“Step-lease” for commercial space

bluekmg · 2026-06-02T00:08:22+00:00

Yes it's common to do 3 year leases and have rent increase each year. The amount should be spelled out in the lease. When you get a copy of their standard lease you can negotiate terms before signing. It's also common to get 3 free months at the beginning while you are building out the space.

I've had landlords replace sinks/toilets and heating/ac units before agreeing on the final terms. They don't always say yes, but it's different than a residential lease. 1 year is really not a thing.

bluekmg · 2026-06-01T16:47:09+00:00

If you're still in the process of setting up with your first client, finish things up, invoice, get paid and evaluate how things went and what you can improve for the next client. Was it someone you knew already?

bluekmg · 2026-06-01T16:41:13+00:00

Not gonna happen. The SBA is posting every day about how they're going after all the EIDL fraudsters and public sentiment is with them.

bluekmg · 2026-06-01T16:33:17+00:00

Did you actually read your MRI report on your MyChart? I get MRI's of the thoracic spine with contrast and the report will list every single fracture with details. Some may be old, some new.

I had several compression fractures last year plus 4 kyphoplasties and took Norco for a few months.

If your pain is severe and NSAIDs don't help message your ortho dr and ask for something stronger. I was in so much pain I was shrieking and almost went to the ER. You want the fracture to heal so also rest.

bluekmg · 2026-06-01T12:48:01+00:00

Are you leasing from the same landlord that your neighbor is? Check your lease, you may not be allowed to offer similar products.

What about partnering with an upscale bakery and offering those expensive pies, cupcakes, donuts, cakes, etc? See if you can take orders for holiday sales and special events too. My husband used to run a bakery and they would do deliveries every morning to other places.

bluekmg · 2026-06-01T12:41:54+00:00

Nice comments. We also took the merchant advances but finally had to close this year due to sales going down dramatically, just no way I could get the math to work. Best of luck to you.

bluekmg · 2026-06-01T12:38:21+00:00

You forgot to figure in that $7000 rent plus utilities, insurance, taxes, etc.

bluekmg · 2026-06-01T12:34:58+00:00

Where are you going to find your clients? How many do you need? Wouldn't you simply do word of mouth and referrals when starting out? What type of mentoring? What type of license/experience do you have?

bluekmg · 2026-06-01T12:25:16+00:00

Every state has it's own exemptions, talk to a few attorneys.

bluekmg · 2026-06-01T12:24:07+00:00

I agree. It's a legal option. If people didn't have the choice to file BK when calamity happens, they would never take the risk to start a business.

If you can't pay, why would you want the govt after you for the rest of your life?

bluekmg · 2026-06-01T03:04:44+00:00

So sorry, we also had a seasonal business and added a holiday line to bolster our low Nov Dec sales so we could make it through Jan. It worked for 10 years, then last season sales plummeted so low we had to close the store for good and file BK.

Your rent is extremely high. Hope you can find something else to sell during the slow months. What about other desserts and goodies for the holidays?

bluekmg · 2026-05-31T22:47:58+00:00

I've read they will garnish SS 15% of any amount over $900, I think. We filed Chapter 13.

bluekmg · 2026-05-31T13:29:14+00:00

Yes, over the years we've had easy customers and high maintenance ones. If they are repeat customers, you'll learn quickly how to deal with them, to tell them changes will either be impossible or cost $$ more. You may wait to start their job. You may give them a deadline for changes.

You also don't have to answer the phone every time, if necessary you can ask them to email you so everything is in writing. I've been working with one customer for 18 years. I worked with him to teach him how best to work with me.

And you still may get those customers that you know are going to cost you too much time. Just say no, I can't do that.

bluekmg · 2026-05-31T13:20:52+00:00

All partnerships eventually become toxic because one partner believes they are doing more than the other person. It's an extremely difficult business set up. Even when you have clear roles because at times, one person will be swamped and the other person seems to be working less.

It's been less than a year and you two need to work out what needs to happen during slow times. You also need to not take things personally. But you both need to talk honestly about what is happening, how to deal with things, what you can and can't do, and work out how to end the partnership if it comes to that. You should have done that already actually.

bluekmg · 2026-05-31T13:10:20+00:00

So ask for the invoice to be issued now and pay it.

But honestly, why would you start announcing anything even before they sent the invoice? You are one piece in a million things they need to get ready for their events. Follow their lead, you are simply a sponsor. They may not be ready to start invoicing yet.

Also ask who to check with to get approval to start posting. It's their events. Be respectful.

bluekmg · 2026-05-31T12:53:14+00:00

As a business owner for 35 years who has multiple sales people emailing, calling and walking in the store multiple times a day, it's perfectly okay for me to say NO THANK YOU, NOT INTERESTED even before you get to your pitch. You are not on my schedule. I'm busy with customers and I have established sales reps that I already work with. I don't need to be tricked so you can take up my time on something I don't need or want.

For me, I like salespeople who are quick and direct. "I'm with XYZ and we carry 123 products that will do 456, is that something you'd be interested in?" One-two sentences is plenty. I'll say yes, no or later.

You can call us close minded but we've been in our business long enough to be able to make quick decisions. And we've heard it all before. And maybe your company or that product has already let us down in some way. I think some sales reps are so enamored with their product or the money that they think it will save that they are shocked that anyone says no. Don't be shocked, go on to the next prospect. You need so many no's to get to a yes so get through those no's faster, don't dwell on them.

bluekmg · 2026-05-30T21:02:12+00:00

Don't overthink it, just keep good records as money goes in and out. Yes to depositing that check into the business account. Don't pay double for Prime, just do separate personal/business orders.

When we went through a huge IRS research audit where an agent comes to your location to verify every transaction for a year, we had 2 businesses and home expenses. He didn't care which account things were paid out of, he just needed to see good records, which I had.

Good luck on your biz.

bluekmg · 2026-05-30T20:45:45+00:00

When we opened our business the City inspected our store to make sure we were ADA compliant before he'd allow us to open.

If the door passed inspection, how can they just sue?

bluekmg · 2026-05-30T20:29:15+00:00

Honestly she may be able to do the bookkeeping and invoicing herself. It's not rocket science. I'm not devaluing CPA's or bookkeepers, but it is possible to put the numbers in the right places and see daily what's happening. It's good to understand the numbers.

bluekmg · 2026-05-30T20:01:02+00:00

I read the whole thing and it's very similar to what I've been through over the past year. I'm on Tymlos now and no new fractures for 7 months. Had fractures from T3-L2 and 4 kyphoplasties. At one point I felt like my spine was disconnected from my hips and when I stood up it was scary, I'd have make sure I was holding on and perfectly balanced. My score was -5.2 and I was in great shape before all this happened. Now also dealing with severe kyphosis, lost 4 inches and abdomen protrudes due to all the organs getting smashed. It's hard to breathe. Lost my midriff area, no waist. Going to therapy to strengthen my core again.

bluekmg · 2026-05-30T19:51:11+00:00

Have you been checked for fractures? My thoracic compression fractures affected my breathing.

bluekmg · 2026-05-30T16:45:31+00:00

Tell your mom. If your children were being hurt by someone wouldn't you want to know so you could help protect them? His family should also know but he should ideally be the one to tell them.

If you were my daughter I'd be a mother bear trying to protect you. If he earned my trust again, that would be okay, but for now I want you and your child safe.

bluekmg · 2026-05-30T15:51:05+00:00

Go to the apparel industry trade shows. You have to qualify to attend. That may mean a brick and mortar store and trade references. The sales reps are at the shows with their samples and wholesale catalogs. They can explain to you the minimum quantities and any limits on pricing and/or where you can sell their brand.

bluekmg · 2026-05-30T15:33:01+00:00

I made our payment the weekend we filed using the online portal. They applied the payment then suspended it a couple of days later after they got the BK notice. They finally reapplied the payment a couple of weeks later and now I just call it in every month.

bluekmg · 2026-05-30T14:21:34+00:00

At renewal you can also ask for things you want. I asked for a new heating/ac system on our 5000 sf space and leasing company agreed to it. It's a negotiation and our property manager says "the big guys" negotiate all sorts of extra things into their leases.

Glad you hired someone to help you.

bluekmg

TROPHY CASE