The start of a new year is a strategic moment for coworking space owners and operators. After the momentum of the holiday season, January offers a clean slate to reassess performance, refine operations and set clear priorities for growth. Rather than relying on broad intentions like “increase memberships” or “improve community,” setting SMART goals can help operators turn ambition into measurable results. 

SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound – provide a practical framework for building a focused and sustainable coworking business in the year ahead. 

Why SMART Goals Matter for Coworking Operators 

Running a coworking space involves balancing sales, operations, community building and member experience. Without clear goals, it’s easy to become reactive instead of strategic. SMART goals help owners and operators align teams, allocate resources effectively and track progress throughout the year, while avoiding burnout and guesswork. 

Applying SMART Goals to Coworking Operations 

Specific: Clarify What Success Looks Like 

Vague objectives like “grow the space” don’t provide direction. Instead, define precise outcomes such as “Increase full-time memberships by 15%,” or “Launch two new meeting room packages.” Specific goals give your team clarity and make it easier to align marketing, sales and community efforts. 

Measurable: Track the Right Metrics 

Data-driven decision-making is essential for coworking success. Identify the key metrics that matter most to your business, such as occupancy rate, member retention, revenue per desk or event attendance. Regularly reviewing these numbers allows you to spot trends early and adjust strategies before small issues become big challenges. 

Achievable: Balance Growth with Capacity 

Ambitious growth is exciting, but unrealistic targets can strain your team and member experience. Consider your current staffing, budget and physical capacity when setting goals. For example, increasing occupancy may require parallel goals around onboarding processes or community management to maintain quality as you scale. 

Relevant: Align Goals with Long-Term Vision 

Every goal should support your broader business strategy. Whether your focus is premium services, community-driven experiences or enterprise clients, your resolutions should reinforce that positioning. Goals around partnerships, programming or technology investments should clearly connect to your space’s value proposition. 

Time-Bound: Set Deadlines and Milestones 

Time-bound goals create urgency and accountability. Break annual objectives into quarterly or monthly milestones, such as launching a new marketing campaign by Q1 or improving retention rates by mid-year. Regular check-ins help ensure progress stays on track and allow room for course correction. 

Turning Resolutions into Execution 

SMART goals are only effective when they’re actively used. Share them with your team, revisit them regularly and celebrate progress along the way. Consider involving your community by aligning member programming or events with your business objectives, creating shared momentum. 

For coworking owners and operators, the new year is an opportunity to move from intention to execution. By setting SMART goals and committing to consistent measurement and review, you can build a stronger, more resilient coworking business, one resolution at a time. Click below to find out how Yardi Kube coworking software can help you achieve your goals and better manage your coworking space.