Tips for Negotiating With a Potential Landlord
http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/managing/article/tips-for-negotiating-with-a-potential-landlord-thursday-bram
Thursday Bram
American Express OPEN Forum
February 10, 2010
Perhaps the biggest points to note in Bram’s tips for negotiating space are that there are many ways to negotiate that have nothing to do with price but can still provide you with value, and to have an attorney (or an experienced commercial broker) assist you with the negotiations and review of the lease agreement. Going it alone can, at best, leave some money on the table and at its worst, obligate you to expensive provisions on the back end of the lease that you don’t realize at the time of signing. Consult the experts. Always.
Take the Long View When Negotiating With Your Vendors
http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/money/article/take-the-long-view-when-negotiating-with-your-vendors-thursday-bram
Thursday Bram
American Express OPEN Forum
January 29, 2010
An insightful piece about vendor management and maintaining relationships with the people that are helping you to grow your business by providing you with access to materials and services. At the core, you want to make sure that you have a mutually beneficial relationship with your vendors, one in which you get a good price and they make a little bit of profit, to ensure that they stay in business and want to continue to work with you. I’ve watched too many short-sighted business owners try to beat up vendors for every last dollar, only to later discover that they don’t get the attention that they want, that short-cuts were taken or that they have been “fired” by the vendor because they can no longer afford to do business with them. Pay on-time (or early to get cash discounts) when you can and be honest with vendors and work out payment arrangements when you can’t. They are your business partners, whether you like it or not, so keeping them in the dark will only injure those relationships long term.
