Wiki Currently Under Major Revision
This is not perfect documentation. This is a shared space for us to keep the most helpful and accurate things each of us knows or learns about our tools. We need your help! If you are willing to share what you learn with others, please request editor access in the mfx-wiki channel on slack. No special skills or experience required.
Coworks
What is Coworks
Coworks is the new platform MakerFX is using to manage memberships at the space. It brings together the things that used to live in separate systems, like signing up, paying dues, and managing your account, into one place.
The Coworks mobile app is the main way members will use Coworks. Download it here:
A web portal is also coming soon and is expected to launch in Q4 2026.
Over time, Coworks will also become the hub for door access, tool and room reservations, and getting new members oriented.
Why are we switching to Coworks
We're moving to a new platform to make things easier for all members, including our admins.
Today, running MakerFX depends on a patchwork of tools: Jotform for sign-ups, PayPal for payments, and a lot of manual work behind the scenes to keep door access and member records in sync. That setup has served us for years, but it creates extra steps for members and a heavy workload for the volunteers and staff who keep it running.
With Coworks:
- One account for everything. Your membership, billing, and profile live in one place.
- Less manual work. Admins spend less time copying information between systems and more time supporting members.
- Room to grow. Features like app-based door unlock and reservations can be added on the same platform instead of bolting on more tools.
What is the Plan
We're rolling Coworks out in phases so we can get the essentials right first and add features as we go.
Phase 1 - Membership & Payment
The first phase focuses on the core of your membership:
- Signing up for a membership through Coworks
- Paying dues through Coworks
- Managing your own account and billing information
- Retiring Jotform and PayPal for membership sign-up and payments
Phase 1 is targeted for completion before Maker Faire Orlando.
Future Phases (post MFO)
After Maker Faire Orlando, we'll begin adding more features:
Door Integration
Unlock the MakerFX doors directly from the Coworks app.
Tool and Room Reservations
Reserve tools and rooms through Coworks so members can plan their shop time.
Knowledge
Coworks will include high-level information for new members, such as orientation basics and facility overviews. For detailed guides, tool documentation, and how-tos, Coworks will link back to this wiki. wiki.makerfx.org remains our main knowledge base.
Getting Help
Need help with Coworks? Join the #mfx-coworks-getting-started channel in the MakerFX Slack. If you need a direct response from the Coworks team, tag @coworkshelp in your message.
Please do not post private information in the Slack channel. This includes payment details, card numbers, passwords, or other personal account information. If your question involves private details, let us know in the channel and someone will follow up with you directly.
COWORKS FAQs
Why am I listed as both a Member and part of a Team?
In CoWorks, every member is also part of a Team because membership billing and invoices are managed at the Team level.
A Member is the individual person and their CoWorks profile. A Team is the account used to group members together for billing.
If you have an individual membership, you will still be part of a Team, even if you are the only person on that Team.
If you have a family membership, everyone included in the family membership will be part of the same Team. For example, if your last name is Smith, your Team might be called “Smith Family.” One membership invoice would then be billed to the Smith Family Team rather than separately to each family member.
This allows CoWorks to keep individual member profiles separate while managing membership billing through a single account.
Should our PayPal info already be populated or do we have to manually link it?
Payment information is not automatically transferred. Plrease go to the billing section and setup a payment method. Paypal is not available to use in CoWorks.
Do I need to turn off my subscription in PayPal?
Once you are setup on CoWorks, we will cancel your PayPal subscription, but you are also welcome to cancel it once you've done your setup.
If I want to change my subscription, can I change now in CoWorks?
Please create a thread in this the getting-started channel and tag @coworkshelp
I received 2 emails with login information, which link should I use?
Use only one of the the provided logins.
Why is an app required?
Coworks app will be used (coming months) for door unlock, and will provide critical notifications. Coworks currently does not have a member website, but they are launching one soon - however we ask that you embrace app usage.
Can I set my privacy options?
Yes, however temporarily the default is set to NOT show email or phone so that members may set their privacy options as they create their account. We encourage you to set your privacy options while creating your account. We will eventually turn the email and phone back on