Choosing the Right Location for your Business

Understanding Zoning Restrictions

Choosing a business location is perhaps the most important decision a small business owner or start up will make, so it requires precise planning and research. Kirksville has zoning ordinances and regulations that define how you can use your property to ensure that land is used for the common good of the community. If you are thinking about leasing, buying, or making improvements to property you already own, make sure you understand the zoning restrictions before you commit to anything.

If you are unsure about the specific zoning ordinances that may apply to your business, we encourage you to set up a pre-application meeting with the Codes & Planning Department before entering into any legally-binding contract. This meeting will ensure that the location and zoning is a good fit for your business needs.

Home-Based Businesses

If you’re planning on operating your small business from home, you need to check with your Homeowners Association, the Codes & Planning Department, and to check your local zoning restrictions first. If you are renting a home, you may want to make sure that the owner approves of your business before signing a lease agreement.

Most home owner insurance policies do not cover home businesses. Consult your insurance agent to see if you need to purchase an additional policy to protect your business. A Business License is required for most business owners in Kirksville, regardless of business size.

Existing Business Location

Most businesses rent or lease their facilities. Generally, the landlord’s leasing contract will dictate the terms of lease and control basic operations at that location. Before you sign a rental / lease agreement, you should carefully investigate its terms to make sure the lease meets your business’ needs and contact the Codes & Planning Department to check that the area is zoned for the business you plan to conduct.

If you need help identifying available commercial property that fits your business needs, we suggest you contact K-REDI (Kirksville Regional Economic Development Inc.).

If you need help finding professional services we suggest you contact the Kirksville Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber can help you locate local, trusted companies such as real estate agents / brokers, construction contractors, and finance and insurance providers.

New Construction

If you are planning on building a new building to better serve your business needs, your first step should be to contact the Kirksville Regional Economic Development, Inc. (K-REDI). They can advise you on local, state, and federal incentives such as Tax Increment Financing, Transportation Development Districts, Tax Abatement Programs, Neighborhood / Community Improvement Districts, and many more. The property you are looking at may fall into one of these districts and could impact your business operations.

Once you have identified your location, we recommend contacting the City of Kirksville’s Economic Development office before entering into any contract for a pre-application meeting. The meeting provides both the applicant and city staff with the opportunity to review proposed projects and to mitigate any challenges in the project development process without incurring major costs.

About MREIC

Missouri Rural Enterprise & Innovation Center is funded by the Missouri Technology Corporation, a public-private partnership created by the Missouri General Assembly to promote entrepreneurship and foster the growth of new and emerging high-tech companies. MTC focuses on 21st Century bioscience industries that build on Missouri’s rich history in agriculture and technology. These areas of focus include: Animal health, Applied Engineering, Biomedical Science, Defense and Homeland Security, and Plant Science.

Our local supporters include: Adair County, A.T. Still University, City of Kirksville, Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce, Kirksville Regional Economic Development, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Northeast Regional Medical Center, Small Business & Technology Development Center and Truman State University.

MREIC encourages regional economic growth based on commercialization of innovations in Northeast Missouri. We provide support to new and established entrepreneurs through both one-on-one advising as well as connections to workshops, funding resources and technology development solutions. We actively pursue a communications program that creates a broader understanding of the role of entrepreneurship in our economy. Through our business incubator located in the basement of our building, we are organizing a network for idea exchange opportunities among entrepreneurs— contact us to join in.