Resources

Finding a Space & Getting Help

LoopNet — the most widely used commercial listing site. Good for getting a real sense of asking rents in a submarket before a broker gives you a number.

SCORE — free one-on-one mentoring from retired and working business owners, backed by the SBA. Worth doing before you sign anything, not after.

Cost & Planning Tools

BuildoutIQ — a quick way to get a rough buildout cost estimate and photorealistic layout before you're far enough along to have a contractor bid it properly. I use it as a sanity check before TI negotiations, not as a replacement for a real bid.

SBA Business Guide — the federal government's own step-by-step guide to writing a business plan, choosing a legal structure, and getting licensed. Free, and a good starting point before you talk to an attorney or accountant.

SBA Loan Programs — overview of 7(a), 504, and microloan programs if you're financing a buildout or leasehold improvements.

Square — point-of-sale hardware and software that works for retail, restaurants, and salons alike. What I point people to when they ask what to use on opening day.

Compliance & Regulations

ADA.gov — Title III — the actual federal accessibility requirements for businesses open to the public. Read this before your architect tells you what it says.

IRS Small Business & Self-Employed Center — tax basics for sole proprietors, LLCs, and small corporations, straight from the source.

FoodSafety.gov — a good jumping-off point for food service permitting if you're opening a restaurant or anything with a commercial kitchen; your county health department will have the specific local requirements.

Market Data

U.S. Census Bureau — Economic Indicators — retail sales and business formation data, useful for backing up assumptions in a business plan.

BLS — Inflation & Consumer Spending — for tracking construction and materials cost trends when you're budgeting a buildout.

Get in Touch

I don't have a contact form set up yet. If you spot an error, have a correction, or just want to point out something I got wrong, mentioning it wherever you found the article is the fastest way to reach me for now.