5 Questions to Ask Before You Sign Your Next Lease

Most businesses treat a lease like a piece of paper. Sign it. Move in. Hope for the best.

But your lease is not just a legal agreement. It is a commitment that can either propel your growth or quietly strangle your margins. Before you sign, ask these:

1. Are we solving for today or designing for tomorrow?

If your workplace only fits your current headcount, you have already outgrown it. Think in 3 to 5 year cycles. Your lease should reflect your future state, not just where you are right now.

2. What is the true cost per person, not just per square metre?

Landlords sell by the metre. But smart leaders think in people. Calculate the total cost of ownership, including fitout, tech, furniture, energy and attrition. Then divide it by the number of people who can effectively work in that space.

3. How flexible is the floorplate to support change?

Open plan is not a strategy. Does the space give you options? Can you scale up or down without redoing everything? Flexibility is the new premium.

4. How will this location impact our talent and brand?

Where you choose to work sends a message to your team, your clients and the market. It is not just geography. It is identity.

5. Have we mapped the workspace to the business model?

Are you operating hybrid? Client-facing? Confidential? Mobile? The workspace should reflect how value is created in your business. Most do not.

We help clients tackle these questions before the cost hits their bottom line. Because the smartest lease decisions are backed by a clear workplace strategy. Without it, you’re not investing. You’re gambling.