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Almost all small businesses start out in leased (rented) premises, and most use leased space throughout the life of the business. By leasing rather than buying, you avoid tying up valuable working capital, and it's easier to move to new quarters if your space needs change.
Commercial real estate brokers are fond of saying that the three most important factors in establishing a business are location, location, and location. While that may be true for some businesses, for others, locating in a popular, high-cost area may be a mistake. To make sure your space will suit the financial and physical needs of your business, ask yourself these questions:
A commercial lease -- as opposed to a residential lease -- is a contract between a business and a landlord for the rental of building space. A lease can be for a short term (as little as one month) or long term (up to ten or 15 years), and it can be written or oral (spoken) -- although an oral lease for more than a year will generally not be enforced by a judge after the first year. For more information, read
The Commercial Lease: What You Should Know.
Most landlords start out asking for lease terms that aren't in a business owner's best interest, but they are almost always willing to make concessions. Of course, your bargaining power depends on your local rental market -- if the market is tight, you won't have a lot of leverage.
Even when the rent isn't negotiable, your landlord may agree to limit annual rent increases and possibly pay for utilities, repairs, taxes, and insurance. You might also be able to negotiate a shorter lease term, perhaps with one or two options to renew the lease, and the authority to sublease or assign the space. Finally, landlords are often willing to pay for necessary improvements to the building before you move in, especially if you agree to sign a long-term lease.
For more information about negotiating your business lease, see Commercial Leases: Negotiate the Best Terms.
First, you'll need to check your local zoning ordinances. These laws allow certain types of businesses to occupy different areas of a city or county -- most cities have residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed-use neighborhoods.
Next, you'll need to find out whether any other legal restrictions will affect your operations. For example, some cities limit the number of certain types of business -- such as fast food restaurants or coffee bars -- in certain areas, and others require that a business provide off-street parking, close early on weeknights, and keep advertising signs to a minimum. Many cities have business development offices that help small business owners understand and cope with the various restrictions.
To learn more about zoning laws and how to comply with them, read Avoid Zoning Trouble.
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