An important question that business owners need to ask themselves is ‘Should I buy or lease commercial property?’ The answer to this question is far from black and white.
Both options bring benefits, risks and some financial and practical considerations.
Buying or leasing a commercial property is an important step in the life of your business, so it’s important to carefully consider which is the right option for you.
Here are some considerations for both buying and leasing a commercial property to help you make that choice.
Firstly, the age and stability of your business needs to be considered. If you’re a start-up or on the cusp of your first growth phase, your best option is to lease commercial real estate. Leasing commercial property will help you:
For start-ups, coworking might also be a more suitable option.
Another thing to ask yourself is how much money you have and whether it could be better spent elsewhere, particularly if your future business needs aren’t clear.
For instance, if you’re a growing business, access to working capital can give you the ability to respond to market changes quickly. It may also mean you’re able to invest in things that can fuel business growth and may attract a higher ROI, such as:
And, for start-ups, having access to available capital may help you survive until you break even.
The initial costs to buy commercial property are high. This means that you’ll probably need to secure a loan, which can be a tough ask for a growing company.
Lack of industry footing, capital and assets, typically means that your investment venture is deemed ‘too risky’ in the eyes of a lender. What’s more, you’ll need to be able to commit to a minimum mortgage term and consider acquisition costs, such as professional advisory fees and stamp duty.
One of the staple understandings in business is that change is always around the corner. This adage couldn’t be truer in today’s environment of disruptive change, increased competition, innovative business models and technological advancements. Think about the billion-dollar companies that did not exist a mere ten years ago, including Snapchat, Airbnb, Uber and Instagram.
So, if you’re still a young company with an uncertain future, commercial leasing offers you flexibility regarding:
In many cases, leasing commercial real estate also means that you will not have to split your attention between your core business and the upkeep of a commercial property.
This is particularly relevant for growing companies whose time could be better spent defining brand, vision and purpose, hiring the right staff, listening to customers and building upon long-term business goals.
More mature companies usually have a harder choice to make when it comes to the lease versus buy conundrum. The key to making the right decision is to understand your business and your short and long-term objectives.
If you’ve considered all of the above and are leaning towards buying, here are some more concepts to think about.
Whether you are an owner-occupier or investor, the value of the asset you plan to invest in must stack up against the return.
In general, commercial real estate is considered a safe investment with relatively stable growth and solid returns. For instance, it’s not uncommon to get between 5% and 6.5% net rental yield when you buy commercial property in Sydney, compared to stocks and bonds, which are traditionally more volatile and pay a lower return.
Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to buy commercial property through your SMSF and lease it back to your business at an arm’s length.
This can be an excellent way to build your wealth and is gaining popularity among small business owners due to its tax-effective structure and the protection it offers from creditors.
Some risks come with this option, including a lack of diversification and stricter lending rules. Speak with your accountant or financial advisor to determine whether this option is right for you.
The return on equity is a percentage measure of the return generated on the money that you invest in a property. It increases or decreases depending on the performance of the asset.
Generally speaking, commercial real estate is associated with high return on equity because it’s more likely to be cash flow positive and increase in value over time.
If the costs involved in a specialised fit-out and equipment for your business are high, then buying a commercial property may be a smart investment. Purchasing will guarantee you security of tenure to recoup high capital costs.
Examples of this kind of situation might be laboratories, sound studios, hotels, restaurants, technology and IT, and other usages requiring significant capital expenditure.
It’s important to note that you’re also able to make improvements if you are leasing commercial real estate, provided you get your landlord’s permission. However, you will often be required to return the space to its original condition. This is known as making good, and you’ll need to factor the costs of this in at the end of your commercial lease.
Capital appreciation is the increase in the price or value of an asset over time. To calculate it, you simply subtract the purchase price from the sale price:
Capital Appreciation = Sale Price – Purchase Price
Commercial real estate is considered an ‘appreciating asset’, which means it is expected to increase in value over time. This is because the value of a commercial property increases with rents, and rents increase with inflation. Therefore, if the rents double in value, so too does the worth of the asset. Inflation also pushes up the cost of constructing new properties which, in turn, increases the value of existing real estate.
Something to bear in mind though is if you make a net capital gain in an income year, you’re usually liable to pay capital gains tax (CGT). Speak to your accountant or tax advisor for more information.
You should strongly consider buying if the purchase means you gain a competitive advantage by:
Situations where this might apply include restaurants, hotels and iconic landmarks where exposure benefits the brand.
As a property owner, you’re able to claim tax deductions for expenses associated with owning and operating a business.
This includes the interest on your loan, expenses incurred in the maintenance of the property and depreciation on fittings and fixtures.
Provided you meet the ATO criteria, you may also be eligible for GST credits on the GST paid as part of the purchase price, legal expenses and other costs. This could save a significant amount of money, for example on a $2.4 million purchase you could save $240,000 if the business is a going concern and you meet the GST credit requirements.
Depending on how the ownership structure is arranged, it is also possible to negatively gear your property by offsetting your losses against your income. This will save you money on the amount of tax you have to pay.
It’s important to remember that, as a commercial real estate owner, you will also have some tax obligations to consider. The tax terrain for commercial property is complicated. So, use this guide to get you started and ensure you seek professional advice. You will also need to consider the GST implications.
If you’re thinking leasing is a better option for your business, here are the most important considerations, that just might help you make your final decision.
The equity requirement needed to finance the purchase of a commercial property can be up to 30% of the purchase price, which is a significant expense no matter what your business. This requires a large amount of capital to be outlaid up front, which may cause cash flow issues or other problems.
In many cases, reinvesting this capital into other areas of your business, like marketing or talent acquisition, will yield a stronger ROI than you’re able to generate from a property.
When deciding between buying or leasing, consider first whether it’s better to have your available capital tied up in commercial property, or reinvested back into your business.
Leasing is a good option for businesses that operate in a volatile industry or require the flexibility to move into new markets or expand or contract quickly.
For instance, if your firm experiences periods of rapid growth or decline, short-term leasing means you can easily upgrade or downgrade at the drop of a hat. And, if your business relies heavily on image and branding, leasing will usually offer greater flexibility in terms of location, connectivity, visibility and access.
Commercial leasing also brings its share of tax benefits.
For example, the rent you pay for your property is tax deductible. And, if you make leasehold improvements to your premises to better suit your business requirements, you can claim depreciation on these modifications.
You may also be able to claim those GST credits, provided that you and the owner of the property register for GST.
Depending on how you negotiate outgoings, leasing may mean you avoid certain costs that come with owning property, including:
Though commercial real estate is widely considered a ‘safe investment’, it does come with a certain amount of risk that leasing sidesteps. For instance, commercial properties:
Whether you are a young, growing or established business, the answer to the question: should I buy or lease commercial property, can only be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
The key to making the best decision is to understand your current, short-term and long-term business demands, as these will steer you towards the best course of action.
If you are leaning towards investing in commercial real estate in Sydney, take a look this checklist before you buy to ensure you dot your Is and cross your Ts. Leaning towards leasing? You might want to wrap your head around commercial leasing guarantees.
Still unsure? With over 25 years’ experience in Sydney CBD commercial property leasing and sales, TGC is passionate about connecting people with property and working with you to secure the best property for your unique situation.
Get in touch with our commercial real estate agents today and discover how our experience, local knowledge and expertise can help you make the best commercial property decision for your business.
