[...]... which provides numerous links to other sites for homebased businesses 1/6 LEASING SPACE FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS 2 Staying in Your Current Rental Perhaps your business already occupies commercial space but you feel, for one reason or another, that it’s time to move Maybe you’ve outgrown your current digs and need more spacious quarters; or you’ve had your fill of your nickel-and-diming landlord But first,... Businesses This book focuses primarily on leasing commercial space Of course, doing business at home is still a viable option for many small businesses Fortunately, there’s a lot of valuable guidance out there if you decide that home is where the business is—and will be for the foreseeable future The Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business, by Fred Steingold (Nolo), provides helpful information... into your rental search, it’s important to be as precise as possible regarding your minimum and maximum space requirements Professionals known as 1/16 LEASING SPACE FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS space planners” can help determine how much square footage you need and how to use it (Chapter 3, Section B, discusses how space planners can help.) When you combine your present space needs with your plans for the... Before you plunge headlong into the search for suitable commercial space, think carefully about whether you really need to find space now It may make more sense to run your business from your home Or, if you’re already renting space but looking to move, you might consider ways to improve your current lease situation and avoid the expense and inconvenience of relocating 1/4 LEASING SPACE FOR YOUR SMALL. .. Expand Space 1/22 2 Potential Purchase 1/22 L Preparing Your Rental Priorities Worksheet 1/22 M Subleasing Space 1/25 WHAT KIND OF SPACE DO YOU NEED? Y our business needs should shape your search for commercial space Rent will be an obvious consideration, as will the building’s location and the size of the space But for most small businesses, finding the right space. .. one-climate-fits-all approach is likely to meet everyone’s needs If your area of the country experiences particularly hot summers and cold winters, pay some attention to the exposure of your potential space a western exposure, for example, is going to get much warmer in the summer 1/18 LEASING SPACE FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS than a similar space in the building that faces north If you’re worried about shivering... the list are precisely those that are missing from your current location, you know it’s time to act WHAT KIND OF SPACE DO YOU NEED? 1/ 7 Check Your Current Lease Before You Leap If you’re currently renting space and plan to move elsewhere, check your lease first Here’s what to look for: • The exact termination date Try to begin your search for new space well enough in advance so that you won’t feel... percentage of the floor space that can be devoted to the business Contact the office of your city attorney, city manager or mayor for information on zoning ordinances that may affect your business • Deed restrictions in condominiums and planned unit developments These often prohibit commercial activities, including home businesses Review your covenants, codes and restrictions (CC & Rs) for details • Apartment... nothing to lose by asking your landlord Before you charge off to your landlord’s office, however, take a minute to consider whether your list of gripes represents truly important issues for your business One way to measure their importance is to compare your dissatisfactions with what you would look for in a new rental In Section B, below, we suggest ways to organize and rank your rental priorities If... place “climate control” high on your list 6 Storage Space Some buildings have extra storage space for tenants in a basement or other out-ofthe-way area If you need space for items that you only occasionally use, access to a separate storage area may be a priority This can reduce clutter and free up your rental space for important uses (archived files or spare parts, for example) 7 Private Restrooms . INC. Portman, Janet Leasing space for your small business / by Janet Portman and Fred Steingold. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 0-87337-572-6 1. Commercial Leases. 2. Office leases. 3. Small Business Management Size of Space 1/15 2. Interior Needs 1/16 3. Soundproofing 1/17 4. Operating Windows 1/17 1/2 LEASING SPACE FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS 5. Control of Heating and Cooling 1/17 6. Storage Space 1/18 7 Purchase Potential 1/21 L. Preparing Your Rental Priorities Worksheet 1/22 M. Subleasing Space 1/25 2 Looking for Space and Using Brokers A. How to Find Space on Your Own 2/3 B. Working With a Real