’re a manager with a few remote people in Memphis

Individual memberships add up once you have three or four people in town. That’s when a team arrangement makes more sense — a shared base, meeting-room time for anchor days, and one invoice instead of a pile of expense reports. Tucker’s Office Hybrid Plan is built for that, and it’s quoted to your team’s size and schedule. Our post on office space for small teams in Memphis walks through how to size it.

What about paying for it yourself?

If your employer says no, you may still decide it’s worth it. Whether you can deduct it depends on whether you’re an employee or self-employed and on current tax rules, so talk to your accountant before assuming anything. For freelancers and business owners, it’s typically treated as a business expense. For W-2 employees, rules are narrower.

Frequently asked questions

Can I expense a coworking membership?
Often, yes — if your company has a remote-work stipend or a policy that covers workspace. If there’s no policy, ask your manager directly with a specific plan and price. Many companies approve it case by case.

Does my employer have to pay for coworking if I work remotely?
Generally no, unless your company policy or employment agreement says so. Most employers treat it as an optional benefit, which is why a clear, specific ask matters.

How much should I ask for?
Ask for the plan that matches how often you’ll actually go. In Memphis, a day pass at Tucker Collective is $29 and a hot desk is $129 a month, which are easy numbers for most managers to approve.

Is coworking tax deductible?
For self-employed people it’s commonly treated as a business expense, but rules depend on your situation. Check with your accountant rather than relying on a general answer.

What if my company only reimburses day passes?
That works fine. Book day passes for the days you need calls, client meetings or deep focus, and submit them like any other expense.

Try a day first

The easiest way to make the case is to have used the space. Grab a $29 day pass, take your calls from a phone booth, and write the request that afternoon. Tucker Collective is at 152 North Tucker Street, Suite 101 in Midtown, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Call (901) 538-6111 or book a tour.