Smart Tax Featured in The Wall Street Journal, Small Business Section

Today, Smart Tax Franchise was featured in The Wall Street Journal, in an article discussing small business expansion throughout 2009 and into 2010. Despite the economic climate where many small businesses are experiencing slow development and a decline in customers, Smart Tax is experiencing rapid growth. In the article, I discuss certain methods for finding retail locations for lower costs and how I came across some of our Smart Tax locations. A portion of the article can be read below and you can find a link to the entire article below as well.

Location, Location and More Location
With vacancy rates up and rents down, it's a great time to grab extra space if you need it
By Raymund Flandez

For some small-business owners, the terrible economy holds an unexpected silver lining: It's a lot easier to get more space.

As hosts of businesses close their doors, vacancy rates are soaring and rents are plummeting. So, small companies that are still on their feet—and looking to expand—suddenly have lots of leverage with landlords. And they're making the most of the chance, snaring prime locations and larger spaces, often at a fraction of the regular asking price.

Crisis and Opportunity

In early December, for instance, Sindi Major-Martinez, president and chief executive of Sindel Technologies LLC, moved her IT-services firm to a new location in Phoenix. At the new building, she's paying $21 a square foot for 4,400 square feet—versus $23 per square foot for 3,000 square feet in her previous lease. It's an even better deal considering that the new location was valued at $29.50 a square foot recently, and the current rent also covers utilities and cleaners.

"It really emphasizes that there are good things out there, even though things are really bad," says Ms. Major-Martinez, who estimates she'll save about $60,000 in the first year.

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