I want to untangle topic of small business development challenges in Bozeman (or anywhere) from the "life goes on" post because I am interested in hearing other people's experiences.

After moving and expanding a small business very much dependent on brick and mortar, I feel like I could write an epic poem on this topic, but a couple points came up that I will single out.

1) The cost of commercial rental/lease properties in Bozeman IS ridiculous. I think danie pointed this out and you are not joking. We spent four months looking for the right combination of price & value, and to be frank there were times when I almost laughed aloud talking to realtors and landlords.

I mean, it's not 2005 anymore. Do these people not see the number of long-term vacancies of all sorts around town? There must be two dozen commercial spaces within a block of Main between the library and, say, 8th Ave, and rents there come to $19 - $25/square foot before utilities. Some new places like 3rd and Kagy or 19th and Oak go even higher despite the persistent open spaces there.

If landlords are taking notes, each of the half dozen places we seriously considered and rejected as overpriced remain empty today.


2) There was some mention of city regulations/management being a problem, which I have mixed feelings about. Of course the impact fees and taxes reflect in the rent I am complaining about, which is problematic.

Whoever decided it was okay to have streets closed downtown for years at a time should be run out of town on a rail, along with the guy quoted as saying the parking garage is behind schedule because they didn't plan for cold in the winter.

Beyond those blanket gripes, I found my dealings with the various faces of city/county gov't to be surprisingly okay. This may be because I had some idea what to expect from another experience, but generally speaking I wasn't hindered here. But then I wasn't building anything, which may be tougher.

3) I'll leave the experience with the bank out of it, but suffice it to say everything you hear about small business' luck borrowing money these days is completely true.


Anyone else have thoughts?