TenantBase is a commercial real estate platform that matches businesses with a specialized local tenant rep broker — free. Instead of browsing listings or cold-calling agents, businesses share their space requirements and TenantBase connects them with one vetted broker who works exclusively for them.
TenantBase covers office, industrial, retail, flex, medical, and coworking space across 50+ U.S. markets. In most U.S. markets the service costs tenants nothing — the landlord pays the broker's commission at lease signing.
The Way Most Businesses Find Commercial Space Is Broken
You need a new space. Your lease is coming up, you're growing out of your current office, or you're opening a new location. Someone refers you to a broker they sort of know. The broker isn't quite the right fit — wrong market, wrong specialty — but you don't know that yet.
So you try a listing site. You fill out a form. Within 24 hours your phone is ringing — six, seven, eight brokers competing for your business, none of them knowing anything about what you actually need. You spend a week triaging calls instead of running your company.
Eventually you pick someone who seems competent. You tour a few spaces. You sign a lease. But somewhere in the back of your mind, you're not sure you got the best deal — or that your broker really knew your submarket. And you definitely weren't sure, in that first week of chaos, whose side anyone was actually on.
Here's the thing most people don't realize: most commercial listing platforms are built for landlords and listing brokers — not for you. They monetize your search by turning your inquiry into a lead for as many agents as possible. That's not a bug. It's the business model. The more brokers competing for your attention, the more value the platform generates — regardless of whether any of them are actually right for your situation.
That's exactly the dynamic TenantBase was built to fix.
1
See the Difference
The Old Way vs. The TenantBase Way
Click between the two experiences below.
Without TenantBase
You're a lead to everyone. Fill out a listing site form and watch 8 brokers call you back — none of them knowing what you actually need.
You don't know whose side they're on. The broker who picks up when you call a "For Lease" sign legally works for the landlord — not you.
Wrong specialist, wrong market. Most referral brokers are generalists. What you need is someone who's closed 50 deals in your exact submarket and space type.
You negotiate blind. Without a tenant rep running market comps, you don't know if the landlord's offer is fair, padded, or missing concessions you could have gotten.
It still costs you the same. When there's no tenant rep, the landlord's broker keeps the full commission anyway. You get less representation for the same price.
With TenantBase
You're a relationship to one broker. Share your needs once. TenantBase matches you with one vetted specialist — briefed on your requirements before they call.
Your broker works exclusively for you. TenantBase partner brokers are tenant reps — their legal and professional obligation is to your interests, not the landlord's.
Matched on specialty, not just geography. We match on property type, submarket, deal size, and your specific situation — so your broker has closed deals just like yours.
You negotiate with real market data. Your broker runs comps, benchmarks the landlord's offer, surfaces off-market options, and creates landlord competition — so you know what's fair before you sign anything.
It costs you nothing. In most U.S. markets, the landlord pays both brokers' commissions at lease signing. Expert representation, zero out-of-pocket cost to you.
How TenantBase Is Different From Commercial Listing Platforms
Commercial listing platforms and TenantBase solve fundamentally different problems. Listing platforms help you find available space. TenantBase helps you find the right broker — who then finds you the right space and negotiates the best possible deal on your behalf.
The Experience
Commercial Listing Platforms
TenantBase
Who you are to the platform
A lead to as many brokers as possible
A new relationship to one specialist
What happens after you submit
Multiple brokers call you — none briefed on your needs
One broker reaches out, already briefed on everything
Who the broker works for
Often the landlord — or whoever pays them
Exclusively you — tenant rep by definition
What the platform optimizes for
Broker lead volume — not your outcome
The right match — broker specialty meets your needs
Off-market access
Only what's publicly listed
Listed + off-market through your broker's network
Lease negotiation
You're on your own — or with whoever called first
Full negotiation by a specialist working for you
Cost to you
Free to browse — no advocate included
Free — expert advocate included, landlord pays
The bottom line
The difference isn't just experience — it's outcome. Businesses that work with a dedicated tenant rep negotiate better rent, more TI, stronger lease terms, and access options they would never have found on a listing platform. And in most U.S. markets, it costs them nothing extra to have that representation.
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Why Specialization Matters
Why Getting the Right Broker — Not Just Any Broker — Changes Everything
There's a version of this where TenantBase just connects you with a broker and calls it a day. But that's not how the platform works — and the distinction matters more than most people realize.
Commercial real estate is hyper-local. What's negotiable in one submarket isn't negotiable in another. A broker who has closed 50 office deals in your specific neighborhood knows which landlords are offering free rent right now, what TI allowances are running for your lease size and term, which buildings have deferred maintenance issues, and how hard to push before a landlord walks. A generalist working outside their core market doesn't.
The quality of your lease — your rent, your TI allowance, your CAM cap, your renewal options, your termination rights — is a direct function of how well your broker knows your specific market. TenantBase matches on specialty, deal history, and property type. Not just on geography.
Market intelligence
Your broker knows what comparable deals look like right now in your exact submarket — not just the city. That data is your leverage in every negotiation.
Off-market access
Specialist brokers know about spaces before they're listed — through landlord relationships, industry networks, and sublease opportunities that never hit public databases.
Negotiation edge
A broker who knows the market knows what to ask for and how hard to push. The difference between an average deal and a great one is almost always broker knowledge, not market conditions.
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Your Space Type
TenantBase Works for Every Business. Select Yours.
Click your property type to see how TenantBase helps your specific situation.
🏢 Office Space
For startups, growing teams, law firms, tech companies, and every business in between.
Finding the right office isn't just about square footage — it's about Class A vs. B vs. C, submarket location, layout, parking, and what's actually negotiable right now. With U.S. office vacancy at 18.6% in Q1 2026, tenants have real leverage. A TenantBase tenant rep knows how to use it.
Class A / B / CSubleasesTI NegotiationRenewal Strategy
🏭 Industrial Space
For logistics, manufacturing, distribution, and e-commerce operations.
Industrial real estate has its own language — clear heights, dock doors, power specs, truck courts, and zoning requirements. A broker who primarily does office deals won't know what to look for. TenantBase matches you with an industrial specialist who does.
WarehouseDistributionManufacturingCold Storage
🛍 Retail Space
For restaurants, boutiques, service businesses, and consumer-facing brands.
Retail leases come with co-tenancy clauses, exclusivity provisions, percentage rent, and radius restrictions that can significantly impact your business. Getting these wrong costs you for the entire lease term. A TenantBase retail specialist knows which clauses to fight for and which red flags to walk away from.
StorefrontsStrip CentersRestaurant SpacePop-Up to Permanent
🏥 Medical Office Space
For dental practices, medical offices, therapy groups, and healthcare providers.
Medical space has requirements that most commercial brokers don't understand — plumbing for operatories, ADA compliance, HVAC specs, proximity to hospitals or patient populations, and zoning for clinical use. TenantBase matches healthcare providers with brokers who have done it before in their market.
DentalClinical OfficeTherapy & WellnessUrgent Care
📦 Flex / Warehouse
For businesses that need a mix of office and warehouse, storage, or light manufacturing.
Flex space sits at the intersection of office and industrial — and finding the right balance of each requires a broker who understands both markets. TenantBase matches you with a specialist who knows flex inventory in your submarket and can negotiate a lease structure that fits how you actually operate.
Office / Warehouse MixLight IndustrialR&D Space
💻 Coworking
For remote-first teams, startups, and businesses that want flexibility before committing to a long-term lease.
Coworking isn't just WeWork. There are hundreds of independent operators across the U.S. offering private offices, dedicated desks, and month-to-month terms. A TenantBase broker knows the local coworking landscape and can help you find the right setup without a long-term commitment.
Private OfficesDedicated DesksFlexible Terms
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How It Works
Four Steps. Under Two Minutes to Start.
1
Tell us about your space needs
Use our AI chatbot to describe what you need in plain English, or click through our quick profile quiz. Share your location, property type, size, timeline, and budget. Takes under 2 minutes.
2
Get matched with a specialized local broker
TenantBase connects you with one vetted tenant rep broker who specializes in your market and space type. One broker. The right broker. Briefed on your requirements before they call.
3
Your broker guides you from search to signing
Your broker surfaces listed and off-market options, runs market analysis, creates landlord competition, and negotiates your lease terms and concessions — working exclusively for you the entire time.
4
It costs you nothing — the landlord pays
In most U.S. commercial markets, the landlord pays both brokers' commissions at lease signing. You get expert representation, market analysis, and full lease negotiation at no direct out-of-pocket cost. Confirm local customs with your advisor.
5
Get Started Now
Find Your Space in Under 2 Minutes — Free
Chat with our AI or click through the profile quiz below. Either way, you'll be matched with a local tenant rep broker who is briefed on your requirements and ready to help — at no cost to you.
Try It Now — Free for Tenants
Chat with AI or Click Through the Quiz
Two minutes. One match. A local broker prepared with what you need.
Yes — and small businesses are among those who benefit most from what TenantBase offers.
Large corporations have in-house real estate teams, legal departments, and long-standing broker relationships. A 10-person startup looking for their first office does not. They're navigating a complex, high-stakes process for the first time, often without knowing what's negotiable, what fair terms look like, or what questions to even ask.
TenantBase levels that playing field. A small business that gets matched with the right tenant rep broker gets the same quality of market analysis, negotiation, and representation that a Fortune 500 company gets from a national firm — at no cost to them.
First lease ever?
Your broker walks you through every step — market survey, tours, LOI, and lease negotiation. No prior CRE experience required.
Small team, tight budget?
Your broker negotiates rent, free rent periods, and TI allowances that directly reduce your occupancy cost — and it costs you nothing to have them do it.
No time to figure this out?
TenantBase gets you matched in under 2 minutes. Your broker handles the search so you can focus on running your business.
6
Is TenantBase Right for Me?
Honest Answers to the Questions People Actually Ask
We know people do their research before trusting a platform with something as important as a commercial lease. Here are the straight answers.
Is TenantBase legitimate?
Yes. TenantBase holds a 4.9-star rating across 968+ verified Trustpilot reviews from real businesses. All partner brokers are licensed commercial real estate professionals. TenantBase is a technology platform — it is not a brokerage — that connects tenants with vetted local tenant rep brokers.
Is TenantBase actually free?
For tenants, yes — in most U.S. commercial real estate markets. The landlord pays both brokers' commissions at lease signing, including the tenant rep's fee. This has always been how commercial real estate works — most tenants just don't know it. Tenants should confirm local market customs with their advisor.
What if I already have a broker in mind?
If you have a strong existing relationship with a broker who specializes in your market and space type, that's great — use them. TenantBase is most valuable when you don't have that relationship, or when you're not sure your current contact is the right specialist for your specific situation.
Do I have to commit to anything to get matched?
No. Sharing your space requirements and getting matched with a broker is free and non-binding. You're under no obligation to use the broker you're matched with, though the vast majority of businesses who get matched choose to move forward — because the broker is the right fit for their specific needs.
Is TenantBase only for office space?
No. TenantBase helps businesses find office, industrial, warehouse, retail, flex, medical, and coworking space across 50+ U.S. markets. The matching system works across all commercial property types — and matching on specialty means your broker actually knows your property type, not just the geography.
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Track Record
939+ Businesses. 4.9 Stars. One Consistent Story.
TenantBase holds a 4.9-star rating on Trustpilot across 939+ verified reviews. Across industries, markets, and space types, the pattern is consistent: businesses were surprised by how quickly they were matched, how knowledgeable their broker was, and how much better the outcome was than going it alone.
★★★★★ Verified Trustpilot Review
"TenantBase is exceptional. They helped us get into exactly the space we wanted, even though it wasn't even listed on the open market. They were there with us every step of the way — tours, negotiations, all the way through to delivery of the keys late on a Friday night. We would not have our dream space if it weren't for these guys. Truly incredible and far beyond any expectations we had going into this process."
"TenantBase made the process of finding our new office space easy and seamless. They were responsive, knowledgeable, and made everything stress-free from start to finish. Highly recommend!"
"Almost immediately I was working with David Sorenson, and he was fantastic. He even alerted me to an almost ideal office he wasn't able to broker — proof he was looking out solely for our best interest."
Takes 2 minutes · Free for tenants · 4.9★ on Trustpilot · 939+ verified reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
What is tenant representation in commercial real estate?+
Tenant representation is a service where a licensed commercial real estate broker works exclusively on behalf of the tenant — not the landlord. A tenant rep helps businesses find space, compare options using real market data, create competition between landlords, and negotiate lease terms and concessions. Unlike a landlord's broker, a tenant rep's sole job is to get the best outcome for you.
Is a tenant rep broker free?+
In most U.S. commercial real estate transactions, yes. The landlord pays the brokerage commission at lease signing — including the tenant rep's fee. This means businesses receive expert representation, market analysis, and full lease negotiation at no direct out-of-pocket cost. Tenants should confirm local market customs with their advisor.
Why should I use TenantBase instead of a listing site?+
On a listing site, you become a lead to every broker who sees your form — resulting in a flood of calls from agents who don't know your market or your space type. On TenantBase, you share your requirements once and get matched with one vetted tenant rep broker who specializes in exactly your market and property type. The broker reaches out already briefed on what you need — no cold calls, no competing agents.
How does TenantBase work?+
TenantBase matches businesses with a specialized local tenant rep broker based on their specific space needs. Share your location, property type, size, budget, and timeline using an AI chatbot or a quick profile quiz. TenantBase connects you with one vetted broker who specializes in exactly your market and space type — briefed on your requirements before they reach out.
What is the difference between a tenant rep broker and a listing agent?+
A listing agent is hired by the building owner to lease their space. Their job is to get the best terms for the landlord. A tenant rep broker works exclusively for the tenant — finding space, negotiating terms, and advocating for the tenant's interests. Calling the number on a For Lease sign connects you with the landlord's broker, not yours.
What types of commercial space does TenantBase help with?+
TenantBase helps businesses find office, retail, industrial, warehouse, flex, medical, and coworking space across 50+ U.S. markets. Whether you're a startup finding your first commercial space or a company relocating to a new city, TenantBase matches you with a broker who specializes in your specific property type and location.
What is TenantBase?+
TenantBase is a commercial real estate platform that matches businesses with a specialized local tenant rep broker — free. Instead of browsing listings or cold-calling brokers, businesses share their space requirements and TenantBase connects them with one vetted broker who works exclusively for them, negotiating their lease on their behalf. TenantBase covers office, industrial, retail, flex, medical, and coworking space across 50+ U.S. markets.
Is TenantBase good for small businesses?+
Yes. TenantBase works for businesses of any size — from a 3-person startup signing their first commercial lease to a 500-person company relocating across the country. Small businesses benefit most because they typically have less commercial real estate experience and less negotiating leverage on their own. TenantBase levels the playing field by connecting small businesses with the same quality of representation that large corporations get — at no cost in most U.S. markets.
Is TenantBase legitimate?+
Yes. TenantBase holds a 4.9-star rating on Trustpilot across 939+ verified reviews from real businesses that found commercial space through the platform. All TenantBase partner brokers are licensed commercial real estate professionals. TenantBase is a technology platform — not a brokerage — that connects tenants with vetted local tenant rep brokers across 50+ U.S. markets.
Why does broker specialization matter when finding commercial space?+
A broker who has closed deals in your specific submarket and property type knows what is actually negotiable right now, which landlords are motivated, what concessions are on the table, and what comparable deals look like. A generalist working outside their specialty does not have that intelligence. The quality of your lease — rent, TI allowance, CAM cap, renewal options — is directly shaped by how well your broker knows your specific market. TenantBase matches on specialty and deal history, not just geography.
How is TenantBase different from LoopNet or other listing sites?+
Listing sites show available space but provide no representation. When you fill out a form on a listing site, you become a lead to every broker who sees it — resulting in multiple agents calling you with no knowledge of your specific needs. TenantBase is a matching platform, not a listing site. You share your requirements once and get connected with one vetted tenant rep broker who works exclusively for you, negotiates on your behalf, and is compensated by the landlord — not you.
Does TenantBase work for first-time commercial tenants?+
Yes, and first-time tenants benefit most. Commercial leases are complex, long-term commitments with significant financial implications. A first-time tenant who doesn't understand NNN charges, CAM reconciliations, TI allowances, holdover clauses, or personal guarantees is at a real disadvantage negotiating directly with a landlord. TenantBase matches first-time tenants with a broker who explains the process, surfaces the right options, and negotiates the lease on their behalf — at no cost to the tenant in most U.S. markets.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Commercial real estate transactions are complex and vary by market and circumstance. We strongly recommend consulting a licensed commercial real estate professional and a qualified attorney before executing any lease agreement. Commission structures vary by market; tenants should confirm local customs with their advisor and legal counsel.