When To Take That Final Step: Is Opening A Brick-And-Mortar Business Really Right For You?
If you've been running a small business online -- the type that's mainly a sole proprietorship and that was basically a work-from-home deal where you handled everything -- the idea of opening a brick-and-mortar store can be a scary one. Still, if your business involved selling goods, and you're noticing a major uptick in business and a need for more space, a physical location outside your home could be just what you need to expand even more. But when you take those steps, you have to be careful about how you set your business up and what you sign. You should meet with a business lawyer to determine if brick-and-mortar is an appropriate step for you to take.
Rapidly Expanding Customer Base
Whether you were a crafter who found a niche customer base or a salesperson who set out to eventually build up into a physical business entity with its own commercial location, you should start a brick-and-mortar store if you've noticed your customer base increasing dramatically. Of course you can still do online sales from home, but if people across the country are buying your items, you might want a physical store that local people can pop into without having to deal with shipping costs and times.
Finding the right location is crucial, and a business lawyer with ties to the real estate market can help you sort out commercial leases and determining if a particular building is right for you.
Psychological Advancement
Sometimes working only out of your home in a seemingly low-key operation (that no doubt is very busy anyway) can seem very restricting, both in the physical sense and in the psychological sense. Having a place outside your home that is dedicated to your business can help you separate your business and home life, and it can also make it easier to hire assistants (it might seem a bit odd to have them come to your home). Psychologically, getting a physical location can also make you feel like you're moving again and advancing.
But whenever you take a huge step like that, you need to know that all the contracts you're signing and all the deals you're making are legally sound. Only a business lawyer can help you with those. If you're seriously thinking about taking your home-based sole proprietorship a step further and creating a business with a physical location, contact a business lawyer to discuss what you'd need to do. For more information, contact companies like Rudolph and Chonoles LLP.