Business start-ups should consider renting office space on a short or medium-term basis in order to play it safe and leave room for a potential investment later on, it has been suggested.
A spokesperson for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Matthew Knowles, said that although a number of factors came into account, it "makes sense" for a new company to rent premises with a view to buying somewhere when the firm is more established.
"Early in the life of a business it often makes sense to go for a short or medium-term rental to hedge the firm's bets," he explained.
"It will obviously depend on many factors though," Mr Knowles added, citing the nature of the business, the location and need to expand as reasons why renting may be a good idea for some.
The FSB now has more than 205,000 members.
