Scale, Sanity, & Strategy: Craig Baute's on Merging his Coworking Business with Another Brand

Craig Baute is a familiar name in the coworking world—and he’s got a big update. After 13 years of running Creative Density, he made the leap and merged his coworking brand with Thrive, another local Denver operator. In this super candid chat, Craig dishes on what led him to walk away from day-to-day operations, what the structure looks like now, and why he’s finally embracing weekly meetings. Whether you’ve hit the scale ceiling or you’re just wondering what it looks like to not be the boss anymore, this episode is a must-listen. What we get into: - Life with two kids, four coworking locations, and one burnt-out founder - Why losing a trusted team member forced Craig to rethink everything - The call that changed it all: how a casual “Let’s do lunch” turned into a merger - The power of middle management (yes, it’s a thing in coworking now) - Thrive’s operating structure and how Craig fits in post-merger - The mental shift from “owner” to “team member” — and how that changes everything - Why most spaces stall at 2–3 locations and how combining forces helps you scale - 68 fake plants, a $6,500 coffee machine, and why Switchyards has everyone’s attention Thinking about selling? Merging? Scaling beyond your comfort zone? This episode might be the nudge (or reality check) you need. Bonus: Yes, Craig and I share a birthday. Yes, that makes this episode extra fun. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: - Get on the Waitlist For The Mailbox Money Maker Challenge - https://mailboxchallenge.com/ - Craig's LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigbaute/ - Creative Density website - https://www.creativedensity.com/ Everything Coworking Featured Resources: - Community Manager University - https://www.everythingcoworking.com/communitymanager - Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space: http://www.everythingcoworking.com/masterclass - Coworking Startup School: https://courses.everythingcoworking.com/coworking-startup-school-2 🔔 Hit subscribe now & stay tuned for valuable tips, interactive podcasts, industry trends, and expert interviews on building and running a profitable coworking space! https://www.youtube.com/@everythingcoworking/?sub_confirmation=1 🔊 Listen to my podcasts 🔊 → https://www.everythingcoworking.com/podcast ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Audio Podcast is currently on your favorite platforms: 👉ApplePodcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everything-coworking/id991355914 ============================= 🎬 Recommended Playlists 👉 Coworking Education https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfZE25IKRGiPEyB1WWerqofvHZoNh8DvJ 👉 The Everything Coworking Podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfZE25IKRGiNG_v8lEhiJRnqUmnREmeHN 🎬 WATCH MY OTHER VIDEOS: 👉 Meagan Slavin, COO of 25N Coworking on Management Agreements and Leadership https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFfSSAxiycs 👉 Shlomo Silber, Founder of Bond Collective, Dishes on His New Venture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XtQoj-dkuY 👉 Co-Warehousing Pioneer with Philip Freeman, CEO of Murphy’s Naturals and Founder of The Loading Dock https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNEsl1I4jIU 👉 How Maryann Baldwin Drives Economic Development in a Town of 1,000 with Her Coworking Space https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGGf4cLy2fA 👉 From Bronx Roots to Coworking Success: Ramon Gonzalez's Journey with Thrive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hAq6FK5OX4 ============================= ✅ About Everything Coworking. Welcome to Everything Coworking! I help you launch and run profitable coworking spaces that fit your business and personal goals. Tune in for tips, advice, and insights on creating a successful coworking space. Learn from my weekly podcast, which features expert interviews and industry updates. Whether you're just starting or looking to improve your space, I've got you covered. 🔔 Hit subscribe now, and you won't miss expert tips, industry updates, engaging podcasts, and expert interviews on launching and running a profitable coworking space! https://www.youtube.com/@everythingcoworking/?sub_confirmation=1 ================================= #coworking #office #podcast #community #coworkingspace #vision #flex #scale #sanity #strategy #merge ⚠️ Disclaimer: I do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of watching any of my publications. You acknowledge that you use the information I provide at your own risk. Do your research. Copyright Notice: This video and my YouTube channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of Everything Coworking. You are authorized to share the video link and channel and embed this video in your website or others as long as a link back to my YouTube channel is provided. © Everything Coworking