Research Hot Topics
Location, Location, Location-Part 1

When you consider starting a new business, you have to consider location.  More and more entrepreneurs are recognizing the benefits of starting a business in a small town. A few cost savings examples:
Purchase Power: “$1/square foot – that’s the purchase price, not the rental rate.”  We hear statements similar to this a lot as we tour the rural U.S.  You can get a cardboard box for that in metropolitan areas. A Colliers International Study that shows warehouse space in San Diego warehouse costs $7.60/sf compared to $4.60/sf in Chicago and $4.30/sf in Indianapolis. The rent would have been from $2.50 to $3.50/sf in my home town of 12,500. In New York City the cost to park a car is $18/hour. In Charlotte it is $15/day. In small towns it is zero. For a 250 day work year, that is a $36,000 savings in the small town vs. NYC.
Rural Tax Advantage: Nationwide, rural areas average a $5000-less property tax bill for a $1 million commercial building than urban areas. (Illinois Tax Foundation)
Future Projections:  In a recent Brookings Institute study they suggest modern industrial processes could shift to more rural surroundings stating, "It is conceivable that much of the 7 billion square feet in industrial space that will need to be replaced and the 1 billion in new square feet needed to meet growth will occur away from where they presently exist. The impact on communities beyond the suburban fringe may be significant especially considering spin-off development."
Keep these savings and benefits in mind when you are looking for your business location.  Let us know if you can find anything competitive in a metro area!