She had run pop-ups for years. Now she was ready for a place of her own. A real space in Bay Village where her clients could come in.

But she had never rented a space. She did not know where to start. She did not know who to call. She did not know how to talk to a landlord.

Five weeks after her first tour, she had a signed lease. Here is how.

How fast can you rent space in Bay Village?

It can go fast. Her first tour was in early May. Ten days later, we sent the landlord a letter of intent. That is a short letter with the main terms you want. Think rent, and how long you will stay. She signed the lease in early June.

That is about five weeks, start to finish. There were no big snags.

Why did this lease move so fast?

She was ready. We got her ready before the landlord asked for a thing.

Landlords want proof. They ask for your business plan. They ask for your money records. They ask for your sales goals. That is your best guess of what you will sell each month.

When the landlord asked, we had it all. We sent it right away. Our letter was strong. Only a couple of terms had to be worked out. Then we went to the lease.

“It was the level of preparation that moved the deal so fast.”

In Kas’s words

Why is Bay Village space so hard to get?

Shops and offices in Bay Village are in high demand. Right now, there is almost no open space.

So when a space comes up, you have to act right away. If you want to stay in Bay Village, you can’t wait.

What does a landlord want to see from you?

A landlord wants to know you will last. You have to show that you run a good business. You have to show it makes money and will keep going.

She was not ready to pitch her idea to a landlord yet. So we started at the very start. What is she? What does she offer? What has she done before? Then we built her sales goals.

She told me, “I’d recommend you to anyone!”

What this means for you

1. Write your story down. Say what you offer and what you have done so far.
2. Get your numbers ready before you tour. Have your money records and your sales goals in hand.
3. Be ready to move. Open space in Bay Village is rare. When one comes up, act right away.

My take

Getting ready is the most important part. In Bay Village, a chance like this does not come up often.

Want space in Bay Village? Tell me what you need in the form below. We can start with your plan and your numbers. See more Bay Village articles, or read what to prepare before you tour.