If you run a small business, chances are you’ve only ever leased your space. That’s just how the market is set up — leasing is the default, and the idea of owning commercial real estate sounds like a massive, complicated investment out of your reach. There’s a lot of myths about owning commercial real estate out there, some of them with larger slivers of truth than other. Sure, it can be out of your reach in certain situations… if you’re trying to buy an office park and sublease all the other units, it can be a bigger undertaking than you’re really ready for. Or maybe you need flexible warehouse space… but only come across massive structures that are way more footprint than you require.

Whatever the reason, the market is set up for most small businesses to lease their space.

Even some brokers assume you need millions in cash to even consider buying.

But it’s simply not true.

At Personal Warehouse, we work with small business owners who come in ready to sign a lease — financials in hand, application filled out — only for them to realize that ownership is actually within reach. And more often than not, once they see the numbers, they choose to buy instead.

So today, let’s break down the biggest myths about owning commercial real estate and why it might be one of the smartest moves for your business.

Filmed at our Buford, Georgia model… yes, the one with the pool table I still can’t play on

Myth #1: Renting Is Just The Cost Of Doing Business

For many years, this was kinda true. There wasn’t really a lot of options on the market for smaller businesses to own their space outright.

It’s a problem our founders ran into 25 years ago when they needed light industrial flex space and couldn’t find anything that was both 1) not a crappy old building, and 2) not a monstrous warehouse.

That’s quite literally where the idea of Personal Warehouse was born, because rent shouldn’t be a prerequisite for small businesses. You should be able to own your space if you want to, and there ought to be flexible, smaller options on the market to make that idea a reality. This is one of those myths about owning commercial real estate that started as a kernel of truth… but simply isn’t the case any more.

Much as renting an apartment pays your landlord’s mortgage (and then some), when you lease your commercial space, you’re likewise paying your landlord’s mortgage for them too (while accruing no equity yourself). And rent isn’t a fixed cost… it goes up. Usually every year.

Almost every lease has built-in escalators (typically around 3% per year), meaning you’ll be paying more and more over time.

When you own, your costs are predictable. Your mortgage payments are set, and you’re building equity in your own business — not someone else’s.

One of my favorite ownership stories? A business owner initially came to lease a unit, but after running the numbers, they bought two instead — one for their business and one to lease out. Their tenant now covers their mortgage, giving them an additional revenue stream while they’ve locked down the footprint for future expansion, whenever that day comes.

That’s the kind of flexibility ownership provides.

Myth #2: You Need a Ton of Cash to Buy

One of the most common things I hear from new buyers is, “I thought I needed millions of dollars to even get in the door.”

Nope.

This is one of the hardest myths about owning commercial real estate to dispel… people really have this mindset ingrained before they come to us.

But, for one thing, the prototypical Personal Warehouse unit costs around $380,000 (obviously not everywhere all the time, but that’s a pretty standard starting price for a new 1,300 sq. ft. unit in a new development)

So when it comes to the lease vs. buy option on that Personal Warehouse, we typically see two financing options on the purchase route:

→ SBA Small Business Loans – Only requires about 10% down, making it a great option for newer businesses. The interest rate is slightly higher, but it’s a solid way to start building equity instead of throwing money away on rent.

→ Commercial Bank Loans – Requires around 20% down, but the trade-off is lower interest rates and lower monthly payments. Most of our owners compare their loan payments to what they’d pay in rent and realize they’d actually be saving hundreds of dollars per month by owning.

Want real proof? I recently worked with a small business that had been leasing for three years. They were actually looking for a new lease because their landlord had recently told them, “You have 30 days to move out.”

No real reason given. No backup plan. No flexibility. They had 30 days to find a new home for their business, and there was nothing they could do about it.

They came to us, fully prepared to lease again… but after walking through the purchase numbers, they realized they could buy — giving them total control over their space and no risk of getting forced out again.

It took a little longer than 30 days to close, but in the end, they got the stability and security they wanted.

Myth #3: Commercial Loans Take Forever to Close

A lot of people assume buying a commercial space means months of waiting on banks, endless paperwork, and a slow, painful process.

Nope, nope, nope!

We’ve built Personal Warehouse to make the process simple — it’s honestly easier than buying a house in a lot of ways. Most of our buyers close in about three weeks, and I’ve even seen lenders we work with turn around a loan in as little as a week and a half.

(again, not always and not everywhere, but that’s a pretty standard timeframe we see across projects)

We also have a great network of lenders who already understand our projects, making approvals faster. But if you have a bank you love working with, we’d love to work with them too.

Myth #4: Commercial Ownership Is Only for Big Corporations

This is one of the biggest misconceptions out there. Most people assume commercial real estate is reserved for massive companies with huge budgets. Or wealthy investors building a property empire.

But Personal Warehouse was designed specifically for small businesses. Our whole model is built to provide flexibility, stability, and affordability so small business owners can stop throwing money away on rent and start building equity for themselves.

We’ve developed over 30 projects across seven states, constantly refining our process to remove obstacles and make ownership accessible. Whether you’re looking for a space to run your business, store your vehicles, or even lease to a tenant for additional income, there’s an ownership path that fits.

Bonus: The Tax Advantages of Ownership

Another benefit that doesn’t get talked about enough? The tax perks.

A lot of our owners take advantage of IRS Section 179, which allows for significant tax write-offs on their space. Because our properties are on a ground lease, the tax advantages can be even more favorable. I always recommend talking to a CPA about what that could mean for your specific situation, but I’ve seen owners significantly reduce their tax liability just by switching from leasing to ownership.

Is Ownership Right for You? Let’s Talk.

At the end of the day, ownership isn’t just about having your own space — it’s about control, security, and long-term financial benefits. If you’re tired of rent hikes, uncertain lease terms, and zero equity, it might be time to consider buying.

If you want to learn more, reach out anytime — call, email, or if you’re in Georgia, come visit me at one of our projects. You can also check out personalwarehouse.com for more info on our locations, history, and future projects. And of course, follow us on LinkedIn for more insights like this.