Overview

You can run your business in a variety of physical locations, depending on:

• Regulatory requirements
• Type of business

Some businesses, such as restaurants, need a commercial property.

Other businesses can be home-based or mobile.

Property type options

• Mobile business
• Home-based business
• Coworking space
• Commercial property

Mobile

A mobile business is one whose business model requires moving from place to place.

• Examples include gardening, housekeeping, and food truck operation.
• If you do not have an office as a home base for your mobile business, your home address can be used as the business address.

Benefits

• Fewer business expenses than a commercial property
• The ability to work at multiple locations throughout the city

Home-based businesses

This is a business you operate out of your home.

Benefits

Fewer costs compared to a business located in a commercial property.

Considerations

Make sure your business type is allowed in your home.

See zoning requirements for home-based businesses

Coworking space

Coworking spaces provide a professional alternative to the loneliness of a home office.

These spaces offer a community of startup founders, entrepreneurs, professionals, freelancers, and remote workers.

Benefits

• Opportunities to network, share ideas, and gain new business leads in a coworking space.
• Access to high-speed internet, conference rooms, and flexible work spaces from private offices to open seating.

Begin your search

Here are some coworking spaces in Minneapolis.

• Work at Coco, multiple locations in the Twin Cities
• Flock, South Minneapolis
• The Impact Hub, Downtown Minneapolis
• Industrious, Downtown and North Loop
• New Rules, North Minneapolis
• Northside Economic Opportunity Network, North Minneapolis
• WeWork, Downtown Minneapolis
• WorkAround, Southeast Minneapolis

What it is

• A physical location such as a storefront or office building
• Also known as “bricks and mortar”

What to consider

• Square footage needs for your business
• Internet needs for your business
• Customer and employee parking needs for motorized vehicles and bicycles
• Walkability, bikeability and access to public transit
• Cost of rent, including remodeling
• Cost of new building construction

Resources

• Minneapolis parking area design and maintenance requirements
• State and City building codes
• Certificate of Occupancy
• Tips for negotiating a commercial lease
• Walk Score tool