Opening a Business
Opening or expanding a business can be difficult, especially when just starting out. The Alliance is here to help you develop a roadmap to success in this process. We work with partner organizations to help get your business off the ground.
1. Setting Up Shop
Launching a successful brick-and-mortar business requires a thorough business plan and a substantial time investment. Throughout the process, different entities will use your business plan and supplemental materials to assess your readiness and qualifications.
Setting Up Shop: Commercial Space Readiness
The steps outlined in the International Council of Shopping Center’s (ICSC) “Setting Up Shop” Guidebook can be a helpful guide in establishing your business, hiring the right people, and making plans for growth. Contents include:
- Laying the Groundwork: Creating Your Business Strategy
- Managing Capital: Estimating Costs, Budget and Securing Funding, Financing
- Narrowing The Search: Identifying the Right Real Estate
- Building the Vision: Designing and Constructing Your Space
- Getting to Launch: Marketing your Business
2. Finding a Business Location
Choosing a business location is perhaps the most important decision a new business owner will make, so it requires precise planning and research. It involves looking at demographics, assessing your supply chain, understanding the competition, staying on budget, and much more. Whether you’re looking to expand your operations in Aurora with an additional facility or to establish a new presence in Illinois, the Aurora Alliance can connect you with the property or site you need.
An additional resource that can be helpful with site selection assistance as you begin your search for the ideal location is Choose DuPage.
3. Planning Your Opening Strategy
Developing the right opening strategy for your new business or expansion can mean the difference between success and failure. It likely will require the assistance of multiple organizations and city departments. We can provide assistance in connecting you to the departments that can help you as well as provide additional resources (such as the IL Small Business Development Center and Women's Business Development Center) to get you up and running quickly.
4. Obtaining City Approvals
Before you sign a lease for your new or expanding business, you need to understand whether your location is zoned properly for your type of business and what, if any, your build-out and approval requirements may be.
The City of Aurora’s Development Services Team (DST) is available to provide you with a one-stop-shop process to obtain all the information you need to efficiently launch your business. The DST includes representatives from the following city departments:
- Planning & Zoning
- Engineering/Public Works
- Building and Permits
- City Clerk
5. DST Meeting Documents Needed
We recommend that you have the following available for your DST Meeting:
- Detailed overview of your business plan, including potential location, business model, hours of operation, and number of employees.
- Site plan with as much detail as possible. While architectural drawings are not required at this point, the more detail you can give to the team the more detailed the feedback you will be given.
- Cut sheets or details of equipment that will be installed (POS equipment details not required at this time).
For restaurants and businesses that will sell alcohol:
- A detailed site plan is required at this time because it will have a direct impact on your liquor licensing.
- A detailed menu of anticipated food service is required.