Negotiating Commercial Leases: Best Practices

Published by
Mike Wolson
Mike Wolson
Real Estate Broker
February 3, 2026
Effective negotiation of commercial leases can lead to significant savings and better terms for businesses.

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If this topic connects to an active lease, expansion, or location decision, we can help assess options before commitments are made.
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Here are the exact situations we handle.

Your lease is expiring in 12-18 months

You need to decide: renew, relocate, or renegotiate. We help you understand your leverage and explore all options before you're under time pressure.

You need to understand buildout costs

Dental buildouts are expensive. We help you accurately budget, negotiate TI dollars from landlords, and find spaces that reduce your out-of-pocket costs.

You're opening your first practice location

The commercial leasing process is overwhelming. We translate the jargon, explain what's market-standard, and protect you from expensive mistakes.

You're not sure which suburbs make sense

Naperville vs Downers Grove? Northbrook vs Highland Park? We provide demographic data, competition analysis, and rent comparisons.

You're expanding to a second (or third) location

Growth is exciting but risky. We help you choose the right markets, avoid cannibalizing existing locations, and negotiate better terms with multi-site leverage.

You're stuck in a bad lease situation

High rent? Restrictive clauses? We review your options: assignment, sublease, early termination negotiation, or riding it out strategically.