Some questions should be asked around the following:
- Protection from competitors (important if you are in a shopping centre or group of shops owned by the same landlord)
- Security of tenure for the desired timeframe
- Permitted use (what you can sell, provide or make on the premises)
- An affordable rent for the duration of the lease (consider your bottom line)
- The outgoings payable and when they are due
- Provisions (clauses) that will not interfere with the day-to-day running of the business or impose excessive financial burdens
- The ability to operate a profitable business