Six Things to Consider Before You
Buy or Lease Business Property
By Jo Ann Joy

Each business has its own unique needs and concerns when it shops for property to serve its business needs. Each business owner is concerned with whether to lease or buy, how much space is needed, what kind of property is needed, how much to pay for the purchase or lease, how to negotiate the best price, how to negotiate the best terms, and how to find the best location. The following six points need to be considered before leasing or buying business property:

1. Lease or Buy:
It is usually better in the long-run to own your business property. However, that may not be the case if you are short on cash. It may be a better decision to lease a facility when you are just starting out. When you lease a building, your cash outlay is much less than it would be if you purchase a building. The purchase will require a substantial down payment, and you may have a more important use for you cash when you are starting your business.

2. Find the Right Location
You must consider how long you will be in the same location. If you think you will be in the same location for one or two years, the location only has to serve your purposes for that length of time. If you intend to stay longer in the same location, you must be satisfied that the location will be adequate for a longer period of time. For example, will there be sufficient parking as your business grows? Is it possible that area will become a high crime area? Could you lose your space by eminent domain for street expansion? Are there neighboring businesses that could have a negative impact on your business? Will the space continue to be convenient for your customers, employees, and vendors?

3. Have an Attorney Review Lease or Purchase Contract
Do not blindly sign a lease or purchase contract until you have an attorney review it on your behalf and try to negotiate for a better price or better terms. The property owner will probably have the lease or purchase contract drafted by their attorney, and it will be written to favor the property owner. Do not hesitate to review and negotiate the document and have your attorney do the same.

4. Negotiate the Best Deal for Your Company
The results of good negotiation may save your company enough money to hire more employees, to launch a marketing campaign, or to update your equipment. You need to negotiate the best terms such as the term of the lease, renewal options, rent increases, a lower down payment, acquiring additional space in the future, etc.

If you negotiate a lease, you need to know how the tenant's share of expenses is calculated. Is it based on total square footage of the building or the square footage leased by the landlord? If you will pay a portion of the common area expenses or taxes, your landlord must provide a detailed list of expenses prepared by a CPA. You should also have the right to audit the landlord's books or records.

5. Choose the Right Amount of Space for Your Business
Whether you are just starting your business or you need more space to expand, you want to choose the optimum amount of space. If you underestimate your needs, you will have to relocate and that can be expensive. If you overestimate, you will pay for unproductive space. You need to be sure that you know the usable square footage of the premises

In deciding how much space you need, think about how many employees will be physically located in your new facility. Do you anticipate that any of them will telecommute and work from home? What are your projections for the employees you will need in the next two years?

6. Building Features and Layout
What do you really need in your facility? Consider the cost of each feature to see what is financially feasible. What office design will best accommodate your employees, customers, and vendors? What design encourages the most efficient production? You can research office layout and design on the internet and at the library, or you can hire a professional designer.

Your business premises must be able to operate during the regular business hours without interruption. Your customers, employees, and vendors must have easy access and sufficient parking. The business premises should be thoroughly inspected so that you will not incur substantial repair expenses after you take possession.

Whether you lease or buy, these issues must be considered carefully to protect the interest of your business. Before you sign any documents, research the property, the neighborhood, and the area around it. You need to know as much as possible about any property where your business will be located.

Jo Ann Joy, Esq., MBA, CEO
The future of your business starts here!

You may contact Jo Ann by phone at (602) 663-7007, by fax at (602) 324-7582, by email at joannjoy@Indigo Business Solutions.net, and by mail at 2313 East Ocotillo Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85016. Copies of any articles will be provided free of charge.

For information about other important legal, tax, and business topics, copies of articles, or EBooks, please visit our website at www.IndigoBusinessSolutions.net. Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. Indigo Business Solutions is a registered trade name.

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About the author: Jo Ann Joy is the CEO and owner of Indigo Business Solutions, a legal and business consulting firm that is a “one stop shop” for businesses. We provide legal and business services and all professional services to businesses, and they will not be "referred out" to other professionals.

Jo Ann has a law degree, an MBA, and an Economics degree. She is a strategic business attorney who works closely with businesses to improve their performance and their chance of success. Her background includes commercial, corporate, contracts, real estate, accounting, financial planning, mortgages, marketing, product development, banking, and business planning and strategies. She ran a successful business for 10 years and writes and gives presentations on many different legal, tax, and business subjects.

Please visit our website at http://www.IndigoBusinessSolutions.net for more information on business, legal, and tax topics and for free copies of articles and EBooks.

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