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Guides · Running a building

How five small shops keep one front door open

A rotation model for buildings where independent tenants take turns staffing the floor, and how to keep it fair without a spreadsheet.

The problem

A building of makers can't each afford to be open six days a week. Together they can. The catch is that 'together' needs a schedule someone maintains, and that someone quits within a year.

The rotation

  • Pick anchor days: the days the building is open no matter what.
  • Each tenant claims one anchor shift per week, more if they want the foot traffic.
  • Post the shift calendar where everyone sees it. Public inside the building, private outside.
  • Notice gaps early. A tenant who hasn't taken a shift in two weeks is quietly checking out.

What to write down

Who covered which day. That's it. Not hours, not sales. The point is a fair rotation and an early warning, not surveillance.

Questions

What if a tenant never takes shifts?
Talk to them. The calendar is evidence, not a verdict. Most of the time it's a life thing, not a commitment thing.
Should shifts be in the lease?
Ask your attorney. Many small landlords put a coverage expectation in the lease and keep the schedule itself informal.
See the shift calendar in the demo

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