39 Dexter Avenue, Suite 201, Montgomery, Alabama 36104

Before You Sign the Lease

5

Attendees

13

Registered

May 6, 2026

Date

Key Takeaways

Zone First. Then Everything Else.

One of the most important reminders of the session: zoning determines everything. Before signing a lease, attending inspections, or applying for a business license, entrepreneurs must confirm that their intended business use is permitted in the zone where the property is located. A location that looks perfect may be zoned for a completely different type of use.

The Certificate of Occupancy Is Not Optional

A recurring theme throughout the session: the Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is a legal requirement, not a formality. The CO confirms that a space meets all applicable building codes and is approved for the specific type of business operating within it.

Inspections Protect You as Much as They Regulate You

Pat reframed how many attendees thought about inspections. Rather than viewing them as bureaucratic hurdles, he encouraged entrepreneurs to treat inspections as protection — documentation that a space is safe and compliant before you invest in it.

SBOSS is Here Before You Get to That Point

Pat highlighted that many of the costly mistakes entrepreneurs make around leases and inspections happen because they don’t know who to call. SBOSS exists to close that gap — connecting business owners with the right city contacts, resources, and guidance before they reach a point of no return.

 

Before You Sign the Lease reinforced what SBOSS has always believed: informed entrepreneurs make better decisions. When business owners understand the rules of the road before they start driving, they build businesses that last.

SBOSS remains committed to bringing this kind of practical, actionable information directly to the people who need it most. Montgomery’s business community deserves to know what they’re getting into — and to have someone in their corner who can help them navigate it.

"Know before you go. Once you sign, you're in — and getting out costs money. Do your homework first."

Ready to Start Your Business the Right Way?

Connect with SBOSS for a complimentary consultation and access to city resources.

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Small Business Week 2026 opened with one of the most practical conversations a business owner can have: what happens before the ink dries on a lease. Featuring Pat McGilberry, Chief of Inspections for the City of Montgomery, the session walked entrepreneurs through the critical steps that stand between a great business idea and a legally operating location — zoning verification, building inspections, Certificate of Occupancy (CO) requirements, and the fundamentals of lease negotiation.

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