How To Determine What's Best for Your Business.
One of the first decisions you need to make before you find your business premises is whether to rent or take the plunge and buy. On the one hand, buying gives you the opportunity to invest for the future, while leasing tends to offer more flexibility. So what’s best for your business? This guide covers the important factors for and against the big property conundrum: buy or lease? – so you can decide on the most strategic route for your long- and short-term goals.
Pros of Buying Office Space
Building up equity. Buying your business premises opens up the opportunity to grow your money through investment. In theory, you should build equity over time from the increased value. Although the market may experience some dips, over the longer term, these typically smooth themselves out. You may be able to use the equity to secure a loan to inject more cash into your business for growth. Some business owners use the equity to fund their retirement by either selling the property or getting bought out by their company when they come to leave.
A Stable and secure base. For security, buying is usually your best bet. When you buy, you should be able to fix your mortgage interest rate and subsequently pay the same each month for a number of years. You will also benefit from the security of knowing you’ll be based in the same place for as long as you decide, which is a huge bonus to mature businesses that are nicely ticking over.
Economical gain with the increased property value. Business property owners often pay an economical mortgage rate compared to rent. They may also be able to rent out a portion of the space to another business, bringing in an additional revenue stream. This efficiency makes buying particularly attractive for businesses enjoying continuing success and now looking to invest in security.
Brand up your office. A big bonus of buying your premises is the ability to really make it your own. If you want to put down roots and create a space purpose-designed to your business, buying gives you the opportunity to do exactly that. In fact, the opportunity to renovate and adapt the space is where buying offers flexibility. Subject to planning, you could completely overhaul the building and even reshape its layout. The only consideration you need to make is how easy it will be to sell the property after you’ve made these modifications, so it’s worth getting advice from local agents on what people are generally looking for in the area first.
Cons of Buying Office Space
Investment risk. The downside to this security is the initial cost outlay, which may disrupt your business in the short term. You may find it less demanding on your cash flow to lease while you build up the capital you need to buy. Of course, it is also important to calculate whether your company’s income is stable enough to cover the payments in the long term.
Costs of maintenance. The cost disadvantage of owning a commercial property is the maintenance. You will need to take into account the costs for furniture, equipment, and repairs. Some purchases also come with maintenance fees to cover the cost of looking after the communal spaces and external fixtures – typically if the property is part of a larger building.
Don't over calculate the gains. Some businesses are also sold with the property. For example, a business owner looking to sell a shop, café, or salon might sell the property and the business model, equipment, and contacts – essentially all the fundamentals needed to continue running the company. Undoubtedly, opportunities like these are singular and the costs need to be weighed up as a whole.
Pros of Leasing Office Space
No tied-up capital. Although equity gains are attractive, there is a benefit to keeping hold of your cash. Having freed-up capital makes it easier to grasp opportunities, and you may find it easier to secure a loan with cash to put down. Therefore, if new ventures are on the horizon for your business, leasing might suit you better.
Flexibility to change locations. For start-ups and businesses looking to scale operations, flexibility is key. You may need to move somewhere bigger in a matter of months, and leasing gives you the chance to move quickly. If your company is small at the moment, you could share a space to reduce costs and look for somewhere bigger as and when you need it, which is only really possible when you lease. In fact, lots of start-ups benefit from being in shared spaces for networking opportunities, freelancers on the doorstep, and the chance to learn from other business owners in close proximity.
Less maintenance costs. Leasing may come with the perk of no maintenance costs, so if anything breaks, your profits shouldn’t take a dent. If you do want to rent, be sure to check the contract to find out who is responsible for fixing problems to make sure you’re clear on what you would be responsible to pay for.
Cons of Leasing Office Space
Rising costs of renting. The downside of leasing properties is the wavering ability of the rent charges. You may find the cost of rent goes up annually, which can squeeze your margins. Although you could move if the rent becomes too expensive, the costs of moving (such as higher staff hours, fees to move supplier contracts, cleaning charges, and new furniture) might outweigh the benefits of the marginally lower payments elsewhere.
Any building changes need to be accepted by a landlord. You won’t usually have the same opportunity to remodel the space when you lease it, but there tends to be more flexibility with commercial properties than there is with residential homes. Most landlords of business premises will let you redecorate, hang up pictures and signage and change fittings. You will need to check what’s allowed with the landlord first (so do this before signing for the property).
While you consider whether buying or leasing is best for your business, it is worthwhile browsing some properties for sale and rent in your desired area. Just seeing what’s available might help you decide which option puts your goals within easier reach. This article was originally published on Realla on 29 April 2019.
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