How Houston small business owners can match with their next space

Between 2017 and 2019, the Houston metro area added about 251 new residents per day. With this population boom comes an uptick in businesses, and whether new or established, chances are that some of them are seeking out a new office, warehouse, retail, or — more recently — coworking/flexible space.

How do they find it? By using TenantBase to find, then lease or purchase, their ideal office space. The commercial real estate brokerage has its own proprietary technology that makes this step much easier for small businesses and startups.

"TenantBase is not your typical commercial broker. We are widely experienced advisors who can help small and medium-size business think through and understand the options and economics of leasing and even acquiring commercial space," says TenantBase Houston senior advisor Ali Naraghi. "We are local gurus who not only have relationships within the brokerage and landlord community, but have a good sense of the trends and pulse of the dynamic and diverse Houston market."

"Most tenant rep brokers focus on landing big clients and don't really spend much time helping the home-grown businesses that make up the fabric of our city," says TenantBase advisor Andrew Nguyen. "Those businesses are left to work with brokers who have a responsibility to negotiate in favor of the landlords, and without anyone to look out for their best interest. We have been especially successful with helping growing businesses and startups who are trying to negotiate their first or second lease."

TenantBase offers its users a new experience built around technology, with a personal touch when it comes to customer service. In the same way that you might search for a new apartment or house online, you can now search for your next commercial space.

Narrow it down by neighborhood or rely on your in-house, local advisor, who is always available to help with your search. And the best part is that the service is offered at no cost to the client.

"The office market in Houston is healthy and Houston's economy is more diverse than ever," says Ashley Myers, senior advisor at TenantBase Houston. "It's a tenant's market with a 'flight to quality' theme being led by various landlords offering newly remodeled properties. Amenities are more lifestyle-focused and offer tenants more of a work/play balance onsite. The industrial market is leading the charge in terms of demand, and retail remains competitive."

The company's proprietary software streamlines not only the office-search process, but also lease negotiations so that you don't have to waste any time while still ensuring you get the best deal for your business. And the TenantBase team is always there to assist in any way they can.

"I pride myself on being able to help someone who has struggled with finding the right space through other means, either because they were not taken seriously, just did not know how to find it, or had bad representation," says Naraghi. "Most of my clients have had difficult experiences, and every time I'm able to facilitate a space for someone who previously has not been able to, it's satisfying."

TenantBase advisors take time to learn how each business operates so they can figure out how to best house each unique client. For business owners, that means being able to focus on their work while someone else deals with the real estate — a time-saver indeed.