1. Zoning Laws & Site Selection

2. Zoning Laws What are zones? –Particular areas in a community designated for a particular use Why do we have zoning laws? –To protect the environment –To protect values of homes and businesses –Define the type and style of signs

3. Land Uses Agricultural Residential Commercial Industrial Public

4. Factors in Site Selection Favorable economic base (main source of income) Financial incentives (advantages that help the business) –Lower taxes –Cheaper land –Employee training programs –Establishment of enterprise zones— tax-favored status to new businesses

5. Population makeup –SMSA—Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas—from Census Bureau’s Census Basics Census tracts—subdivisions of SMSAs containing 4000-5000 people Labor supply –Skills needed –Numbers

6. Criteria for Site Selection Retail Business considerations –Trade area—region or section of community from which you can expect to draw your customers –Considerations within trade area Number & size of competing businesses Nature of the competition Character of the area Accessibility and traffic

7. Service/Wholesale Business considerations –When customers come to you— same considerations as retail business –If customers do not come to you—avoid expensive, high- profile locations

8. Manufacturing/Extraction Business considerations –Nature of your business –Extraction—near whatever extracting –Manufacturing—zoning laws— industrial parks –Concerned with transportation routes, sources of supply

9. E-commerce Located almost anywhere Similar to service & wholesale Look at size of operation to decide how big your space will be

10. Locating Potential Sites Newspapers Realtors Internet Visual surveys Contacts

11. Site Analysis & Decision Making Surrounding Area Analysis Building Evaluation –Exterior –Interior Will you Lease? Buy? Or Build? Advantages of Leasing –Avoid a large cash outlay –Reduce risk –Tax deductible

12. Making your Decision Cost comparison Advantages & disadvantages Desirability

13. Home Business Option Debbie Fields—Mrs. Fields Cookies Steven Jobs & Steve Wozniak—Apple Computers Advantage—financial For certain types of business Factors: –Type of business –Space & equipment available –Effect on others living in community