Is it Better to Lease or Own a Commercial Building?

Are you looking for a new commercial space for your business? If so, you will soon be making the decision between buying or leasing. What are the pros and cons of renting a commercial space versus owning? Does owning come with certain inherit risks? Will renting come back as an economic disadvantage down the road?

Continue below to review some important considerations that will help you decide between buying and leasing commercial real estate.

Commercial Remodeling Indianapolis Indiana 317-253-0531
Commercial Remodeling Indianapolis Indiana 317-253-0531

To Buy or to Rent Commercial Real Estate?

Well, that is the question; isn’t it? Whether you are looking for commercial real estate for a small office, multi-divisional headquarter, retail storefront, café, factory, or distribution facility, your decision to buy or lease will rely heavily on your capacity to take fiscal risks. Here are some of the top considerations to keep in mind when weighing the pros and cons of each option:

Buying a Commercial Space

There are plenty of upsides to owning your own commercial space. Not only will your asset appreciate over time and build you equity, but it will also give you full control over the property itself. In many industries, this level of executive decision-making is essential. With full control, you don’t need permission from a landlord or property management company to do any type of renovation or build-out to your commercial space. On the other hand, you’ll still be subjected to local zoning, permitting, and building codes. Not to worry, this is something your Indianapolis commercial general contractor can take care of for you.

Another prime advantage to owning your own commercial spaces being your own landlord. Not only does this give you more flexibility over rent rate adjustments (as opposed to going through landlord), but it also gives you the opportunity to generate additional income by renting excess commercial space to other tenants. Of course, with owning any type of property, you are typically eligible for certain tax credits and tax breaks, such as interest paid, business expenses (including startup costs), and depreciation of value.

Lastly, owning your own commercial space will provide you with the benefit of an investment safety net. If anything were to happen to your business, such as bankruptcy or closure, you would still have your commercial asset to fall back on. You could choose to sell the property or continue renting it to another tenant or tenants.

Potential Downfalls to Owning:

A large down payment is required to procure a commercial property, typically between 10% and 40% of the property’s full market value. Along with a substantial down payment, you’ll also be subjected to additional financing fees and expenses.

If you have difficulty qualifying for financing, you will be subjected to using unconventional lending sources, which can result in cost-prohibitive interest rates. Furthermore, commercial real estate loans can come with terms and conditions that are with prepayment penalties, including defeasance and yield maintenance.

In terms of investment, commercial real estate procurement always comes with the inherent risk of depreciation rather than appreciation. It is very possible for a commercial property to lose value rather than gain it over time. When it comes time to sell, you could lose money.

Being your own commercial a commercial property owner automatically subjects you to a legal duty of care. Under premises liability law, you will be responsible for any damages and losses incurred by a victim of a wrongful accident that takes place in your property.

Then there’s always the risk of outgrowing your commercial space. If this were to happen, you could hire a commercial general contracting company in Indiana to remodel or build-out your current property. But in some cases, business owners are forced to sell and relocate, which can be inhibiting to business operations, and not to mention, very expensive.

Renting a Commercial Space

Now, let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of leasing a commercial space. First and foremost, leasing a commercial space is safe much faster process than procurement. This allows you to get your business operations up and running sooner, which in turn starts generating income faster. It is also a lot easier and faster to get approved for a lease than it is for a loan.

Another notable advantage of leasing commercial property is the upfront affordability. Rentals do not require a substantial down payment other than a first month and last month deposit. A rental deposit compared to a down payment is much lower, giving you more capital for starting your business.

As we continue down the list of all the pros to renting a commercial space, you will see a pattern of cost-savings. Renting versus owning will save you a lot of money in terms of maintenance and upkeep. You will not have to hire an in-house custodial service, nor outsource for landscaping, street sweeping, parking lot repairs, and seasonal maintenance work. All of these facility maintenance needs will be incorporated into the total cost of the lease and provided by the landlord.

Leasing also entitles you to certain tax breaks and tax credits. Not only can you deduct your full lease payments, but you might also be able to deduct insurance costs and property taxes.

Potential Downfalls to Leasing:

In some cases of leasing a commercial space, you will pay more in monthly rent than you would in a monthly mortgage payment plan. And since your rental payments are not going toward the goal of outright owning the property at some point, these payments can be viewed as wasteful. Unless you are in a lease-to-own agreement, you will not build equity with your rental payments.

Under a commercial lease, you are not permitted to rent out excess space to tenants. This means you will not have the opportunity to generate secondary income. This is just one way you are under the control of the landlord or property manager. Which comes to our last notable downfall to leasing, you have very limited control over what you can do with and within the property.

Are you looking for a trusted commercial general contracting company who can turn your new commercial space into exactly what your business needs? Contact BAF Corporation at 317-253-0531 for professional commercial construction management and space planning in Indianapolis, Indiana.

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