When you're starting a new business you'll naturally want to choose the best location possible to make sure your small business has the opportunity to grow into a big business.

Of course, the best location for your small business will depend on the type of business you're in, but here are a few things to think about when you're choosing your location:

1. The best location for your small business could be somewhere close to other businesses

It may sound like commercial suicide to locate your new business close to other businesses which are offering a similar service, but that's not necessarily the case. If you open a convenience store near a large supermarket, for example, you could find yourself picking up trade from people who can't be bothered trailing around the aisles for one loaf of bread: and when the larger store runs out of a particular item you can bet that the first place people will come looking for it will be your store.

In general terms, if your small business is in retail, your best chance of gaining customers could be locating in a busy area with lots of other retailers around. That way you'll benefit from walk-by trade, and as soon as your store opens it will attract the attention of people who normally shop in that area anyway.

Remember: customers are lazy, and they'll only travel to shop with you if you're offering something they just can't get anywhere else. If you're selling the kind of goods that are easily available (and now that internet shopping is available, most things are easily available), you best locate your small business somewhere accessible.

2. The best location for your small business could be your own home

If your small business is offering services rather than products, the best location to start up could be your own home. Running a business from home saves you money on many things: travel, business clothes, equipment, food In fact, many service-based businesses can be started very cheaply, with just a computer and a phone line.

The disadvantage of a home based business, of course, is that you won't benefit from the pass-by trade mentioned above, so you'll spend much more time marketing yourself and finding clients if you want to be successful.

3. Could the internet be the best location for your small business?

Basing your business online has similar advantages and disadvantages to basing one in your home. Your start-up costs are likely to be low, and if you're using a laptop you can literally work from anywhere in the world, but you will have to work harder on marketing your services in order to find those initial clients.