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Claude Cowork for small business: what it does and recipes to try

Claude Cowork lets Claude plan and carry out multi-step work, such as organizing files or producing documents, instead of answering one prompt at a time. It is available on paid Claude plans. On the desktop it can work in folders you connect and use a browser, and it can run scheduled tasks in the cloud.

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See 4 recipesOpen Claude Cowork (opens in a new tab)

Who can use it

  • Paid Claude plan: Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise
  • Claude Desktop for local files
  • Web and mobile on Pro, Max and Team
  • Enterprise needs admin approval

What Claude Cowork can do

  • Tasks

    Describe the outcome, review the approach Claude plans and let it work through the steps.

    Example: Turn a folder of receipts into an expense spreadsheet.

  • Scheduled tasks

    Type /schedule in a task or click Scheduled in the sidebar. Scheduled tasks run in the cloud, so your computer can sleep.

    Example: Every Monday, summarize new files in a project folder.

  • Connectors and plugins

    Add connectors from the + menu, or plugins that bundle skills, connectors and sub-agents for a kind of work, such as Anthropic's Claude for Small Business plugin.

    Example: With the Small Business plugin, type /monday-brief for one page on cash, sales and what needs you this week.

Recipes built with Claude Cowork

Each recipe shows what you provide, what you get, and a setup prompt to copy into Claude Cowork. Examples are illustrative, not recorded results.

Draft an order-status reply from checked facts

Recipe

Prepare a customer reply and separate internal checks from the supplied order facts, without inventing shipping promises.

You provide
Customer message and matching order reference with unnecessary personal details removed, Dated order status, item-level estimates and any distributor update, Approved customer wording, policy extracts and commitments the support owner may make
You get
A customer reply draft, evidence notes and unresolved checks for the support owner
Build with:Claude Cowork
View recipe

Prepare an expense report from receipts

Recipe

Turn receipt details into a draft table and totals for a person to check.

You provide
Receipt text or an approved practice folder, Expense columns and categories, Currency and business-purpose notes
You get
Draft receipt table, Category totals, Missing information and items to review
Build with:Claude Cowork
View recipe

Review contract terms against your playbook

Recipe

Prepare a first list of contract differences and questions for qualified legal review.

You provide
Contract text, An approved company playbook, Party role, deadline and review focus
You get
Differences from the playbook, Prioritized questions, Draft changes for legal review
Build with:Claude Cowork
View recipe

Compare supplier quotes on the same basis

Recipe

Build a traceable comparison of supplied quotes and identify the questions that must be answered before choosing a supplier.

You provide
Buyer-approved requirement list, quantities, specification version and delivery basis, Up to five dated quote extracts with source/page or line references, Currency, comparison period, known extra charges and mandatory selection criteria
You get
A like-for-like comparison, missing terms and draft clarification questions
Build with:Claude Cowork
View recipe

Set up your first Claude Cowork task

  1. Check that you have a paid Claude plan. For local folders or the browser, install Claude Desktop.
  2. Open Claude on the web, in Claude Desktop or in the mobile app.
  3. Select Cowork in the message box if it is offered. On the new Claude experience, describe the task directly.
  4. Pick a recipe below, paste its setup prompt and review the approach Claude plans before it runs.
  5. Connect only the folders, connectors or plugins the recipe needs, then check the result against its review checks.

What to check before you trust it

  • Use the Manual or Auto permission mode. Anthropic advises against Skip unless you fully trust every action.
  • Start with a practice folder and the recipe's fictional sample before you use real files.
  • Review the approach Claude plans before you let it run, especially with sensitive files.
  • Watch for instructions hidden in web pages and files. Cowork has extra risks because it can browse.
  • Before you approve a Claude for Small Business draft, check one line against your own books, such as a customer you know has paid.

Good to know

  • Web access and interface depend on plan, admin settings and rollout.
  • The new unified Claude experience may not display a Cowork selector.

We have not run these setups ourselves. Recipes are written from public Claude Cowork documentation, and their examples are illustrative.

Claude Cowork vs ChatGPT Work vs Gemini Spark

Claude CoworkChatGPT WorkGemini Spark
Where it runsClaude Desktop (macOS, Windows), the web and mobileChatGPT on the web and in the desktop app (local or cloud)Google's cloud, through the Gemini web, mobile and Mac apps
Connected appsLocal folders, connectors, plugins and a browserFiles and plugins such as Google Drive, Slack, Gmail, SharePoint, Salesforce and GitHubGmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Keep, Tasks and custom apps
SchedulingYes: /schedule, with scheduled tasks running in the cloudYes: scheduled tasks, managed in the Scheduled viewYes: set times, Gmail monitors and topic monitors (up to 50 active)
PlanPaid Claude plans: Pro, Max, Team and EnterpriseAll ChatGPT plans, with plan-based usage limitsGoogle AI Pro or Ultra on a personal Google account
CountriesWhere Claude is availableWhere ChatGPT is available; some features are limited by regionNot in the EEA, UK, Switzerland or Nigeria
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Frequently asked questions about Claude Cowork

Is Claude Cowork free?

No. Cowork needs a paid Claude plan: Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise. Multi-step tasks use more of your plan's usage than quick questions.

What can Claude Cowork do?

It plans and carries out multi-step work such as organizing files, producing spreadsheets, presentations and documents, and browsing websites, using the folders and connectors you choose.

How is Claude Cowork different from regular Claude chat?

Chat answers one prompt at a time. Cowork takes on a task and works through the steps. On the new Claude experience, Claude decides whether a request needs a quick answer or a task.

Can Claude Cowork run on a schedule?

Yes. Type /schedule in a task or click Scheduled in the sidebar. Scheduled tasks run in the cloud, so your computer does not need to stay awake.

What is Claude for Small Business?

A plugin from Anthropic for Claude Cowork with 43 ready-made workflows, such as a Monday brief, overdue invoice reminders and a month-end close for your accountant. In Claude Desktop, open Cowork, click Customize, then + under Plugins, and install Small Business. It drafts and stages work, and nothing sends, posts or pays until you approve.

Can Claude Cowork delete my files?

Claude needs your explicit permission before it permanently deletes files. Review its plan and use a permission mode that asks you before risky actions.

Sources

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