Answers for the location decisions that put capital at risk.
Use these practical guides to screen proposed sites, compare competing locations and connect market evidence to lease economics before committing.
Start with the question you need to answer.
How to Evaluate a Commercial Location Before Signing a Lease
Evaluate the location in five connected steps: define the customer and concept, size reachable demand, test access and competition, underwrite downside and base-case unit economics, and identify the conditions that would make you reject the lease. A strong market cannot rescue a site whose rent, access or attainable sales make the unit uneconomic.
Franchise site selectionFranchise Site Selection Checklist for a First or Next Location
A franchisee should independently test the franchisor's customer profile against the local trade area, confirm access and competitive conditions, model site-specific rent and opening costs, and compare the resulting sales requirement with realistic local demand. Brand approval does not replace the franchisee's investment underwriting.
Candidate site comparisonHow to Compare Multiple Commercial Locations
Compare every candidate under the same concept assumptions, then adjust only the site-specific evidence. Rank locations on reachable demand, access, competitive position, total occupancy cost, attainable sales, downside resilience and return. The cheapest rent or largest population rarely identifies the best investment by itself.
Commercial lease economicsHow Much Rent Can a Retail or Service Business Afford?
Affordable rent depends on attainable sales and the concept's complete occupancy burden, not the landlord's asking rate alone. Estimate a conservative sales range, set the maximum occupancy cost that preserves target EBITDA, include common-area charges and other property costs, then test whether the downside case remains financeable.
Med spa location analysisHow to Choose the Best Location for a Med Spa
A strong med spa location combines sufficient target-customer depth, convenient repeat access, compatible co-tenancy, manageable direct competition and lease economics that work at a conservative treatment schedule. High household income alone does not prove that the site can support the required visits and average ticket.