Finding The Right Premises For Your Small Business

There has been a growing trend in the years since the initial pandemic to ‘work from home’, and this has also been true when it comes to people setting up small, cottage industries which they run from a home office or a front room. But, even in this current, stay at home society, there are many businesses that can’t be run from home, that need premises – for instance a garage, shop or cafe.

Finding the right premises is important, as this is going to be a big part of your outgoings each month. You need to find a good, commercial lettings agency to find the best range of properties in your local area, but you also need a list of your requirements for any property, so they can point you in the direction of the most suitable properties. You also need a budget in mind, it is a waste of your time to be examining a whole host of properties outside your price point.

What else is useful to know or look for in your potential premises?

Location

You need to look carefully into the area you are thinking of moving too. Could your business plug a gap that is currently existing in a certain area – for instance, if there are already three cafes on a street is it really worth opening a fourth and trying to establish yourself against already established opposition? Much better to look for a street which may already have shops and businesses – i.e potential customers, but no already established cafe. Try to find out if there has even a cafe on this street before – is there a reason there isn’t one now. Really research the area – the footfall, the potential for business, the transport links – who would your potential customers be if you moved here.

Onsite parking

Onsite parking is a great way to get customers through the door, particularly in areas where parking is an issue. If you have land as part of your premises, you can easily add your own parking bays by using  line marking paint in order to create your own small car park, This is a really simple, yet effective way to both help your business in terms of customers, and make your premises look more professional.  It will help your customers if they struggle to park in the general vicinity, and can also help those who feel more security conscious parking ‘off-road’.

Having onsite parking may also help you bring in a little more extra income which could be useful for a new business. Many businesses, particularly in busy areas of London, and near to train routes, actually rent out surplus parking spaces to commuters as a way of bringing in additional income.

Facilities

Ideally, look for premises that already have essential facilities in place. These include toilets (both customer and staff), a kitchen area, eye catching neon signs and lighting and drainage. You may find the perfect property in terms of size and location that may be lacking in terms of amenities, so you may have to factor this into any costs that could also include decorating, signage and refurbishment. This could make your initial outlay beyond your funds, hence why using the knowledge of a local commercial lettings agency crucial.

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