Tag Archives: commercial

To Buy or To Rent Sydney Office Space? – Five considerations to help you decide

June 2, 2020   Loan Tips

Despite the economic downturn, the Sydney commercial property sector is still looking healthy. As Australia looks poised to come out of the financial slump strong, businesses are taking advantage of current depressed property and rental prices and looking towards the future.

The option of buying or leasing commercial property is certainly something that many small businesses will consider. The decision is something that will come to greatly affect the business in the long run and there are many questions to ask. The individual needs of your business will ultimately determine the best option for you, but here are a number of things that every small business should think about:

Upfront Costs: For some businesses, the most limiting factor to buying office space is the large upfront costs. Down payment on typical Sydney real estate is usually about 25%-30% of the total cost, in addition to fees, inspections and other expenditure. However, if you’re in a position where you can afford to, purchasing a commercial property can pay off in the long run and greatly reduce your future overheads.

Variability: Obviously, one of the most attractive incentives for buying is knowing more accurately the costs you will incur for a certain amount of time. Leasing leaves many businesses vulnerable to the whims of the property sector with some leases pegging rental prices to the Consumer Price Index. However, many areas, such as Grade A office spaces in Sydney CBD, experience much less market fluctuation. Consider the variability of the area and grade of the property you’re looking at.

Appreciation: If you decide to purchase commercial space, you’re adding a valuable asset to your business with the potential for appreciation. Of course, this means you’ll need to do some heavy research to find a property that has good potential and will suit your business’s needs.

Depreciation: With appreciation, comes depreciation and tax considerations. Costs incurred from repairs and renovations to tenanted property are handled differently than private property. Lease holders can claim improvements immediately while owners may be required to depreciate their expenses over time.

Potential Growth: Finding a space that suits your business is very exciting, but what about the future? For many newer businesses, leasing could be the preferred option as it allows them to expand their more readily and with fewer limitations. Keep in mind that if you do outgrow your space, you can always lease the premises to help with the cashflow. Or you can consider initially purchasing a larger space and leasing part of the premises to another business to help cover some of the overheads.

These are just some of the many considerations that will help you decide if buying or renting is right for your business. An attorney or financial consultant will also be able to provide more information that is more specific to your business needs.

Read More

Business Loans – 7 Reasons Not To Use A Bank (Page 1 of 2)

February 14, 2020   Home Mortgage

So you’re a small business owner and you need a business loan to further the objectives of your company. Where do you turn?

When it comes to a business loan or commercial real estate loan, there are many good reasons NOT to turn to a traditional bank. Here are some of the most important reasons. Many small business owners, will find most of these points directly applicable to them.

“THE BANK TURNED ME DOWN”

Of course the biggest reason most small businesses go looking for alternative sources of commercial real estate loans is because they have been declined by the banks. Small businesses are often forced to look for other sources of funding because the banks will not provide it. This is not even listed below, since there are many positive reasons to prefer non-bank funding, EVEN IF YOU CAN get an approval from a bank.

REASON 1 – The minimum loan amount available from banks is too high

In many cases banks will not offer a commercial real estate loan for less than $250,000. So if you only need $100,000 you will be pushed to borrow more than you actually need. Or if your property will not support a $250,000 loan you are out of luck with the banks.

The solution is to look for an alternative funding source that can provide a lower minimum amount. Some commercial financing services will go as low as $100,000, and will often give you better terms and much better service than the traditional banks.

REASON 2 – Many traditional banks will charge you an up-front “commitment fee” just to examine and process your application

Banks usually think they are doing you a favor by processing your application, so they will often make YOU pay for their attempts to win your business.

The solution is to find other established and credible lenders who are eager to offer you better service without charging you a fee for processing your application.

REASON 3 – Most traditional banks will severely limit the amount of cash you can get from a commercial real estate loan.

Banks usually have very narrow rules about where you can use the cash derived from a commercial real estate loan. If you need a cash injection for your business, or want to use the proceeds from a commercial mortgage as a down payment for another property, most banks will not be interested in that type of loan.

Look for a lender who does not restrict your use of the cash derived from commercial real estate loans. Some services, (see links below) can provide commercial loans that give you up to $1 million in cash to use however you want.

REASON 4 – Most traditional banks require detailed business plans before approving a commercial real estate loan.

Many small businesses have business plans, but they are usually not sufficiently detailed to satisfy the banks. As a result, applying for a commercial real estate loan from a bank can turn into a very time consuming and expensive process. Creating the type of business plan that is adequate for the banks will usually cost thousands of dollars.

Read More
« Older posts