1: Clean up your credit. Prospective landlords and wholesalers alike will want to run a copy of your credit report. Try to pay off high balance debts on your credit cards, and close unnecessary store accounts. Your security deposit for your lease space will be based on your credit report. Most landlords will require first month's prepaid rent, and two months of rent as security deposit. Be prepared.

2: File a corporation and get a sales tax ID. You may want to consider having whomever has the best credit to be named "president" on the corporation, as your corporation name will be signing a lease for retail space and the president will be signing the lease. Additionally, having your corporation name and a sales tax ID established prior to speaking with prospective landlords and wholesalers shows that you are serious and ready to move forward.

3: Determine your square footage requirements. A typical retail store will fit comfortably into 900-1,200 square feet of space. This will give you plenty of room to display equipment on the wall space, and have racks for clothing. If you have larger equipment displays, consider going up to 1,400 square feet. Remember, the higher the square footage, the more money in rent.

4: A typical shopping center lease will be comprised of two components: Base Rent and CAM. CAM stands for Common Area Maintenance, and includes the property's taxes, insurance, and maintenance fees that are prorated and passed down to the tenants of the shopping center. A lease that includes base rent and CAM is called a NNN (Triple Net) lease. A lease that is only comprised of a flat fee per month is called a gross lease. Always be sure to ask what type of lease you will be entering into before negotiations get serious.

5: Before you sign anything, always ask for a Letter of Intent. A Letter of Intent, or LOI, will detail the basic terms of your lease, from rent schedule to security deposit. This document will allow you to negotiate on your base rent numbers, as well as free rent.

6: Don't be afraid to ask questions or consult an attorney prior to signing a lease. A few little sentences in a huge lease can make your tenancy a living hell. It pays to consult a qualified attorney, or trusted commercial real estate agent.

In terms of setting up an online front, I use Web My Style at http://www.avehost.com. They offer all kinds of packages for a first time e-commerce business. They are very friendly, and will give you a good deal on securing a domain name and setting up shop.

Hope everything works out for you! E-mail me if you have real estate questions.