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Step 1
Decide whether your business is appropriate for an incubator. Anywhere from 10 to 40 small businesses might reside in one incubator, most using office space of 1,000 square feet or less. Most likely, a manufacturing business probably wouldn't fit in an incubator.
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Step 2
Find an incubator that suits your business. Some incubators cater to specific industries such as software or environmental consulting, for example.
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Step 3
See what other businesses currently reside in the incubator. You may want to take advantage of the accounting services company that recently moved in. Or you may want to avoid a company that could be a competitor.
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Step 4
Ask what is included in the tenant fees. In some cases, this includes office furnishings, janitorial service, shared use of the fax and copy machine and a parking space.
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Step 5
Make sure you know the terms of the lease. Many incubators expect fledgling businesses to move out after two or three years.







Comments
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 A business incubator is attractive but, as in any other alliance, you lose some of your autonomy and independence. Be sure you and your growing company understand the terms and costs of joining.