Business idea. Thoughts?

[flanajb]

Whilst searching for a reasonably priced workshop < £400/month. I have come to the conclusion that industrial premises for startup businesses are non existent. It got me thinking whether a market exists for renting a large plot of land and building individual workshop units uses old shipping containers. The workshops could be a semi decent size and potentially on a maximum rental period so as to ensure they are only used for start ups.

Thoughts?

 

[Mr_P]

Planning permission, eye sore, security, insurance, no sub letting. services electric, water and sewage.

Spend thousands on shipping containers , landlord doesn't like the traffic in a year then what.

Landlord likes the idea, does it for himself.

I'd say a non starter unless you owned the land.

Even in this grim Northern town units are eye wateringly expensive, work from home to start with.

 

[artie]

Going through "proper channels" rentals are always expensive.

In this jurisdiction Rates have to be paid even on empty buildings, so it is not unheard of for tenants to get use of a building just for paying the rates. I don't know how this equates with council tax or what ever there is in your area.

 

[flanajb]

Planning permission, eye sore, security, insurance, no sub letting. services electric, water and sewage.

Spend thousands on shipping containers , landlord doesn't like the traffic in a year then what.

Landlord likes the idea, does it for himself.

I'd say a non starter unless you owned the land.

Even in this grim Northern town units are eye wateringly expensive, work from home to start with.

All very valid points. It is damn frustrating that local authorities central government are so short sighted in encouraging startup businesses. I still struggle to understand why business rates are not linked to company profit.

 

[Mr_P]

Because the big boys with clever accountants don't make any.

 

[flanajb]

Because the big boys with clever accountants don't make any.

haha. Good point!

 

[Zeddedhed]

Because the big boys with clever accountants don't make any.

And the little boys who can't compete with the Big Boys don't make any either

 

[Stu_2]

The max rental period, unless something like 5+ years, might be off-putting. Nice idea, though, if you can get the land cheap enough.

 

[marcros]

There was a bit of a craze a few years ago for business incubation units- places where rent was reasonable and assistance on hand for ew businesses to find their feet. It was primarily office based businesses and I have no idea if they are still going.

The problem with these things is that if they can sell the space at commercial rates than it is basically a charitable thing to do it for less than that. And so conflicts with the idea of starting it as a business.

Going back to a previous thread, which this one is related to... could you continue to prototype, and subcontract he manufacture of the items until such a time that they will support the rent on a unit? When you are selling, it makes it easier to invest than when you are working on estimated potential numbers.

 

[RobinBHM]

Thats why many small joinery shops / cabinets shops seem to be located in farms (which also quite often have 3 phase).

Id keep looking in local ads for such units, they are about.