Signing a commercial lease for the first time is exciting — and the excitement is exactly why important clauses get skimmed instead of read. Here are five that deserve a second look before you sign.

**1. The use clause.** This defines exactly what you’re allowed to do in the space. A use clause written too narrowly can box you in if your business evolves — a restaurant lease that only permits “sit-down dining” may not cover adding a bar or delivery operation later without an amendment.

**2. Assignment and subletting.** If your business needs change — you want to bring on a partner, sell the business, or downsize — can you assign the lease or sublet the space? Many leases require landlord consent, and the standard for when that consent can be withheld (or not) varies widely.

**3. Common area maintenance (CAM) charges.** Your base rent is often just part of the cost. CAM charges for shared maintenance, insurance, and taxes can add substantially to your monthly obligation — and the clause defining how those charges are calculated and capped (or not) deserves close attention.

**4. Personal guarantees.** Many landlords require the business owner to personally guarantee the lease, especially for a new business without an established credit history. That means a lease default could expose your personal assets, not just the business entity’s. Whether — and how much — to negotiate down a personal guarantee is worth discussing before you sign, not after you’re already committed.

**5. Default and cure provisions.** What exactly counts as a default, and how much time do you have to fix it before the landlord can act? A short cure period paired with a broad definition of default can leave very little room for error.

None of these clauses are automatically dealbreakers — but going in aware of what they say, rather than discovering it later, changes the negotiation entirely.

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