Small Business Climate (lease, property taxes, place to live)

[heeha]

What is the small business climate like in FC?

Would it be hard to start up a small business?

What are some business services that the city lacks and could possibly use?

[cobmw]

Lease space - don't try to build. We constructed one commercial building here and will never do it again. Extreme hassles with city departments and outrageous fees. Next time we need to build we will do it outside the city limits. Taxes on commercial property are 3X the rate for residential. So for a $1mil building plan on $30,000 per year in property taxes.

Water cost is expensive. Last month we used $600 in water to irrigate the grass area that the city demanded we put in when we constructed the building. But in addition to the $600 we were charged another $1000 for stormwater and wastewater for a total bill of $1600. Only six people work in this building.

On the plus side there is a good, stable workforce here. Plenty of available people at just about any talent level. We have had low attrition. FC is seen as a desirable place to live and it draws and keeps people.

If you avoid the building or ownership hassles then I don't think that the actual start up process is harder than anywhere else. Employees at the business license dept are easy to get along with.

Can't be much help on what business to start.

[Mommalot]

Cobmw,

Is water that spends for residential as well? Wouldn't it be expensive to lease as well?