Buying Commercial Property
Offices, retail and storage space to buy in Zagreb.
Buying a commercial space instead of renting means that monthly outgoings turn into an asset that can grow in value over time, instead of money being spent on rent with no return at all. Ownership also brings complete freedom to adapt and reconfigure the space to your own business, without depending on a landlord's approval or the risk of a lease being terminated.
Buying instead of long-term renting means that monthly expenses turn into an asset that can grow in value over time, rather than money being spent on rent with no return. Ownership also brings full freedom to adapt and redesign the space for your own business, without depending on a landlord's approval or the risk of a lease being terminated.
Check the terms of use for the building and any co-owners' rules in advance, to avoid future conflicts with neighbouring tenants or building co-owners. Also check whether the building allows the working hours you're planning, since some commercial buildings restrict access outside standard business hours.
Commercial spaces come in various forms, from small offices and ground-floor units in residential buildings, to standalone commercial buildings, to warehouse and production halls on the edge of the city. Each type of space has a different purpose, infrastructure requirements and price range, so it's important to define in advance which type best suits your business before you start searching. Office spaces in business buildings are suited to service businesses that need a representative space for clients and staff. Retail spaces on ground floors of buildings or in shopping centres are in demand for retail and hospitality businesses, where visibility and footfall are key. Warehouse and production spaces on the outskirts of the city offer larger floor areas at a lower price per square metre, suited to logistics and manufacturing operations.
The ideal location depends heavily on your type of business: retail and hospitality businesses benefit from high footfall and visibility, service businesses value proximity to their client base and easy parking, while logistics and production businesses prioritise good road access and proximity to major transport routes over foot traffic.
After defining your criteria and viewing suitable spaces, we help you check the use permit and any co-ownership conditions, negotiate the price, and arrange financing if needed, followed by notarisation of the main contract. Land registry entry and handover. After ownership is registered, the space is handed over and utility accounts are transferred.
Many buyers don't purchase commercial spaces for their own business but as an investment to rent out to other companies. Rental yields on commercial spaces are generally higher than on residential properties, but it's important to factor in greater dependence on economic conditions and potentially longer vacancy periods between tenants. Besides for your own business, commercial spaces are also often bought purely as an investment to be rented out to other companies. This kind of investment requires a different analysis than buying for your own use, including assessing the stability of future tenants, typical lease durations for that type of space, and a realistic return rate compared to alternative investments. Commercial spaces with long-term tenants already in place are often especially attractive to investors, since they provide immediate, predictable income.
Besides the general condition of the space, check the capacity of the electrical installation for your intended equipment, whether there's a separate water and drainage connection if needed, and the condition of the roof and any signs of dampness. It's also worth checking the load-bearing capacity of the floor if you plan to install heavy equipment or shelving.
Banks typically want to see the company's financial statements and a valuation of the property before approving a loan, and terms can vary significantly depending on whether the property is being bought by a company or by an individual who then leases it to their own company. Besides the standard purchase of a finished space, business owners sometimes also consider buying a space under construction or an unfinished commercial building, which they then fit out to their own specifications. This option requires more time and coordination with contractors, but allows full customisation of the space to the specific needs of the business, from room layout to technical installations.
Besides the standard property transfer tax, buying a commercial space from a company may be subject to VAT instead of transfer tax, depending on the seller's status, which significantly affects the total cost of the transaction. We recommend clarifying the tax treatment of the specific transaction with an accountant or tax advisor in advance. When buying a commercial space, it's also important to verify there are no outstanding liens, that the use permit matches the actual activity you plan to carry out, and, where relevant, to check the building's homeowners' association rules on business use.
Buyers often ask whether it's possible to change the space's designated use after purchase, how long obtaining a new use permit typically takes if a change of activity is needed, and whether existing installations such as ventilation or a fire suppression system meet current regulations for their planned business. Others are curious about typical annual maintenance and communal costs for the type of building they're considering, since these directly affect the overall cost of ownership.
Our team helps you clarify your criteria, evaluate suitable spaces, and assess both the operational fit and investment potential of each property, guiding you through document checks, financing, negotiation and the final handover, so you can buy a commercial space with confidence, whether it's for your own business or as an investment.