When you rent or buy commercial office space, you will want to advertise your presence at the location in one way or another. When shopping for office space, you will generally have myriad options for signage in and around the premises. However, if you rent a commercial office space, there may be restrictions on the placement of signs or even restrictions stating that signs are not allowed and that it is basically a hidden entity from those who pass by. That’s why it’s important to ask about signage options, requirements, and restrictions before signing the lease.
Why is signage important?
First of all, you want the proper signage outside of the leased commercial office space that advertises your business so that customers can find you, whether they are current or potential customers. When you have the right signage, your customer base will improve as will your business revenue. This type of advertising is the easiest way to attract people and also a profitable method.
Why might landlords restrict the use of signs?
There are a few different reasons landlords may restrict the use of signs by their commercial tenants. First, they may not have the space to allow all tenants to post signs, especially if there are many tenants of office space within the building. Also, there may be city restrictions and zoning laws regarding signage, which would not be the owner’s fault, but simply something that prevents the tenant from advertising in the building. Also, the owner may not want a bunch of signs throughout the building and just restrict signs for that purpose only. These are some of the most common reasons that homeowners don’t want signs on their property.
How does the tenant make their registration and presence known?
The best way to post your sign, whether it is a free-standing sign that only promotes your business or your name on a large sign alongside all the other office tenants within the building, is to properly negotiate with the landlord during lease negotiations. . Some owners will be flexible about signage, and in this case, posting your sign isn’t a big deal. However, for other owners who may be more reluctant to allow signs, you’ll want to negotiate this factor before signing the lease.
If the landlord refuses to allow you to put up a separate sign, see if they would agree to add an already posted sign that has other tenants of office space on it. This should not make or break the lease, however if it is as important to you as a tenant, which it should be, try working with the landlord to put up some type of signage. After all, if people don’t know where you are or new customers can’t find your business easily, it will hurt you as a business owner. Negotiation is key, so try to work with the landlord to secure some type of signage along with the lease for your commercial office space.