When you’re running a business and business is good, it’s typically time to upgrade your space. You’re hiring new employees, you’re adding new machines or workstations, and you simply need a place that can actually fit all of your newfound growth. It’s a necessary part of growing as a business, and that means you’ll have to sign some - well, necessary paperwork.

Signing paperwork is no one’s idea of fun, but when it comes to commercial leasing forms - those same forms that will help you upgrade that space we were talking about - you’ll definitely want to give it your full attention. Why? Because commercial leasing forms are among the most important forms you’ll fill out for your business. They represent major commitments (after all, commercial real estate does cost a pretty penny), and they represent a new expense that your company is going to have to fulfill. So let’s take a closer look at these forms and understand exactly what to expect.

One of the first things you’ll spot on a lease form is what the agreement is actually for - in terms of dates and real dollars. Many forms will have blank spaces where details can be filled in. For example, a default commercial lease form might have a blank space where a company’s name - in this case, your company - needs to be filled in. In some commercial spaces, they might simply write up new forms every time, but other office spaces might also use these easy-to-print forms. You’ll also see the details like the expected dates of the lease - the beginning to the end - and then the amount of money you’ll be expected to pay each month.

The rest of the lease will essentially deal with the terms of the lease - what the property manager expects from you and what you can expect from the property manager. Depending on the type of business you run, you might also expect to see some details about the specific type of business you’re limited to, although many property managers will give you a tremendous amount of leeway in this regard; they’re often happy that someone is simply doing business in their property.

This is where a commercial leasing form can get very long and very wordy, but stick with it and even take the lease home with you and take notes, if you like. Understanding things in plainer language can be a great way for you to figure out exactly what’s in the lease and actually remember it, which can be a major challenge for a great deal of people.

In many cases, you’ll already be aware of what’s in the lease because a property manager is very informative and all of the negotiations have been handled anyway. Should you sign on the dotted line right away? Of course not! Simply read it over yourself and make sure everything as the manager said it would be. Once a commercial lease form is signed, the company is ready to move in and conduct business. And their first month of rent may be due already!