When it comes to building your business, there are three things that you have to consider: location, location, location. Putting your store in the prime real estate section can mean all the difference between being a success story and becoming another statistic. Therefore, we are here to help. Here are some tips on finding a location for your business that will ensure that you are starting off on the right foot:
Research the Market
Before even filing for a business license, you should know your industry inside and out. What kind of profits do your competitors generate? Who is your competition? Is there enough of a demand for you to fit in? These are the kinds of questions you need to answer; if you don’t, then you are setting yourself up for failure. With regards to location, be sure that your local market will accommodate your business.
Understand the Local Workforce
If you have to hire employees, where will they come from? Do you want local people to run your company’s operations, or will you have to cast a wider net to find them? Also, if you plan on expanding, how many staff members do you think you will need?
Local Regulations
Depending on where you’re going to set up shop, you may have to look at the local laws to determine that you will be compliant. This is more than just obtaining a Federal Tax ID number it’s about looking at various permits to ensure that your business won’t be illegal.
Startup Costs
Once you find your prime location, how much will it cost to make it your own? Rarely is a space ready to go right away, so you will have to invest in renovations and remodeling. Do you have enough money to cover everything?
Business Friendly Features
What kind of foot traffic does your area get? Is there plenty of parking for customers? How easy is it to see your store from the street? Overall, you want to choose a location that will enhance your company as much as possible, so you don’t have to work uphill to get customers.
Overall, do as much research as you can and scout out multiple spots if possible. This is going to be one of the biggest investments of your life, so don’t go about it without doing your research.