commercial space for lease in Kansas City

Frequently Asked Questions About Office Space in Kansas City

If you are just starting to look into finding a commercial space for your business for the first time, the process can seem overwhelming. Don’t go in unprepared. Think about your business’s needs and research what the leasing process entails. Here are the answers to a few frequently asked leasing questions to get you started:

1. Should I rent or buy a business space?

Almost all businesses who are just starting out in their own space choose leased (rented) spaces, and most businesses in general lease space at some point throughout their lifetime. When you lease instead of buy, you can avoid using up valuable capital for working, and leasing also makes it easier to relocate if you outgrow a space or need new accommodations.

2. What is a commercial lease?

A commercial lease is different than a residential lease. It is a contract between a landlord and a business for the rental of an office building space. A commercial lease can consist of a short term (i.e. a month) or a long term (as much as ten to 15 years). Leases can be written or oral, but a written lease is a safer bet because a judge will typically not enforce an oral lease after a year.

Having an understanding of basic commercial lease information is a good place to start when thinking about renting a space for your business

If you are interested in commercial space for lease in Kansas City, give a commercial real estate broker in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100!

9 Ways to Save On Energy Expenses in Your Office Rental Space in Kansas City: Stay Home

Did you know that about 17% of greenhouse gas emissions can be traced back to commercial buildings? Consider implementing some easy green business practices to save the environment and some money for your business:

Tip #4: Work from Home

Though 40-hour work weeks seem to be standard, a more flexible schedule might actually serve your office staff and business purposes better—plus help reduce utility bills. Think about trying out a four-day work week. If this is not feasible for your business, try flexing schedules that allow people to take on more hours four days a week for at least part of Monday or Fridays off, or close down the office after lunch on Friday.
Telecommuting might also be an option for appropriate workers. Educate employees on your company networks and experiment with allowing them to determine their own schedules. Video chats or teleconferences can also be a way of reducing business travel (and business travel costs).
Though this might seem like too much flexibility at first glance, studies have shown that offices have increased productivity under these circumstances. Flexible schedules often mean that workers have fewer experiences in which they have to take care of personal business on the job or take leave.

Allowing employees to do some work at home may seem like a major change for your business, but giving it a try has the potential to both increase productivity and reduce utility costs.

Is your business trying to find a new commercial space for lease in Kansas City? Give a DDI Commercial real estate broker in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100 for some information on our available spaces!

6 Tips for Renting Commercial Real Estate in Kansas City: Part I

One of the few upsides to this economic rough patch is that the real estate market for small offices is full of good opportunities. Here are a few tips for small business on how to capitalize on this chance to get a good deal on a small office rental:

Think Small – Landlords who previously were not interested in leasing to smaller tenants now want to diversify and are interested in dividing larger spaces into smaller ones for smaller tenants. This has increased the number of office spaces small businesses can consider in their searches.
Get the right duration. Whether you are looking for short term or long term, you have a decent chance of getting the lease length you want. Previously, landlords could set a lease length at around 5 years, and not have to negotiate, but now tenants have more of an upper hand. Smaller businesses should stick to one or two year leases, because you do not know how long you will be around, but thriving companies might consider taking the opportunity to get a long term lease.

Knowing a little bit about how the current state of the economy affects the real estate market can help you make informed decisions as you search for commercial realty in Kansas City.

If you think you want to move your business into a commercial space for lease in Kansas City, give us a call at 913-685-4100 and find out about our variety of available spaces for small businesses!

Tips for After You Relocate to a New Kansas City Office Space for Rent

Moving to a new state can be almost as much work for a small business owner as when you first started your business. Just as when you first started up, you will need to register and comply with state and local tax laws and apply for any necessary permits and licenses. Here are a few items to put on your checklist to get done once you have moved:

Register with your local government for any business permits or licenses you might need. There are online tools to help you figure out what permits and licenses you might need based on your new zip code and your business type.
Make sure you register for a “doing business as” naming permit.
Contact the local revenue agency to apply for a new tax ID number and make sure that you are aware of all city and county business tax regulations.
Be sure to take care of your employer responsibilities, such as disability insurance, unemployment insurance, and worker’s compensation insurance, which you can take care of on your state’s website.

These are all legal issues that you need to take care of when relocating, but which you can address after you have already moved into the new location.

Looking for a small office lease in Kansas City? Give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out about some of our commercial space for lease in Kansas City!

Determining Office Space in Kansas Location: Part III

There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a location for your small business. You want to consider your business’s needs, and be aware of all of the financial issues involved in moving into a new business space.

The next thing you will want to research is whether the area is business friendly. It is essential to understand exactly what laws and regulations will be imposed on your business in the potential location. It might be worth working with a small business counselor or specialist as you attempt to grow your business. Often states offer online aides to help small business owners get off the ground. You might also look into community resources such as Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business, Centers, SBA Offices, or other programs funded by the government specifically for the support of small businesses.

The most important thing is to do your homework before choosing a new location. Utilize all available resources, including other business owners, the local small business community, potential co-tenants, and any free data you can get from the government.

If you are thinking about moving into a commercial space for lease in Kansas City, feel free to call a commercial real estate broker in Kansas City at 913-685-4100 with any questions you have about finances, the local business community, or how a space might meet your business’s needs!

Information to Include in a Counter Offer for Office Space in Kansas: Part II

A counter offer is a chance to make a sales pitch to a landlord, both asking them to select you as a tenant over other interested parties and to concede to your terms. Here are a few more tips on what to include in a successful counter offer letters:

The Nature of Your Business. Tell the landlord what you do, and be concise and to the point. Landlords need this information in case the nature of your business requires special considerations. For instance, they need to know if you use hazardous materials, store extremely valuable items, or have walk-in patients as a healthcare facility, in case of property use restrictions. Be honest, because what you do as a tenant can affect the property value and insurance rates of a landlord.

Contact Information. This includes a phone number where you can be reached and an email address. Let them know if you can only be reached on specific days or during certain hours.

Your Counter Offer. Most importantly, you will want to include your proposed terms, and be as clear and thorough as possible.

Check back to later posts to find out more about what to include specifically in your proposed counter offer terms, but remember it is equally important to include all of these other details to best represent your business to a landlord and to facilitate the negotiation process as smoothly as possible.

If you are looking for commercial space for lease in Kansas City, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to learn more about our affordable office space in Kansas City!