Natalie, I would love to know about finding a location for a business. I am looking into opening a tanning salon but the location aspect of it is really overwhelming. -RandomHappyLife

Thank you for the question. It is a good one. Retail, food, and service based businesses often require an office or storefront location. A tanning salon definitely needs to have a visible location preferably with a good amount of pedestrian traffic and room for your clients to park. Even if your business could be run from home, some people like to have an office to work out of for the sake of productivity and to separate work life from personal life. There are many things to consider when choosing a location for your business.

The big question is what can you afford?

The best locations are also usually the ones that have the highest price tags. In my opinion you should have enough money to cover the first three months of your lease in case sales are low as you get the business off the ground. If you find a space and think “this is the one” but the price is too high, try negotiating. If that does not work, you might be able to share the space with another business. For example, your tanning salon could share space with a hair stylist, aesthetician, or massage therapist.

Consider your future clients with each location you look at. Is the location easy to find? Is there free parking for your clients? Will clients be comfortable at your place of business?

Once you have found a space within your price range and that meets the needs and wants of your clients, there are other things to consider. Look into bylaws and zoning to make sure you can operate the business in the space you want. You may want to have an inspector look at the space and hire a lawyer to review the lease agreement.

Take your time to find a space you love and that you can afford. Don’t rush it. After all, your location can make -or break -your business.