How to rent retail space that actually sells

Retail rent is built from several parts: base rent (the fixed €/m²/month), often turnover rent (typically 6-12% of sales), a service charge (€5-15/m²/month in shopping centres) and, in most centres, a marketing/promotion levy. Some markets also charge one-off key money. Compare offers on the all-in total, not the base rent alone.

Turnover rent is a percentage of your sales - typically 6-12% depending on category - paid on top of or instead of base rent. It is usually structured as a base rent plus a turnover top-up that only applies once your sales pass an agreed threshold. Always confirm in writing exactly what counts as sales.

No. The unit’s permitted use must allow food-and-beverage use, and the unit needs kitchen extraction that vents above roof level. A shop-use unit often needs a formal change of use to become a restaurant, which can take weeks to months and may be refused - confirm both before signing.

Footfall - the number of pedestrians passing the unit - is the single biggest driver of retail rent, which is why prime pitches cost several times more than quiet ones. Frontage width, a corner position, the strength of nearby anchor tenants and the catchment’s spending power also push rent up.

A high street gives brand presence and walk-in pedestrian trade on a 5-10 year lease. A shopping centre delivers concentrated footfall but charges turnover rent (often 6-12% of sales) plus a marketing levy. A retail park offers large, cheaper units (€8-25/m²/month) with parking, suited to big-box and click-and-collect.