Attractive premises may not suit your activity. Start your search with a description of the work, visitors, equipment and essential conditions.

Describe how the space will be used

State customer flow, opening hours, storage, deliveries and the equipment you need. Separate essential requirements from preferences about the interior. Check suitability for the specific activity and any permit questions with professionals and the relevant authorities.

Compare the total cost of getting ready

Add fit-out work, connections and the transition period to the rent estimate. Find out which changes are possible and who approves them. Do not take the owner's willingness to discuss the project as final permission.

How to turn your activity into requirements for the property

Describe the workflow: the customer's arrival, deliveries, storage, preparation, providing the service and cleaning. For each stage, state the space and equipment needed. Then highlight the technical and organisational questions that professionals need to check. A suitable floor area does not confirm that the intended use is permitted. Access, noise, loading and connections may matter more than the decor. Do not start discussing renovation as if the property's suitability were already established: first find out the existing restrictions and the procedure for any approvals needed.

How to compare two properties before committing

Put the rental terms, necessary work, connections and preparation time onto comparable cards. Do not treat an unknown fit-out cost as zero. Find out who is entitled to approve changes and how agreements are recorded. If the opening date depends on an outside decision, note this separately. For each open check, assign a responsible party and a next step. Legal and technical assessments are carried out by the relevant professionals; the impression from a viewing and a preliminary conversation with the owner do not replace their findings.

What to check

  • Describe the customer's route and how deliveries arrive.
  • Check the requirements for equipment.
  • Clarify any restrictions on use.
  • Get a separate estimate for the necessary work.

Example situation

Having free floor space does not mean the necessary equipment can be installed. Connections and installation conditions are checked before any commitment.

Next step

Look for premises that fit your workflow and confirmed requirements, not a nice photo of your future business.

Official information on this topic

Checklists and examples are organisational recommendations. Requirements depend on the procedure, the city and your situation; check them with the relevant office before you act. Please discuss legal and tax questions with an authorised professional.

This article was prepared with the help of AI. The example illustrates the approach and does not describe a client case.