Commercial leases contain considerably more negotiable terms than most first-time tenants assume, and reading past the headline rent figure to the full lease terms often reveals significant cost or flexibility differences between seemingly similar spaces. Escalation clauses, determining how and when rent increases over the lease term, deserve close attention, since a seemingly reasonable initial rate can become considerably less attractive once compounding annual increases are factored in over a multi-year lease. Maintenance responsibility should be clarified explicitly, distinguishing what falls under landlord responsibility versus tenant responsibility, since ambiguity here frequently leads to disputes over who bears the cost of a specific repair. Exit and subletting clauses matter significantly for a growing or uncertain business, and understanding the flexibility, or lack thereof, to exit early or sublet unused space provides important protection against being locked into a space that no longer fits changing business needs. Common area maintenance fees, often listed separately from base rent, can add meaningfully to total occupancy cost, and getting a clear historical record of these fees from the landlord helps avoid an unpleasant surprise after signing. Negotiating a shorter initial lease term with renewal options, rather than committing to a long fixed term upfront, often provides valuable flexibility for a business still establishing its space needs.