From: SpCelebrations@aol.com
Date: Fri, 13 Apr 2001 11:04:17 EDT
Subject: Re: Going into a retail store?
To: bnrballoons@hotmail.com, balloondeco@balloonhq.com

Paula - make sure you reveiw your lease very carefully.  Have an attorney 
review it if possible.  You should think now about how your business will 
need to grow in order to asborb rent increases built into your lease.  Also, 
depending upon where the store is located, you might be responsible for a 
percentage of each year's Common Area Maintenance (CAM) and the overall real 
estate taxes paid by the landlord on the total property.  Your share is based 
on the percentage of the total your shop occupies.  Things that are typically 
included in CAM are landscaping, snow removal, window washing, salaries of 
management company staff that service the location like engineers, cleaning 
services, etc.  This can end up being a substantial amount.  You don't want 
to be surprised!  A good attorney will help you build in a cap on this amount 
over your base year .... you want that!  

Also, consider things like office supplies, especially toner for printers, 
kitchen supplies, bathroom supplies if you provide them, etc.  Don't forget 
postage. Include a budget for printing/copying, etc. for marketing materials. 
 

Those are the immediate things I can think of.  

How exciting for you!  I wish you the best of luck .... go for it!

Marcy Kozar
Splendid Celebrations, Inc.
Potomac, MD