Hellen Ward is the managing director of Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa. She is renowned for her business acumen and regularly teaches business courses at the L'Oréal Academy. Whether you're buying or renting, Hellen explains how you can make the moving process easier.

Salon location
Do a footfall survey when looking at potential locations. Assess how many people pass by and when the busy and quiet times are. Bed down on the pavement with a Thermos flask and check it out over certain days and times of the day. Even if you're relying on an existing clientele coming with you, list the pros and cons of each possible site, such as parking and transport links.

Leasehold vs freehold
If you can afford the initial outlay, purchasing the freehold of a property will always be the most favourable option. Not only are you obtaining a potentially valuable asset, but you are much more in charge of your own destiny. You are also much more likely to obtain finance to purchase a freehold. If freehold isn't an option, examine your lease very carefully and get sound legal advice. Check out the tenant's improvements clauses, repairing and reinstatement provisions, breadth of the user clause and alienation provisions.

Landlord & Tenant Act
Some leases are inside the 1954 Landlord & Tenant Act and some are not. It is preferable for any tenant to be protected by the act as it gives certain rights, normally entitling them to a new lease upon expiry and, if not, it entitles tenants to compensation. But there are some advantages in the way modern leases are structured. For instance, rents can be index linked each year and so increase in line with the Retail Prices Index instead of at five-yearly rent reviews. This can be favourable for a small business that wants to structure and plan its spending and price rises carefully.

Break clauses and rent reviews
Be sure that you plan for your rent review periods as rent can increase with no capping. During strong economic periods, this can lead to huge increases with no maximum. Break clauses are always favourable as they give the tenant a chance to leave. Negotiating break clauses into the lease provides flexibility but usually comes at a cost.

Invest in expertise
A good surveyor is worth their weight in gold. If you're subject to a huge rent increase at review they will fight for and justify your case at arbitration by checking out the market and analysing what commercial rents are being paid by your neighbours.

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