As a new business owner, you’ll likely enter into a lease agreement unless you decide to operate from home. In British Columbia, a business lease varies greatly from a residential lease. Many protections under the Residential Tenancy Act don’t apply to commercial leases. For example, commercial leases are referred to as “triple net” leases because the base rent doesn’t include any of the expenses incurred in operating the property. The tenant is charged for their share of property taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance.
In general, the process of leasing a property includes negotiating a lease, the offer to lease, the lease agreement, and registering the lease. Each stage is complex and requires a great deal of preparation. If this is your first time negotiating a commercial lease, you may want to seek assistance from a commercial real estate agent, a lease consultant, or a lawyer to ensure the process goes smoothly.
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More topics for start-ups to consider:
The Necessary First Steps
There are many necessary initial steps to take in order to successfully start or continue operations.
Business Structure
One of the very first steps of starting and running a business is choosing a legal structure for your business.
Shareholders’ Agreements
Shareholders should enter into a shareholders’ agreement in the early stages of starting a business.
Financing
At some point in your business’ lifecycle, you’ll probably need cash exceeding what your business is able to generate.
