A commercial shop checklist before you lease

For a retail business, the lease and the location largely decide the odds. A short checklist, worked through before signing, prevents expensive surprises.

Footfall and frontage

• Observe footfall at different times and days, not just once
• Assess frontage, visibility and signage rights
• Check approach, parking and ease of walk-in

Permitted use and compliance

Confirm the space is sanctioned for your intended use, and understand any market-association or society rules that apply to your format.

The lease terms themselves

• Rent, escalation, lock-in and notice period
• Maintenance, common-area charges and deposits
• Fit-out norms and restoration obligations at exit