Finding Business Space
Some of the important things to consider when scouting locations should be:
Traffic & Visibility - will current and potential/new customers be able to find you and do you have road frontage or signage to draw new people?
Square footage - too much or too little: You want enough space to handle your initial business load, but you also want to be able to expand.
Utility Costs - Speak to other tenants in the area about their utility costs. You need to have an idea of the average water, sewage, electricity and gas costs.
Growth & Expansion - Particularly for sports facilities, there's a constant need to grow and expand your client list. People come and go and even if you have enough customers today, that might not be the case in the winter or a year from now. If you're opening a futsal facility, you might want to consider finding space with higher ceilings that could also work for volleyball. There are going to be slow nights or seasons, and it would be great to have another group of customers who frequent your facility and help cover your costs.
Leases - Renting commercial space is different than renting an apartment. With commercial property it's not unusual to put everything on the tenant. Building repairs, taxes, and maintenance costs can be included in the tenants responsibilities, so ask questions, take notes, and as get advice before you sign anything. Also, remember that everything's negotiable.
Traffic & Visibility - will current and potential/new customers be able to find you and do you have road frontage or signage to draw new people?
Square footage - too much or too little: You want enough space to handle your initial business load, but you also want to be able to expand.
Utility Costs - Speak to other tenants in the area about their utility costs. You need to have an idea of the average water, sewage, electricity and gas costs.
Growth & Expansion - Particularly for sports facilities, there's a constant need to grow and expand your client list. People come and go and even if you have enough customers today, that might not be the case in the winter or a year from now. If you're opening a futsal facility, you might want to consider finding space with higher ceilings that could also work for volleyball. There are going to be slow nights or seasons, and it would be great to have another group of customers who frequent your facility and help cover your costs.
Leases - Renting commercial space is different than renting an apartment. With commercial property it's not unusual to put everything on the tenant. Building repairs, taxes, and maintenance costs can be included in the tenants responsibilities, so ask questions, take notes, and as get advice before you sign anything. Also, remember that everything's negotiable.
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