[rsynnott]

In some countries it really is a lot easier to force a company to pay a debt; it can proceed to winding-up/bankruptcy/whatever pretty quickly if the debtor company is uncooperative.

As I understand it, US small claims court is _not_ like this; practical enforcement powers are usually fairly limited.

[pempem]

Also any commercial lease of this size would easily and immediately outstrip small claims' needs.

In general the attitude of big business or HNI is pay a lawyer, reduce the cost you actually pay to the vendor. Get a bulk pricing on lawyer hours (Retainer, tons of active issues anyway, etc)

It looks bad to us because we spend a lifetime being upfront and on it with obligations. We literally never want to be evicted but like any crime that has a fine, it is not really a crime. It is a price of doing business a certain way and the question is simply whether you can afford it.