MILL BAY – The Greenstead Consulting Group located in Mill Bay, BC secured a contract to provide lease audit services for the corporate stores of Anytime Fitness, a franchised fitness business headquartered in Minnesota, USA.
According to the CEO of Greenstead Consulting Group, Peter D. Morris, this is part of a comprehensive lease management service that will be extended to the system’s franchisees across North America.
“Our Leasehold Advisory occupier real estate service provides independent business people with the same quality of service as one would find in a large real estate department of an international chain,” said Morris. “Clients, of all sizes, understand that managing their real estate is not a lease transaction every few years. It is a major part of their business that needs to be properly planned, implemented and monitored on a continual basis. To our clients, we are their in-house real estate department.”
Morris noted that a tenant’s lease obligation is typically one of the top three expenses a company incurs; yet most entrepreneurs don’t have real estate expertise and that was the reason he created the service based on his three decades in the industry.
The unique service model Morris developed allows independent tenants and small chains to obtain a bundle of services on a subscription and a la carte basis. For example, Greenstead Consulting Group will manage ongoing lease management services for a small annual fee; while handling infrequent larger issues, such as a tenant relocation negotiation, on an hourly basis as the need arises.
According to Morris real estate is a function that allows the businessperson to conduct their business, but he noted that real estate is the business of the tenant’s landlord. Morris fervently believes all tenants should proactively manage their leases in order to save money and reduce risk.
“The Anytime Fitness franchisor recognized that they could provide enhanced services to their franchisees, who are typically the tenant on the lease,” said Morris.
The lease audit service Morris’ company is providing to the corporate locations reviews the landlord’s billings to the tenant against the provisions of the lease. Greenstead Consulting Group then discusses the review with the landlord and seeks a refund, if a billing error is found.
