Taxes. They are a fact of life. No matter how you feel about them, everyone pays their due. You must pay property taxes if you own commercial real estate. Commercial property taxes take a chunk out of your budget. State and local governments levy property taxes, as do entities like counties and school districts. You … Read more
A severe storm damages your property. Someone vandalizes your business, breaking your storefront window. Your restaurant’s kitchen catches fire. Natural disasters, vandalism and accidents can harm your commercial property. You can’t predict the future, but you can protect your assets. Commercial property insurance covers damages when the worst occurs. You can replace or repair your … Read more
Starting a business is exciting. Congratulations on your new endeavor! You’re joining the ranks of over 540,000 small business owners in Missouri. You may have a clear vision and business plan for your store or company, but have you made it official? Any business in Missouri that sells “tangible personal property” must have a sales … Read more
Owning property is a responsibility. Tenant conflicts and maintenance issues pop up. Tenants look to you, the owner, for a resolution or a call to the plumber. If you own several large properties or have properties in different states, managing them can take more time and resources than you have to give. You don’t have … Read more
Rent. It’s the first thing business owners think about when searching for a new spot. A newer building in the center of town may be what you want, but if you can’t afford the rent, you’re setting your business up for failure. What percentage of business income should be set aside for rent? How much … Read more
Commercial real estate investors use many metrics to measure the risk and benefits of buying a property. One of those measurements is the capitalization rate. In commercial real estate investing, the capitalization rate is a percentage that indicates the rate of return on a property. Capitalization rates, also known as cap rates, vary depending on … Read more
Is owning a commercial property better than leasing it? Should you be solely responsible for your space, or are there perks to being a tenant? Depending on your business type and goals, both options have benefits and drawbacks. Whether you purchase or lease commercial real estate hinges on your current financials, how long your business … Read more
Multi-tenant buildings often have shared spaces that benefit all tenants on the property. Did you know tenants have to pay for the upkeep of those spaces? When tenants move into office and retail properties, they often have to pay common area maintenance charges, more commonly referred to as CAM fees. These charges are passed from … Read more
Commercial real estate investors are always looking for new opportunities. Buying and selling commercial properties comes with a huge tax hit unless you’re making a like-kind exchange. Under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, like-kind commercial real estate exchanges are tax-deferred—letting investors build wealth over time. Like-kind exchanges have been in the tax code … Read more
Most landlords prefer signing long-term leases because it’s challenging to find tenants. Landlords would like to keep a good tenant for as long as possible. As a business owner, you may not be ready to sign a 10-year lease. How long of a lease should you sign? Should you ask for a shorter agreement or … Read more
