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What is a Commercial Lease?
A commercial lease outlines the terms and conditions when a business rents a commercial property to conduct business from that location. It's a legally binding agreement made between a landlord, "LESSOR" (often the owner of the property) and a business tenant "LESSEE" that must be followed. Commercial real estate brokers can help negotiate the terms of the lease.
What Is Included in a Commercial Lease Agreement?
A commercial lease agreement outlines the rights and responsibilities of a "LESSEE" and "LESSOR." It includes the following terms and conditions:
- Both of your names and information
- The address and basic information about the property
- The type of commercial building you're leasing
- The square footage of the space
- The length of the lease and the terms of renewing the lease
- The cost of rent and when you must pay it
- The cost of the security deposit.
- An outline of how you may use the leased space
- An outline of what changes or renovations you may make. It may also explain whether the business owner or property owner is responsible for these changes
- Fixtures or appliances the lease provides
See Commercial Lease by State
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Common Commercial Lease Agreements
-
Net Lease
A
net lease
is when you are responsible for paying the base rent as well as the utilities, maintenance, and insurance. This popular commercial lease is broken up into even more distinct categories:
- Single net lease : Although not very common, single net leases are the most straightforward net leases. As a tenant, you are responsible for paying the rent and property taxes of the space.
- Double net lease: You are responsible for paying the rent, property taxes, and building insurance. The landlord must pay the costs of utilities, maintenance, and any other expenses that may arise. This type of lease is common for multi-tenanted buildings since the property owner is financially responsible for structural issues. The amount you pay will vary based on how much square footage you are leasing.
- Triple net lease : With this kind of lease, property can have big advantages. As a tenant, you are responsible for most of the costs relating to your occupation of a commercial space. You pay for rent, maintenance, insurance, taxes, utilities, and standard property repairs. Proceed with caution when deciding if you want a triple net lease, as you could be responsible for high expenses, like a broken HVAC or leaky roof. The advantage is that the base rent for these properties tends to be lower.
- Bondable net leases: This lease is close to a triple net lease, but you have even more stakes in your rental space since the tenant cannot terminate the lease even if the property becomes unusable. You are responsible for any risks associated with the commercial space, such as natural disasters or fires. These types of leases are quite rare, although the benefit for tenants is that the landlord has fewer termination rights.
-
Gross Lease
These are the two types of
gross leases
you may see as a commercial property tenant:
- Full-service gross lease: You pay a fixed rent payment every month. As a business owner, this is the easiest rent to budget for since you can expect to pay the same flat rate each month. Your landlord is responsible for all other expenses, including insurance, utilities, taxes, and property management fees.
- Modified gross lease : With this lease, the landlord is still responsible for insurance, utilities, taxes, and property management fees. Along with paying your fixed rent each month, you are also responsible for any incremental increases in operating costs. For instance, if the property taxes of the building suddenly increase, you may have to pay for a portion of that increase.
- Percentage Lease Restaurants and retailers are the businesses who are more likely to sign percentage leases. Generally, you see them used with businesses that have varying sales volumes, since the rent adjusts to their revenues. Percentage leases are when you pay the base rent and a percentage of your business's gross income. Before signing the lease, you and the landlord will agree upon a set percentage. The more your business makes, the more you will pay to your landlord (although the percentage will stay the same). This type of lease helps the business owner and property owner work together to increase the business's profits. This is a smart lease to choose if you want help with promotion efforts.
See Commercial Lease Pricing by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Commercial Lease Terms You Should Know
Before signing anything, get to know these commercial lease terms:
- Additional rent Rent that you must pay in addition to your set base rent. It may include add-ons, like parking fees, common area maintenance, or emergency maintenance.
- Agent A person who may represent a landlord or tenant when negotiating a commercial lease agreement. They may be a real estate agent, broker, attorney, or salesperson.
- Build-out Any work that needs to be done to make it possible for a business to operate on the first day of their lease.
- Building class Commercial properties are rated as Class A, Class B, or Class C. Although there is no standard, Class A tends to be newer, high-quality buildings with amenities and professional management. Class B buildings tend to be older and in a less-than-ideal location but still have good management. Class C usually includes the lowest-end properties that need improvements. Classifications generally relate to the location, quality, and rental rate of properties.
- Non-competition clause A non-competition clause that prohibits a landlord from leasing a nearby property to a competitor of your business.
- Assignment and subletting This clause addresses what rights the tenant has to transfer the property to another party.
- Termination and default This term outlines the tenants’ rights to end the agreement and what happens if the tenant cannot live up to their obligations of the lease agreement.
- Insurance requirements This section outlines the type and amount of insurance coverage both the tenant and landlord are required to have during the term of the lease.
- Dispute resolution This term outlines the methods and procedures both parties have at their disposal to use should there be a dispute between them during the term of the lease.
Understanding the terms of your commercial lease is an important part of feeling happy with your contract. Let one of our contract lawyers help you decide if your commercial lease agreement is fair.
The Difference Between Commercial Leases and Residential Leases
One key difference between commercial leases and residential leases is their purpose. With a commercial lease, you must use the space to operate a business. With a residential lease agreement, you are using the property as a home. Here are some other major differences:
- Longevity and rigidness With a residential lease, there may be more circumstances when you can break your lease. You may need to pay a fee, but that is usually the only caveat. With a commercial lease, there is much more money to lose. If you can even legally break the contract, you may be out of a significant amount of money. It is also worth noting that commercial leases typically have longer terms (5-10 years) compared to residential leases (1 year).
- Protections Residential tenants tend to have more protection thanks to consumer protection laws. With a commercial lease, in most jurisdictions there are no laws protecting your privacy or limiting the amount of a security deposit.
- Negotiation With residential leases, there is little to no negotiation that takes place. You must pay the price the landlord listed unless they decide to offer you a good deal. As a business owner, you have more negotiation power with a commercial lease. You and a landlord may negotiate special terms and conditions so they can fill their space.
- Standardization Many residential leases follow a very similar format and include many of the same terms and conditions. With a commercial lease, the contract is based on the landlord's needs. When they send you the contract, carefully look over every detail. Hire a contract lawyer to read through it and explain anything you may not understand. They can also help you negotiate any changes you want to make to the agreement.
How Do Commercial Leases Work?
Commercial leases can help commercial landlords manage tenant relationships while protecting their business. It is critical to understand commercial leases before renting space to a small business. The type of commercial lease, terms, and termination requirements are vital elements of your contracts and affect how you negotiate the outcome.
There are generally three types of commercial leases, in general, including:
- Type 1. Gross or full-service lease.
- Type 2. Modified gross lease
- Type 3. Net lease
Before signing a commercial lease you should consult a real estate lawyer that will explain the right type, payment terms, and other details to help you negotiate the best deal.
Meet some of our Commercial Lease Lawyers
Ryenne S.
My name is Ryenne Shaw and I help business owners build businesses that operate as assets instead of liabilities, increase in value over time and build wealth. My areas of expertise include corporate formation and business structure, contract law, employment/labor law, business risk and compliance and intellectual property. I also serve as outside general counsel to several businesses across various industries nationally. I spent most of my early legal career assisting C.E.O.s, General Counsel, and in-house legal counsel of both large and smaller corporations in minimizing liability, protecting business assets and maximizing profits. While working with many of these entities, I realized that smaller entities are often underserved. I saw that smaller business owners weren’t receiving the same level of legal support larger corporations relied upon to grow and sustain. I knew this was a major contributor to the ceiling that most small businesses hit before they’ve even scratched the surface of their potential. And I knew at that moment that all of this lack of knowledge and support was creating a huge wealth gap. After over ten years of legal experience, I started my law firm to provide the legal support small to mid-sized business owners and entrepreneurs need to grow and protect their brands, businesses, and assets. I have a passion for helping small to mid-sized businesses and startups grow into wealth-building assets by leveraging the same legal strategies large corporations have used for years to create real wealth. I enjoy connecting with my clients, learning about their visions and identifying ways to protect and maximize the reach, value and impact of their businesses. I am a strong legal writer with extensive litigation experience, including both federal and state (and administratively), which brings another element to every contract I prepare and the overall counsel and value I provide. Some of my recent projects include: - Negotiating & Drafting Commercial Lease Agreements - Drafting Trademark Licensing Agreements - Drafting Ambassador and Influencer Agreements - Drafting Collaboration Agreements - Drafting Service Agreements for service-providers, coaches and consultants - Drafting Master Service Agreements and SOWs - Drafting Terms of Service and Privacy Policies - Preparing policies and procedures for businesses in highly regulated industries - Drafting Employee Handbooks, Standard Operations and Procedures (SOPs) manuals, employment agreements - Creating Employer-employee infrastructure to ensure business compliance with employment and labor laws - Drafting Independent Contractor Agreements and Non-Disclosure/Non-Competition/Non-Solicitation Agreements - Conducting Federal Trademark Searches and filing trademark applications - Preparing Trademark Opinion Letters after conducting appropriate legal research - Drafting Letters of Opinion for Small Business Loans - Drafting and Responding to Cease and Desist Letters I service clients throughout the United States across a broad range of industries.
Mark P.
www.parachinilaw.com I represent a diverse mix in a vast array of specialties, including litigation, contracts, compliance, business and financial strategies, and emerging industries. Credit for this foundation of strength goes to those who taught me. Skilled professors and professionals fostered my powerful educational and professional background. Prior to law school, I earned dual Bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration & Accounting from Peru State College. I received a Master of Business Administration degree from Chadron State College. My ambitions did not stop there. While working full time as a Senior Accountant for the University of Missouri, Columbia, I achieved the lifelong goal of becoming a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Mizzo provided excellent opportunities and amazing experiences. Managing over $50M in government and private research funding was a gift. As a high ranking professional in the Department of Research, I was given priceless insight into the greatest scientific, journalistic, medical, and legal minds in the world. My passion for successful growth did not, and has not stopped. I graduated summa cum laude (top 3%) with a Doctorate in Law, emphasizing in urban, land use and environmental/toxic tort law from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. This success lead to invaluable experiences of serving as Hon. Brian C. Wimes' judicial clerk for the U.S. District Court for the W. D. of Missouri, as a staff editor/writer for UMKC Law Review, and as a litigation and transactional attorney with Lathrop GPM (fka Lathrop & Gage). My professional and personal network is expansive, with established relationships throughout the U.S. and overseas. Although I engage in legal practice all over the country, I maintain law licenses in Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. Federally, I hold licenses in the W.D. and E.D. of Missouri and the District of Nebraska. To offer extra value, efficiency, and options, I maintain a CPA license and am obtaining a real-estate brokerage license.
Samuel R.
My career interests are to practice Transactional Corporate Law, including Business Start Up, and Mergers and Acquisitions, as well as Real Estate Law, Estate Planning Law, Tax, and Intellectual Property Law. I am currently licensed in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Utah, after having moved to Phoenix from Philadelphia in September 2019. I currently serve as General Counsel for a bioengineering company. I handle everything from their Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Placement Memorandums, and Corporate Structures to Intellectual Property Assignments, to Employment Law and Beach of Contract settlements. Responsibilities include writing and executing agreements, drafting court pleadings, court appearances, mergers and acquisitions, transactional documents, managing expert specialized legal counsel, legal research and anticipating unique legal issues that could impact the Company. Conducted an acquisition of an entire line of intellectual property from a competitor. In regards to other clients, I am primarily focused on transactional law for clients in a variety of industries including, but not limited to, real estate investment, property management, and e-commerce. Work is primarily centered around entity formation and corporate structure, corporate governance agreements, PPMs, opportunity zone tax incentives, and all kinds of business to business agreements. I have also recently gained experience with Estate Planning law, drafting numerous Estate Planning documents for people such as Wills, Powers of Attorney, Healthcare Directives, and Trusts. I was selected to the 2024 Super Lawyers Southwest Rising Stars list. Each year no more than 2.5% of the attorneys in Arizona and New Mexico are selected to the Rising Stars. I am looking to further gain legal experience in these fields of law as well as expand my legal experience assisting business start ups, mergers and acquisitions and also trademark registration and licensing.
Michael R.
Corporate/SEC/M&A Attorney with 25+ years of experience. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Vast knowledge of SEC regulatory framework and M&A strategies.
Rachel C.
Contract attorney who enjoys empowering individuals and businesses with contracts that stand as a fortress against potential disputes and uncertainties. Find peace of mind with prepared agreements ensure that your agreements are enforceable and aligned with your long-term objectives.
August 1, 2023
Mervin F.
Greetings, I am a Miami based attorney, running a solo practice, looking to expand my reach and help some people out.
August 1, 2023
Myrna L.
I am a licensed attorney in California. I worked as a Contract Manager for the State of California for 14 years, negotiating and developing contracts and grants funded by federal and state government. As an owner of a real estate/property management company and real estate asset manager for corporations, non profit organizations and government entities, I negotiated sales and managements of industrial, commercial, and residential properties including development of contracts, leases, subleases, options, and sales agreements. As an attorney, I have worked on contracts, labor/employment cases, landlord/tenant and probate cases.
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Browse Lawyers NowReal Estate
Commercial Lease
Florida
What's permitted alterations in a commercial lease?
I am a small business owner looking to rent a commercial space for the first time. I am considering signing a commercial lease and want to know what kind of alterations are allowed in the agreement. I would like to avoid any potential legal issues or disputes in the future by clarifying what is permitted before signing the lease.
Moss S.
Usually permitted alterations are cosmetic, and non-structural in nature. Often times the Landlord will require the Tenant to submit plans, or in the alternative the lease will describe the fit and finish that would be allowed.
Commercial Real Estate
Commercial Lease
Maryland
What are the notice requirements for terminating the lease?
I am a business owner who recently signed a commercial lease for a property. I am looking to terminate the lease but am unsure of the notice requirements I must adhere to in order to do so. I would like to know what the notice requirements are for terminating the lease so that I can ensure I do not breach the terms of the lease.
Michael C.
The notice requirements for terminating a commercial lease in Maryland are going to vary depending on the specific terms of your lease agreement. Please read and refer to your lease. If your lease is month to month, then it's likely you'll have to provide at least 30 days notice. If your lease is for a longer term (6 to 12 months), it's likely you'll have to provide at least 90 days notice, and may need to pay damages for breach of the lease agreement.
Contracts
Commercial Lease
New York
What's the entire agreement clause in a commercial lease?
I am a small business owner who recently signed a commercial lease for my business premises. I am concerned about the “entire agreement” clause in the lease, as I am not sure what it covers and what the implications are for me and my business. I am looking for clarification on the clause and any potential risks associated with it.
Matthew S.
This is a contractual provision which aims to prevent the party relying on it from being liable for any statements or representations (including pre-contractual representations) except as expressly set out in the agreement. It generally precludes the introduction of parol evidence or evidences of other agreements that are not in writing.
Commercial Real Estate
Commercial Lease
Massachusetts
Can the tenant sublease the property to another business?
I am a business owner and I am looking to rent a commercial space for my business. I am considering signing a commercial lease with the landlord, but I am concerned about my ability to sublease the property to another business. I am trying to determine whether this is an option that is available to me and what the implications would be.
Joseph M.
In Massachusetts, a commercial tenant can sublet or even fully assign the unit to a third party - UNLESS there is a specific prohibition in the current lease. However, even if there is such a prohibition, it might still be worth speaking to the landlord about since it might be mutually beneficial.
Landlord
Commercial Lease
Ohio
Can the rent be increased during the lease term?
I am an entrepreneur who is looking to rent a commercial space for my business. I recently found a space that fits my needs and the landlord is offering a lease agreement. I am wondering if the rent can be increased during the lease term, as this could have a significant impact on my business. I understand that the lease agreement may contain provisions that allow for rent increases, but I would like to confirm this before signing the agreement.
Jeffrey K.
The lease agreement should specifically provide when and in what amount any rent increases would occur. Usually on a lease with a five year term, rent would increase yearly. If you have a build out credit, you may have free rent for a term if you pay for the build out. If it is a net lease, meaning you pay rent and, either taxes, insurance and/or common area maintenance, you would have a base rent plus the other fees that could increase during the initial lease term usually yearly, but it could be more than one time a year if the costs of these items increase. The rent would also likely increase yearly. If the lease is a gross lease, you will have one monthly rental payment that would increase (most likely) yearly.
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ContractsCounsel User
Office lease contract
Location: Illinois
Turnaround: A week
Service: Contract Review
Doc Type: Commercial Lease
Page Count: 8
Number of Bids: 6
Bid Range: $350 - $995
ContractsCounsel User
Commercial Lease Review
Location: California
Turnaround: Less than a week
Service: Contract Review
Doc Type: Commercial Lease
Page Count: 21
Number of Bids: 12
Bid Range: $500 - $1,250
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