Love Where You Work: Location Tips

By Jacquelyn Lynn, Entrepreneur Magazine



Most entrepreneurs start their businesses wherever they happen to be at the time. But when they need to move or expand, business-friendly locations have a strong appeal.

The specifics of what constitutes a business-friendly location may vary depending on your operation, but location consultant Kate McEnroe says, in general, you should look not just for an area with fewer regulations, but also for "a place with a service orientation and a consistent and well-managed set of rules for being in business."

Rob DeRocker, a senior counselor with Development Counsellors International, a PR firm that specializes in economic development and tourism marketing, agrees: "Moving is a very disruptive process, and most companies don't want to do it," he says.

"But when it becomes necessary and when a company is interested in setting up shop in a community, they want to know they're wanted. They want responsiveness by the relevant public and private sector officials. They want to know their questions are going to get answered, even if it turns out to be answers they didn't want to hear."

Evaluating a location for business friendliness includes such issues as financial incentives, taxes and user-friendly government systems. "It should be pretty easy to figure out what permits you need and to get them," McEnroe says. "You should easily be able to figure out what regulations you may be subject to and get through whatever process for approvals you need."