So thought I would touch on that a bit for you especially for small business operators.

Some of the most important decisions a business owner will make are about their premises: whether to rent or buy, where to base the business and even the style of the property are important to get right.

For those with an SMSF, there is one more option to consider: landing business premises and an investment property at the same time Figuring out whether buying your commercial premises through your self-managed super fund (SMSF) is an option that’s suitable for you is imperative to the success of your investment.

There can be many gains through purchasing commercial property through your SMSF, including creating a certain level of freedom by smart use of resources.

It frees up capital for the business owner. And you are unlocking super to do more for you. Further to this, the property is protected against insolvency. Depending on the type of business, this can be particularly appealing.

Then there are the tax benefits.

While it is in accumulation phase, income tax is only $0.15 in the dollar. In retirement, as the law stands, its zero. This means that the money accumulated in an SMSF through the investment does not get taxed.

On the flip side of the shiny self-management coin, There is an absolute element of responsibility on compliance matters. You are the trustee of an SMSF and you need to understand what those responsibilities entail.

You must pay commercial rates for rent through a prearranged lease agreement and, although having a protected asset is great for some businesses, it also means that equity is locked within the fund. You can’t take earnings elsewhere

Having a SMSF means you can’t give all of this work to someone else to do for you, but you can seek advice. Getting that right advice is very important and even when it come to the lending side it pays to have a chat to a Mortgage Broker and look at all the options of SMSF Lending.

Glenda Woolston is a Personal Mortgage Advisor, Australian Credit Licence 385325. The following column is her professional advice and not that of Fairfax Media.