In this article, you'll learn:

• Key lease clauses like release upon assignment and rent escalation.
• Risks of personal guaranty, sublease, and termination clauses.
• Protecting your interests with signage, parking, and expense clauses.
• How to avoid common lease traps and strengthen your position.

Signing a commercial lease is a major step for your business. Hopefully, it turns out to be an exciting new opportunity that propels your organization to new levels of success. If the process goes well, you'll have space that better matches your brand, accommodates your growth, saves you capital, and more. However, if you sign a bad lease, you could end up paying too much, find yourself in a bad space, or both for years to come. 

Commercial lease documents are complex and lengthy, but it's important that you still carefully read every word to ensure that you completely understand what you're agreeing to. Some clauses in the lease are especially important to take note of as you read the document.