As Greensboro, NC continues to expand as a regional business center, coworking spaces provide small businesses with professional workspace options—without the cost or commitment of traditional office leases.

What Are the Best Coworking Spaces in Greensboro, NC?

Greensboro is home to several coworking spaces that can be great options for small businesses. Take a look at the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce’s picks for the top eight Greensboro coworking spaces for small businesses:

1. THRIVE Coworking

With two locations downtown, THRIVE makes sense for small businesses that want flexibility now and room to scale later, whether that means coworking a few days a week or moving into a dedicated desk or private office. The addresses are 111 West Lewis St, Greensboro, NC 27406, and 111 Bain St, Greensboro, NC 27406.

• Workspace options: Coworking memberships plus dedicated desks and private offices ranging in size.
• Meeting support: Bookable meeting rooms for client meetings and team sessions.
• Business basics: Mailbox options for a professional business address.

2. Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship

The Nussbaum Center is a strong fit for small businesses that want a work environment built around entrepreneurship, including a community of founders and business owners. It’s located in south Greensboro at 1451 S Elm-Eugene St, Greensboro, NC 27406.

• Flexible terms: The center highlights no long-term commitments for office solutions, with month-to-month office rentals available.
• Built for collaboration: A setting designed to connect you with other entrepreneurs.
• Professional infrastructure: Meeting-ready support, day-to-day workspace services, and essentials like gigabit internet and reservable conference rooms.

3. The Grove Creative Coworking

If your team wants a campus-style environment, The Grove is located at Revolution Mill and is a good match for small businesses that value a more creative, “settle in for the day” workspace feel. On the Revolution Mill campus, the Grove has offices at the 1250 building and the 2005 building.

• Included essentials: Rent includes high-speed fiber internet.
• Conference room access: Built-in access to reservable conference rooms helps with client meetings.
• Shared amenities: Amenities include a kitchenette, copier, open collaboration space, and coffee.

4. Venture X Greensboro

Venture X is a professional option in the Green Valley area, which can be a plus for small businesses seeking a modern, client-friendly setting and straightforward access for team members from different parts of town. The address is 701 Green Valley Rd, Suite 100, Greensboro, NC 27408.

• Professional workspace mix: Coworking and private office solutions for different team sizes.
• Meeting space: Conference rooms and event space options for presentations and team sessions.
• Convenience: The location offers complimentary parking and doesn’t require long-term contracts.

5. Office Evolution Greensboro

Office Evolution is a good fit for small businesses seeking an office-forward environment, especially for teams that need meeting rooms, day offices, or a business address option while remaining flexible. It’s located in the Friendly Center area at 806 Green Valley Road, Suite 200, Greensboro, NC 27408.

• Multiple workspace types: Offices, coworking, meeting rooms, and virtual office options.
• Easy to host clients: Meeting room access supports interviews, trainings, and presentations.
• Convenient building setup: Ample free parking and close proximity to restaurants and shops.

6. Renaissance Place

Renaissance Place works well for businesses based in south Greensboro that want a coworking setup closer to where employees live and commute. The address is 5900 Scotland Rd, Greensboro, NC 27407.

• Coworking and office suites: Options that can support both solo workers and small teams.
• Room to grow: The location has larger offices and coworking spaces across multiple floors.
• Meeting capability: Conference rooms are part of the offering for client meetings and team sessions.

7. 101 Elm

If you want a downtown address with a more traditional office feel, 101 Elm is a strong option for small businesses that need private offices, daily office rentals, or virtual office services without taking on a full lease. The address is 101 S Elm St, Greensboro, NC 27401.

• Private office options: One- and two-person offices plus larger traditional office suites.
• Flexible access: Daily office rentals and virtual office services are available.
• On-site conveniences: The building lists amenities such as a fitness facility and parking pass options.

8. Regus

Regus can be a practical match for small businesses that want a familiar, fully serviced workspace model with flexible options, including coworking and private offices. With four different office spaces in Greensboro to choose from, Regus also makes it easy for businesses to pick a convenient location for their employees.

• Multiple workspace formats: Dedicated desks, day coworking, and private office options.
• Meeting and business services: Business address options and meeting rooms are part of the offering.
• Flexible terms: Options to rent office space from a single hour to years.

10 Quick Tips for Picking the Right Coworking Space for Your Small Business

As you consider the options listed above, make your decision easier by following these tips for picking the right coworking space:

• Start with your work style: Look for a setup that matches how your team actually works, including your balance of collaboration, calls, and deep focus time.
• Ensure the location is convenient: Choose a spot that makes commuting easier for your team and that feels professional and welcoming for clients.
• Confirm WiFi quality: Ask about internet speed and reliability, and if possible, test it during a tour or trial day before you commit.
  Evaluate your privacy needs: If you take sensitive calls, run interviews, or handle confidential work, make sure the space has phone booths or private rooms you can actually access when needed.
• List the amenities you will use: Printing, meeting rooms, kitchen access, parking, and A/V support can be valuable, but only if they fit your day-to-day workflows.
• Ask about flexibility: Check membership terms, hours, and how easy it is to add seats, upgrade to offices, or scale back if needed.
• Evaluate the atmosphere in person: Noise levels, layout, and overall vibe affect productivity more than most teams expect, so a tour matters.
• Look for quality operations: Friendly staff, a clean space, and reliable day-to-day management help reduce friction for your business.
  Treat it like a business decision: Compare total costs, including commuting, membership fees, and add-ons, and ask if a trial period is available.

Turn to the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce for Additional Business Support

As you grow your company with a dedicated office space, the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce is here to support you. With a variety of networking events and business advisory programs, we make it easy for small business owners to connect with other business leaders and expand their skillset.

Learn more about how we can support your business today.

Recently, when more than 120 Greensboro professionals gathered for Action Greensboro’s “AI Fluent in a Day” workshop, only a handful said they’ve built their own AI chatbot. But when the workshop was over, nearly every participant walked out with AI tools they’d created themselves.

Led by Dr. Mustafa Akben, Assistant Professor of Management and Director of Artificial Intelligence Integration at Elon University, and his team, the professional development session addressed one of the most pressing workforce challenges identified in Action Greensboro’s 2025 Talent and Workplace Survey: AI is no longer a buzzword in Guilford County workplaces.

“Our survey respondents told us that AI is here — embedded in data analytics, automation and customer service operations,” says Cecelia Thompson, Executive Director of Action Greensboro.  “This workshop made sure that professionals at all levels, across all sectors, have the tools they need to thrive in an AI-enabled workplace.”

What made this workshop different was its practical, hands-on approach. Akben showed the audience how AI can help generate reports, create presentations, analyze data and produce content. And he didn’t sugarcoat the workplace implications of AI adoption.

“AI is the new baseline,” Akben says. “Your boss will say, ‘I can do this project with AI,’ so you have to make the output better with your human-level skills. What are you bringing to the table?”

Rather than positioning AI as a replacement for human workers, Akben introduced the concept of “co-intelligence,” living and working alongside AI as a collaborative partner. He encouraged participants to use AI strategically: generate ideas, improve efficiency and offload mundane tasks.

“The more you practice with it, the more you see the benefits,” Akben says. “Use AI to advance different parts of your work. You don’t have to use it for everything. Protect the work that’s meaningful for you. Keep the work that requires creativity, critical thinking and personal connection.”

Akben positioned workshop participants not just as AI users, but as leaders who will shape how AI is deployed in their organizations and community.

“You can direct our investment and attention into AI,” Akben says. “We can demand equity, accessibility, privacy, and ethical and responsible uses. It’s our future.”

5 Local Leaders Share Their Thoughts on the Workshop

Throughout the day, we talked to several participants about how they’re using AI and what they learned from the workshop. Here are a few responses:

Heather Renshaw, Chief Advancement Officer, Family Service of the Piedmont

“The workshop provided a lot of ‘aha’ moments on how AI might be useful in my workplace. It spurred me to think about how using AI on small to medium-sized tasks could be helpful.”

Raven Jefferson, Partnership Development Manager, High Point Schools Partnership

“Developing my own AI tool was the most interesting and valuable part of the workshop. It allowed me to apply what we learned in a hands-on way and see the potential of AI in real-time.”

Cassie Dean, Director of Communication & Outreach, Guilford County Partnership for Children

“We are preparing children for a future that will center around AI as a source of growth and knowledge. It is our responsibility to learn to use AI and create a world that is safe, healthy and prepared to handle these changes in learning and development.”

Sarah Hintze, Account Supervisor, Our State Magazine

“AI is constantly evolving, and I believe it’s my responsibility to stay updated on its capabilities and how it could apply to my role and business.”

Dana Clukey, Senior Planner, City of Greensboro

“There are so many benefits to using AI and the opportunities evolve every day. The biggest benefit to me is the time savings that it can offer, but it also helps me think outside the box and spurs my creativity.”

By Jessica Levco

If you’re planning on operating a business within Greensboro, you may have to apply for a business privilege license or a business permit from the city. While the state of North Carolina has specific licenses for different types of businesses (no general NC business license exists), the city of Greensboro also has specific permitting and licensing requirements that some businesses will need to meet.

Before launching your company, review our guide to the city of Greensboro’s NC business licenses to make sure you’re covered legally.

What Business Licenses Does the City of Greensboro Issue to Business Owners?

While you can find more specific permits (e.g., those for food trucks) on Greensboro’s Permits & Licenses page, business privilege licenses and business permits are the two main licenses the city of Greensboro issues to local companies.

What Is Greensboro’s Business Privilege License?

The business privilege license in Greensboro, NC, is a required authorization for certain types of businesses operating within the city’s limits. Specifically, it applies to businesses such as taxicabs and those involved in the sale of beer and/or wine.

The license must be obtained before beginning business operations, and its renewal is annual.

What to Know About Greensboro’s Privilege Licenses

For more details on Greensboro’s privilege licenses, review the following information:

• Required for: Taxi cabs, and businesses that sell wine or beer within Greensboro’s corporate limits
• Coverage periods: July 1 – June 30 (Taxicabs); May 1 – April 30 (Beer/Wine retailers)
• Renewal deadlines: July 1 for taxicabs; May 1 for beer/wine sales.
• Penalties: 5% late fee per month (up to 25%) and possible retroactive taxes if operating without a license.
• Fees: $5–$15 for most beer/wine licenses, $15 for taxicabs, and up to $62.50 for wholesale beer & wine.
• Multiple licenses: An additional 10% fee for each extra license under the same owner.

How to Apply for a Business Privilege License in Greensboro

New businesses must fill out and submit a Privilege License Application to the city of Greensboro. While you can fill out a hard copy, they have an easy online submission system for applications.

Once you’ve completed the application and submitted it, you can pay for your privilege license at the City’s Collections Division in the Melvin Municipal Office Building.

If you already have a business privilege license, you only need to pay for a license renewal. Renewal payments for beer/wine privilege licenses are due May 1, while those for taxicabs are due July 1.

What Is Greensboro’s Business Permit?

The Business Permit is a required authorization for specific types of businesses operating within Greensboro, NC. It applies to peddlers, itinerant merchants, mobile food vendors, commercial solicitors, and massage businesses that are physically located within city limits.

What to Know About Greensboro’s Business Permits

For more details on Greensboro’s business permits, review the following information:

• Required for: Peddlers, itinerant merchants, mobile food vendors, commercial solicitors, and massage businesses.
• Coverage period: July 1 – June 30 each year.
• Renewal deadline: July 1 annually.
• Fees: Free for most permits; $50 annual fee for mobile food vendors.
• Application timing: Must be obtained before or on the first day of business operation.
• Enforcement: Businesses without the proper permit risk revocation of the permit or business closure.

How to Apply for a Business Permit in Greensboro

New and existing businesses that need a business permit should submit their application via the online business permit application. If you’d like to fill out the application by hand, you can visit the Melvin Municipal Office Building (Room 11, UG Level) or call the City’s Collections Division at 336-373-2501 to receive an application and permit.

These applications must be submitted before or on the first day of your business operation. The accepted application will cover the period of July 1 through June 30, with renewals due on July 1 each year.

Difference Between Business Permits and Business Privilege Licenses

The business privilege license is a tax requirement for alcohol sales and taxi operations, while the business permit is a regulatory safeguard for specific business types with more oversight needs.

The business privilege license applies specifically to taxicabs and businesses that sell beer or wine. It is essentially a local tax on these business activities, with fees that vary depending on whether the business sells beer, wine, or both, and whether it’s wholesale or retail. Operating without this license can result in retroactive taxes and monetary penalties.

In contrast, the business permit applies to businesses that require closer oversight because of their type of activity. Unlike the privilege license, most permits are free, with the exception of a $50 fee for mobile food vendors.

Instead of functioning as a tax, the business permit is designed to ensure compliance with zoning, public safety, and infrastructure use. Failing to obtain this permit can lead to business closure rather than financial penalties.

Greensboro Business License vs. Business Permit Chart

How Can I Find Out If North Carolina Has Any Business Licenses Required for My Business?

While not all businesses will need a license from the state of North Carolina, there’s a good chance your business likely requires one. Fortunately, you can quickly check if your business requires a license issued by the state via NC BOLD.

You can also review our guide to starting a business in NC to make sure all your bases are covered.

Take Your Business to the Next Level With the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce

Whether you’re opening up your first business or working on your fifth, the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce can help. We run a variety of entrepreneurship programs to give new business owners the resources and know-how they need to launch their business. Alongside these programs, business owners can take advantage of our networking events, talent development resources, and mentorship opportunities.

Learn more about how we can serve your business today.

Recently, at the Weatherspoon Art Museum at UNCG, community members and leaders gathered to face a stark reality: child care in Guilford County is in crisis. After viewing Take Care, a documentary on the state of early childhood education, three local leaders shared their perspectives on how this crisis affects families, employers and the community.

The State of Childcare in Greensboro, NC

For starters, high-quality child care for a 2 year old costs more than $12,100 annually, which represents 19% of a median-income household. To put this in perspective, the moderator noted that her daughter’s UNCG tuition costs about two-thirds of what families pay for quality child care.

What’s Driving the Shortage in Filled Childcare Jobs in Greensboro

In addition, 69% of Guilford County children under the age of six live in a household where the sole parent or both parents work, creating an enormous demand for child care. However, only 31% of children, zero to five (not yet in kindergarten), are in licensed child care. Making matters worse, there has been a 10% decrease in the number of child care facilities in Guilford County since 2019.

And let’s talk about early childhood educators: The average hourly wage for someone working at a childcare facility is $13.50 an hour. Almost half of Guilford County’s childhood educators said they’ve used public assistance.

Melissa Slade Smith, director of workforce development solutions at the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, brings professional and personal experience to the issue. Having worked as a child care educator herself in 2003, making $10 an hour, she witnessed how little has changed over two decades.

Smith recalled a heartbreaking conversation with her child’s teacher.

“She told me that she was going to work at Target because she could make more money,” Smith says. “When she told me her teacher’s salary, it was maybe $3 more an hour than I was getting paid twenty years ago.”

In her current role, Smith sees how the child care crisis is affecting business leaders.

“So many business leaders call me and say, ‘I’m going to lose my employees. What are the resources out there to address affordable child care?’ The number one reason employers are losing their staff is because of child care.”

How Local Business Leaders are Looking to Help

Jon Hardister, former state representative and current president of TREBIC (Triad Real Estate Building Industry Coalition), explained how workforce challenges affect economic development. Representing more than 160 companies, Hardister said that the number one concern that employers have is affordable child care.

With major employers bringing thousands of jobs to the area, Hardister says this is an issue that our community can’t ignore.

“Toyota can afford to provide on-site child care, but not all companies can do that,” Hardister says. “Small businesses are still the backbone of our economy and always will be.”

Meredith Kasten, director of the Early Childhood Center in Greensboro, offered her perspective on what it’s like to run a child care facility. Her program serves 145 children with 48 staff members. She said the only reason she can afford to send her child to the center is because of the staff tuition discount she receives.

Kasten says the current child care system is a “bad business model.”

“Most child care programs rely on private pay,” Kasten says. “Parents can only afford to pay so much. And so those programs can only afford to pay their teachers so much.”

Some families are on waitlists for over a year, and even families with vouchers face challenges because they have to pay the difference between voucher amounts and tuition costs.

“Research shows every dollar invested in early care and education, there’s a return of anywhere from $4 to $16,” Smith says. “If we had more accessible child care in our state, we know that economic output could increase by up to $13.3 billion.”

Looking ahead to what Guilford County could do differently, the panelists shared several new approaches:

• Tri-Share programs: Hardister advocated for expanding the pilot Tri-Share Program, where child care cost is split three ways: the employer, employee and state. “That way everybody’s got a little bit in the game, but if you do the math on that, you’re cutting the cost by two-thirds,” Hardister says.
• Multiple funding streams: Kasten advocates for child care programs with multiple funding streams, including dollars going to child care programs to enable quality improvements and workforce support.
• Employer-led childcare solutions: After Toyota announced onsite child care, many companies expressed interest in doing something similar, Smith says. In addition to on site child care, some companies have explored reserving slots at nearby child care facilities for their employees.
• Learn more about becoming a Family Forward NC® Certified Employer: As North Carolina continues to attract major businesses and compete for talent, companies that prioritize family-friendly policies gain a competitive edge. Greensboro is proud to be recognized as the first Family Forward NC® Certified Community in North Carolina. Find out if your business is eligible.

This event was hosted in partnership with Guilford County Partnership for Children, GenerationEd, Ready for School, Ready for Life, Weatherspoon Art Museum at UNC-Greensboro, and Action Greensboro.

While headlines about the “future of work” seem abstract, Action Greensboro’s third annual Talent & Workplace Survey provides data from more than 300 organizations facing real workforce challenges today.

From Fortune 500 manufacturers to nonprofits, employers are facing questions like:

• How do you find skilled workers when 62% of companies struggle to attract qualified candidates?
• What happens when AI adoption accelerates, but training budgets stay stagnate?
• How do you retain talent when three generations work side-by-side with different expectations?

“The companies that are thriving aren’t the ones with perfect solutions to all these questions,” says Cecelia Thompson, Executive Director of Action Greensboro. “They’re the ones willing to adapt their strategies based on what the data is telling them. These findings give our entire region a roadmap for building the workforce we need to compete nationally.”

1. Guilford County has an ongoing skills gap problem

The survey confirms what many leaders already suspect: finding qualified talent has become difficult.

For example, 62% of employers cite attracting suitable candidates as their top challenge, while 69% struggle with candidates lacking logical and analytical thinking skills. What’s striking is the disconnect between what employers need and what they’re finding.

This isn’t just a local phenomenon. The survey says nearly 70% of employers nationwide report similar difficulties finding candidates with critical thinking and leadership skills, according to 2025 World Economic Forum data.

The disconnect becomes more apparent when you consider that 53% of organizations report annual training budgets under $10,000, yet 95% provide some form of employee development. This suggests many companies recognize the need to build skills internally, but may lack the resources to do so effectively.

Celina McCrea, community and business engagement manager at Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina, Inc. said her team started receiving requests for cost-effective training opportunities among corporate and non-profit partners in 2022.

“The data from this report has allowed us to adapt our curriculum in real-time to meet the needs of our local employers, while continuing our mission of upskilling and supporting job seekers in our career services programming,” McCrea says. “Since we primarily work with overlooked talent, having these ‘hard to find’ skills gives them a major leg-up in their job search.”

Action item: Encourage your staff to attend Lead Your City on Sept. 4 — “By matching sessions with the critical skill areas identified in the survey, this summit helps bridge the gap between what today’s workforce offers and what our local industries need,” says Sarah McGuire, director of synerG Young Professionals. Register here.

2. AI adoption is accelerating

One of the survey’s most forward-looking findings involves AI adoption. Local companies are using AI for data analytics (50%), automating repetitive tasks (38%) and improving customer service (26%). These usage patterns that mirror national trends.

This isn’t the dramatic workplace disruption some predicted, but rather thoughtful integration of AI tools to enhance existing processes. The data suggests successful AI adoption focuses on specific, measurable improvements rather than wholesale transformation.

At a recent community-wide breakfast about the survey results, Dr. Mustafa Akben, assistant professor of management and director of Artificial Intelligence integration at Elon University, talked about the role of AI in the workforce.

“If your employees know how to use AI, their creativity increases,” Dr. Akben says. “But if they’re not properly trained and they don’t have a fundamental understanding on how to use the technology, their creativity flatlines.”

Action item: Learn more about how to use AI —Action Greensboro is teaming up Elon University for an AI workshop on Sept 19. Register here.

3. Retaining employees has become challenging

With an average turnover rate of 17%, Guilford County employers seem to be managing workforce stability better than many regions. However, the reasons people leave tell a nuanced story.

The top drivers of turnover reveal a mix of life transitions and workplace dissatisfaction: retirement (23%), family reasons (18%) and low pay (16%). While some factors like retirement are unavoidable, the prominence of family-related departures suggests that workplace flexibility remains essential for retention.

The survey shows that organizations are prioritizing retention through training and development (69%), improved onboarding (57%) and better workplace culture (56%). However, the gap between intention and investment, suggests many companies may be approaching retention reactively rather than strategically.

Action item: Become a Family Forward NC® Employer — More than 80 Greensboro-based employers earned the Family Forward NC® Certification, demonstrating a community-wide commitment to family-friendly workplace practices. Learn more about why having this seal of approval is a great way to attract and retain employees.

4. Generational shifts are reshaping workplace expectations

One of the most significant long-term trends in the survey is the generational composition of the workforce. According to the data, 77% of respondents report that Baby Boomers make up less than 25% of their workforce, while Millennials and Gen Z now dominate locally.

This shift has implications for everything from benefits design to management styles. Younger workers often prioritize different benefits, like flexibility, professional development and purpose-driven work. The survey shows that 58% of local organizations offer parental leave and 55% provide flexible scheduling, suggesting employers are adapting to these changing expectations.

Action item: Redesign your benefits package — Benefits packages need to address generational priorities. From traditional healthcare and retirement benefits to flexible work arrangements and professional development opportunities, talk to your HR team about what you can offer.

5. Local talent development needs strategic investment

While 87% of employers recruit primarily within Guilford County, less than 50% recruit from local universities and colleges. There’s an opportunity to strengthen regional talent development.

Only 57% of respondents indicate they hire interns, representing a significant missed opportunity for talent pipeline development. Internship programs, apprenticeships and stronger partnerships with local educational institutions could help address both immediate staffing needs and longer-term skills development.

The survey said that only 2% of respondents indicated Guilford County’s community amenities were a factor when candidates declined job offers, suggesting the region isn’t losing talent due to quality of life issues. Instead, the challenges appear to be around compensation, career opportunities and finding the right skill matches.

Action item: Learn more about Campus Greensboro — Through year-round programming and events, we connect talented students with local businesses for mentorship or internship opportunities. If you’re looking for an intern, Campus Greensboro can help!