Finding Premises

Finding the right business premises in the right location is a key step in starting or expanding a business.

Identify your needs

The following questions will help formulate your thoughts.

Location:

• Are premises necessary or could you work from home?

• Where are your customers based and is location critical?

• Will you need car parking for your customers and/or employees?

• Will you need easy access to public transport for employees and customers without their own vehicles?

• Will you need access for large delivery vehicles?

Size:

• How big do you need your premises to be?

• Will you need room for machinery?

• Will you need room for stock?

• Will you need room to expand?

Consider your priorities, what is essential and what is desirable.

Finding a property

The video below from GOV.UK contains a lot of essential information regarding finding the right property.

Tips

• Commercial Estate Agents - are a good place to start whether you're looking for a small business office or a multi-story commercial warehouse
• Research – search online for commercial properties in the area you wish to trade.
• Visit the properties – what looks good on paper may be unsuitable in practice.
  • Make sure the property meets your essential criteria.
  • Can you imagine your business running from the property?
  • Does or could the property reflect the image of your business you wish to portray?
• Negotiate – commercial landlords do not like their properties vacant.
• Terms – if you are renting premises, be sure to get in writing who is responsible for what. This includes: business rates, insurance, utilities, maintenance etc.

Rent or Buy?

The video below from GOV.UK explains the pros and cons of renting and buying. 

Useful links

Growth Hub providers – help with finding premises https://wearegrowth.co.uk/search/?keyword=premises

The RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) – provide property guides aimed at small businesses with information about buying, leasing, maintaining or extending business premises http://www.rics.org/uk/

Property Link - the UK's commercial property listings site http://propertylink.estatesgazette.com/