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What Is Percentage Rent?

Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis

Percentage rent is a supplemental rent payment made to landlords when commercial tenants reach a certain sales volume. Usually found in landlord-tenant agreements for retail leases, such as those used for renting commercial space in a mall, percentage rent agreements allow the landlord to earn more if the tenant operates a successful business. Tenants and landlords may go through a strict negotiation process regarding this type of rent, to determine how sales volume is calculated and what, if any, exclusions apply. Percentage rent is usually calculated on a monthly, annual, or break-point basis.

When used correctly, percentage rent can be a beneficial arrangement for both tenants and landlords. For tenants, their rental payments will be tied to market performance, and will be less likely to undergo annual rent hikes that might force them to close or relocate. Landlords also benefit, since they will not have to estimate the amount of a rent increase a tenant can afford. Tying at least a part of the rental payment to the performance of the business allows both sides to get a fair market value.

Shopping mall tenants often reach a lease agreement that includes percentage rent based on sales.
Shopping mall tenants often reach a lease agreement that includes percentage rent based on sales.

The negotiation for percentage rent is crucial in determining the success of the agreement. It must be carefully stipulated exactly what is counted toward the sales volume limit kicks in, and what is excluded. For instance, most agreements deduct taxes paid on transactions, since the tenant is merely collecting these funds for the government, rather than directly profiting from them. Similarly, if there is a fire at the premises and the tenant receives insurance money to repair the damage, this may be excluded since it is not actually profit from a sale.

When negotiating percentage rent, landlords and tenants must determine if mobile and internet purchases count toward the store's sale figures for computing monthly rent.
When negotiating percentage rent, landlords and tenants must determine if mobile and internet purchases count toward the store's sale figures for computing monthly rent.

Another important point of negotiation is whether sales made off-site, but filled on the premises, are included. For instance, if a merchant sells a clock through a website, the sale was not made on the premises. On the other hand, if the clock is stored on the premises and shipped to the buyer from the property, it may still be considered in the calculation of percentage rent. This negotiation may also be considered in reverse, regarding sales made on the premises but filled from an outside location.

Landlords of commercial buildings favor percentage rent because it allows them to get fair market value for the space because a portion of the rent is tied to the tenant's sales.
Landlords of commercial buildings favor percentage rent because it allows them to get fair market value for the space because a portion of the rent is tied to the tenant's sales.

How percentage rent is calculated depends on the stipulation of the rental agreement. The safest forms of this type of contract require a minimum guaranteed rent, plus a supplemental payment based on sales percentages. For instance, a tenant might be responsible for a minimum rent of $2000 US Dollars (USD) per month, plus 2% of gross sales over $5,000 USD per month. Rent may also be calculated based on a sales break-point, such as 5% of gross annual sales over $400,000 USD.

Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis

With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a WiseGEEK writer.

Learn more...
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis

With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a WiseGEEK writer.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Certlerant

Does a tenant have to show the landlord proof of a sales/profit history when negotiating this sort of lease?

Glasis
@Telsyst: Tenants with fluctuating sales may not want to use the percentage rent system. Most landlords would probably be hesitant to negotiate this type of lease with a tenant that does not have relatively steady sales volume throughout the year.
Telsyst

What happens with a percentage rent lease if the tenant fails to meet sales goals?

Does it work like commission - where the tenant would pay the base rent in months in which they operate at a loss, then have to pay more to the landlord in the next month they make a profit?

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    • Shopping mall tenants often reach a lease agreement that includes percentage rent based on sales.
      By: Photocreo Bednarek
      Shopping mall tenants often reach a lease agreement that includes percentage rent based on sales.
    • When negotiating percentage rent, landlords and tenants must determine if mobile and internet purchases count toward the store's sale figures for computing monthly rent.
      By: Denys Prykhodov
      When negotiating percentage rent, landlords and tenants must determine if mobile and internet purchases count toward the store's sale figures for computing monthly rent.
    • Landlords of commercial buildings favor percentage rent because it allows them to get fair market value for the space because a portion of the rent is tied to the tenant's sales.
      By: Andy Dean
      Landlords of commercial buildings favor percentage rent because it allows them to get fair market value for the space because a portion of the rent is tied to the tenant's sales.
    • How percentage rent is calculated depends on the stipulation of the rental agreement.
      By: andiafaith
      How percentage rent is calculated depends on the stipulation of the rental agreement.