Start with the customer journey
Think about the trips that bring customers past the premises: shopping for everyday essentials, looking for a gift or browsing beauty and accessories. A busy address alone does not explain whether those visits fit your proposed store.
Visit the location at different times on a weekday and a weekend. Record where people enter, the direction they walk and whether the storefront is visible from that route. Ask the landlord when any quoted foot-traffic figures were measured and which entrance or zone they cover.
Mall or street location: questions to compare
| Topic | What to review |
|---|---|
| Visibility | Which approaches face the storefront? Check signage positions, sightlines and the space around the entrance. |
| Access | Consider walking routes, transit, parking where relevant, and access for deliveries. |
| Neighboring stores | Describe the surrounding retail mix and the reasons customers visit the area. |
| Operating conditions | Ask about required opening hours, delivery windows, service charges and any restrictions on store works. |
| Seasonality | Separate normal weekly trading patterns from holiday peaks, events or temporary construction. |
Record usable space, not just the quoted area
A floor plan is more useful than a single square-foot figure. Separate the customer sales area from storage, staff space and any back-of-house facilities. Mark columns, steps, entrances, emergency exits and fixed equipment.
Show the clear width of the storefront, ceiling height, delivery access and the condition of the floor, lighting and electrical services. These details help the team discuss a layout and understand what fit-out work may be needed. No universal US minimum store size is confirmed on this website; a proposed format is assessed individually.
Prepare a property brief
- City, state and the proposed address or shopping center.
- A dated floor plan showing dimensions and usable sales and storage areas.
- Recent photographs of the storefront, interior, neighboring shops and delivery access.
- Asking rent, other stated occupancy charges, available date and the source of those figures.
- Your preferred opening period, the current condition of the premises and any known work restrictions.
- Your operating team, relevant experience and whether the proposal is for one store or several.
Compare a shortlist consistently
Use the same information for each property. For example, a lower-rent site may need more work or offer less usable sales space. Keep rent, one-time preparation costs and continuing operating costs in separate columns so they are not confused.
Mark missing information as unknown instead of estimating it as zero. Keep the date and source alongside landlord figures and plans, and explain what matters most to your proposal: access, layout, visibility or timing. This creates a clearer starting point for discussion; it is not a forecast of sales or returns.
You can inquire before you have premises
If you are still searching, share the city or state you know, the type of retail setting you prefer and your proposed operating role. You do not need a signed lease to send an initial expression of interest.
A location inquiry does not approve a site or reserve a territory. The team can discuss what additional information is needed before a project progresses. Read the franchise overview for the investment topics and next steps to review.