A graphic design studio set out to buy premises in central Paris for its six staff. The Home Select property hunter found a former 65 sqm commercial space in the Sentier, 2nd arrondissement, negotiated it to 380,000 euros and converted it into an open-plan workspace.
Mission overview
- Property hunter: the Home Select property hunter
- Area: Paris 2nd, Sentier / Bonne Nouvelle neighbourhood
- Property type: commercial premises, 65 sqm, street-level ground floor
- Initial budget: 420,000 euros
- Negotiated price: 380,000 euros (-8.9% from the listed price of 417,000 euros)
- Search duration: 10 weeks
- Buyer profile: design studio, SAS company, 6 staff members
The project
This design studio rented offices in the 10th arrondissement at 2,400 euros/month for 55 sqm that had become too small. The managing director wanted to buy rather than keep paying rising rent, reckoning that the monthly payments on a commercial mortgage would come in below the current rent.
The brief called for 60 to 80 sqm of open-plan space with enough ceiling height for a bright workspace, in a central, well-connected neighbourhood, since the studio’s clients in luxury and fashion sat mainly in the 1st, 2nd and 8th arrondissements. The Sentier, by now the “Silicon Sentier” of startups and creative agencies, suited the studio’s positioning well.
The search strategy
Searching for commercial premises follows different rules from residential property. Listings appear on specialised portals such as BureauxLocaux and Geolocaux, but the best deals are negotiated directly with owners or through commercial agents.
Our property hunter targeted three categories: premises vacant for more than 6 months, where owners tend to be motivated; shops winding down, open to direct negotiation; and ground-floor spaces in residential buildings, where co-owners often want to offload loss-making commercial units.
Over 10 weeks, 12 premises were identified, 6 viewed and 2 technical feasibility studies completed.
The property found
The chosen premises sat on the ground floor of a Haussmannian building on rue d’Aboukir: a 65 sqm open-plan area with a 4-metre shopfront facing the street, 3.40 m ceiling height, and a small 12 sqm back room that could serve as a meeting room.
The former occupant, a textile shop, had left 8 months earlier. The space was in raw condition, with a concrete floor, bare walls and an electrical system to be redone. The owner, a private investor, was struggling to re-let to a commercial tenant in a neighbourhood shifting towards creative services.
The negotiation
The 8-month vacancy was the main lever. At 2,000 euros/month in co-ownership charges and property tax, the owner had been losing 16,000 euros since the tenant left. Our property hunter put forward an offer with a fit-out plan that would add value to the property, converting it into a design office with interior glazed partitions, and reassure the co-ownership about its future use.
The opening offer of 365,000 euros was countered at 400,000 euros. Agreement came at 380,000 euros, or 5,846 euros/sqm, with a clause waiving the right of commercial pre-emption, the premises sitting in a commercial preservation zone. The saving was 37,000 euros.
The fit-out works, covering light partitioning, electrics, plumbing and painting, cost 45,000 euros, bringing the total investment to 425,000 euros for a 65 sqm office in the heart of the Sentier, against an annual rent of 28,800 euros that would only have risen.
What this mission illustrates
Buying offices and commercial premises is often more profitable than renting. For this studio, the mortgage payments of 1,900 euros/month over 20 years come in below the previous rent of 2,400 euros/month while building an asset. Over 10 years, the cumulative saving exceeds 60,000 euros.
Vacant premises make the best deals. Commercial space empty for more than 6 months is a cost to the owner, and that financial pressure opens a negotiation window for professional buyers. The Sentier, mid-shift towards creative services, is full of such opportunities.
On commercial premises, a property hunter earns their keep. Reading the technical feasibility, covering change of use, ERP compliance and accessibility, and knowing real commercial market prices, heads off costly mistakes. Here, the 2nd arrondissement offered the best balance of location, quality and price.
Looking for commercial premises in Paris? Contact our team for a search tailored to your business needs.
Frequently asked questions
Can you convert commercial premises into an office in Paris?
Yes, converting commercial premises into an office is subject to a prior declaration of change of use with the city hall. In central Paris, this conversion is generally accepted as it does not reduce the housing stock. The processing time is 1 to 2 months. Note: converting commercial space to residential use is much more regulated.
What is the price per sqm for commercial premises in the 2nd arrondissement?
In 2026, commercial premises in the 2nd arrondissement trade between 5,000 and 8,000 euros/sqm depending on location, condition and layout. That is 30 to 40% less expensive than an apartment in the same area, making it an attractive option for professionals looking to buy rather than rent their offices.
What are the advantages of buying commercial premises rather than renting office space in Paris?
Buying commercial premises allows you to lock in your property costs, build depreciable professional assets, and avoid rent increases. Over 10 years, buying is generally more advantageous than renting as long as the borrowing rate is lower than the rental yield for the area.
How much did the property hunter save on this 2nd-arrondissement commercial space?
On this mission, the 65 sqm premises listed at 417,000 euros were bought for 380,000 euros, an 8.9% negotiation (a 37,000 euro saving) bringing the price to 5,846 euros/m². The 8-month vacancy and a fit-out plan that reassured the co-ownership provided the leverage. After conversion into an office, the monthly mortgage payments (1,900 euros) stayed below the previous 2,400 euro rent. At Home Select, the average negotiation reaches 6% of the seller's price and the 2.5% fee (minimum 10,000 euros incl. VAT) is due only on success.
