I am a dressmaker and live and work at home but I want to set it up as a small business and would like to know if it is better to rent a commercial property or to run it from my home which is a council run property?

My Boss (I am one of 3 employees in her small business) has an empty house; and after I’d complained about my current landlord,she offered to rent me this home. She originally offered to rent-to-own after talking about only renting it; then sugested that we draw up a renttoown agreement. I was skeptical and uneasy about renting from my employer, and let her know that. Now she is pressuring me into buying and just today wants to shorten the time before I’m required to buy to just one year. She also wants to put a 20 year contact that the house has to be owner occupied; and it’s right down the street from a university. She very much doesn’t want to rent and have me not purchase; However I don’t know if A. I’ll have good enough credit by that time or B. will still be in the area (my fiance might be getting a new job that requires him to move)
She has also doesn’t forget those who she’s seen has “wronged” her, I’ve seen her not act fairly on past employees, and could jeapordize my future
Edit –

On the plus side she is giving me a very fair price, i will have the opportunity to live in the house before I buy to find out any problems, she’s said she will re-side the house for us, and i’d pay off $14,000 w/o intrest off of the purchase price. Plus I like the house, and I am tired of throwing away my money renting.

I have a few customers who have failed to return, or pay for, rented property and their credit cards used to rent the property are now invalid. What actions can I take. No opinions please… just known facts. Thank You!

I am looking to open up a lounge in the Rochester area, and I wanted to know should I lease or buy property?

I own a small business and rent the space from a couple that owns several properties in the area. They are divorcing and both have lawyers. I have received paperwork from her lawyer to pay her and his lawyer to pay him. Who am I supposed to pay? Or am I supposed to wait for them to battle it out in court and then pay them?
I like the escrow idea mentioned by many here. There is one more thing to mention, I can’t make the check out to the person on the lease because its under a corporation seal and many people can be under the ownership of a corporation.

I can’t afford commercial property and found a residential condo locally so my clients won’t have to travel. I have a small clientele that I see on a regular basis, but only 2-4 a day. So I didn’t know if buying this condo could be an option. I have had to move my business a few times and when I move too far I lose business, the condo is two blocks from where I rent now. I don’t want to start over again, but need to get out of the building I currently work in. Any ideas?