08/21/2026
**Thinking About Opening a Retail Business? Don't Start With the Rent.**
As I’ve been spending more time studying the retail market in Columbus and the surrounding area, one thing I’m realizing is that finding a retail space isn’t as simple as finding the lowest rent.
There are a lot of other things that can make a big difference.
**Location** – Is it convenient for your customers?
**Traffic & visibility** – Can people actually see and get to your business?
**Parking** – Is there enough, and is it easy to access?
**Surrounding businesses** – Are the other businesses around you helping bring in the customers you need?
**Build-out costs** – How much will it cost to make the space work for your business?
**Customer base** – Are the people in that area the customers you're trying to reach?
**Total occupancy cost** – Rent is only one part of what it costs to operate a retail location.
I’m learning that a space can look great on paper and still not be the right location for a particular business.
That’s one of the things I’m really interested in learning more about as I build my focus in **retail real estate in Columbus and the surrounding communities.**
I want to be able to help business owners look at the whole picture — not just hand them a list of available spaces.
If you’re a local business owner, what is the **one thing you would want to know before signing a lease for a retail location?**
I’d love to hear what you think.