Where to locate new business (Durham, Hillsborough: real estate, rental, loan)

[mthelen]

I'm moving to Durham in July 2009!! I want to start a holistic health center with massage and acupuncture, possibly also esthetician services. Ideally, the location would be ground floor in a walkable small neighborhood. I'm also open to sharing with an already established business.
Does anyone have suggestions regarding best areas of Durham, Hillsborough, Pittsboro or others to locate such a business? My clientele are generally between 30-50 and working adults. I'm also interested to start treating children.
Thanks.

[John4142]

Can't help you sorry, looking to move there myself... but if you need someone working for you with no medical experience i'm up for it

[Francois]

Originally Posted by mthelen

Does anyone have suggestions regarding best areas of Durham, Hillsborough, Pittsboro or others to locate such a business? My clientele are generally between 30-50 and working adults. I'm also interested to start treating children.
Thanks.

See if you can get hold of an American Business Directory (libraries should have them, though they may not have the NC version where you are) and it will list the businesses in a given area according to SIC (Industry Classification Code) code. Or, ask a reference librarian where you are if they can get the NC version through Interlibrary Loan.

This would tell you where other such businesses already are, which are places you'd want to avoid (competition)

You also might contact the NC Small Business & Technology Development Center, which would have the info you're looking for an help you get yours on its feet if you decided to come here and make a go of it.

[dragonfly0428]

I'm sorry to agree with the other posters. There's just too many factors to consider, and the best person to suggest or recommend a location is you.

Find a local real estate person when you get down here that deals specifically with commercial rental properties. Properties change hands very quickly down here, so while one of us could tell you about a place, by the time you're ready chances are it would be gone.