Look Before You Lease

You would think that something as important as a lease should come in easy-to-understand terms. I mean, it would really be a win-win for the landlord and tenant if the fine print was cut out and replaced with wording that was straight-forward and to the point. The tenants would know exactly what they were getting into and wouldn't sign leases with terms that they knew they couldn't meet. That would leave the landlords with tenants that could make timely rent payments and accommodate the other lease requirements.

BUT in the real world that's so not the case, and it's up to the prospective tenants to do their due diligence before entering leases. Helping provide some direction on what to think about is this article from Womenentrepreneur.com. Suggested items to consider include:

• Length of lease
• Additional rent
• Tenant improvements
• Maintenance costs and fees
• Penalties for breaking the lease

And of course it is always recommended that you have a lawyer review the lease before signing it. They are essentially paid to pore over the fine print and will help you score the best lease for you and your business.