Site Selection Process
You already know that location is key to your success. This section addresses specific details about what to look for in a location as well as the site and lease approval processes. As a BHRC Franchisee, you are responsible for learning about and abiding by all federal, state, and local laws and regulations that apply to the operation of your business.
Process Flow Chart
Brokers
A commercial real estate broker can be of tremendous assistance in finding a location for your center. The quality of your broker will directly translate into the quality of sites that you are offered as consideration for potential leasing. You will be connected with our
national commercial real estate experts at Morrow Hill. Morrow Hill will provide guidance through the site selection and lease negotiation process. In general, when considering a real estate broker, you want to look for a broker that has the following qualifications:
- A Commercial Real Estate broker license.
- An established network and track record in your specific market.
- Understands the constantly changing availability of commercial space.
- Has a strong understanding of the inventory of current and upcoming sites in your market.
- Can provide you with a book of multiple site opportunities in your given market/trade area, and work with you closely as you research and ultimately engage in negotiating a lease.
- Their fees are paid by the developer/shopping center, not the franchisee.
- Can provide to you at a minimum:
- Demographics
- Rental comparisons
- Competitive research
Site Criteria
There is a wealth of information that your broker can provide to you in assessing the viability of the different sites you will consider for
development. Demographic information detailing population, average income, number of corporations, etc. can be easily accessed to provide you with critical information as to the population density around your center. Morrow Hill will provide this information.
In addition to demographic information, look at neighborhood traffic generators, such as other retailers that draw people – especially women 35 years and older - to the area. Demographic information detailing population, average income, types of surrounding businesses, accessibility, etc., provide you with critical information as to the population.
Locations may be single or multi-level depending on space availability and configuration and may be in Class A retail space.
Note: You need to drive and/or walk around the area in which you are planning to open your location. Do not just rely on your broker; you need to understand the walk-by and drive-by traffic and the nature of the neighboring businesses.
Location Criteria
Zoning and Permitting - Determine location regulations, ordinances, licenses and approvals and permits, including conditional use permits, required to build on the site
Location Requirements
Download the form at the end of this table and give it to your broker.
Site Evaluation
Once you feel confident about specific locations, it is required that a representative from the BHRC Development Team visit your market and review the locations and areas with you. BHRC will provide franchisees with one site acceptance visit for the franchisee’s first location only.
Should you desire an additional site visit or if we require you to find an additional site, you must pay for all expenses of our site review visit and a fee of $2500 may be imposed (Item 11 of FDD). For this reason, we recommend that you identify 2-3 locations for our review on our first visit.
You or your broker will communicate with the BHRC Development Team to arrange an area visit that is mutually convenient for everyone’s schedule. You and our broker must have the BHRC Site Assessment Review Form submitted for each location prior to a visit.
Once you have found a location(s) that meets our minimum criteria to initiate the review and acceptance process, please send the following Site Packet to us for each location:
- Photos of the exterior and interior space and of adjacent storefronts.
- A completed Site Selection Assessment Form.
- If the landlord does not provide a depiction of the space, please provide a rough drawing of the space and proposed layout. Please note approximate square footage of each area on the drawing.
BHRC Franchising, LLC site evaluation input is limited to verification that the site meets its criteria. Our input is not a guarantee of performance or that the location will be successful.
Remember do not sign any legal documents with a landlord until you are able to proceed with the accepted location and your lawyer has reviewed the lease.
Site Assessment Form
