387. Scale, Sanity, and Strategy: Craig Baute's Real Talk 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 Jamie 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

Craig's LinkedIn profile

Creative Density website

Everything Coworking Featured Resources:

Masterclass: 3 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets to Opening a Coworking Space

Coworking Startup School

Community Manager University

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