Answers / Contracts
CONTRACTS

What does a personal guarantee on a lease mean?

SHORT ANSWER

It makes you personally responsible for the lease obligations — even a business lease — so your personal assets can be pursued if the tenant (often your company) defaults.

A personal guarantee on a lease means you’re personally on the hook, separate from any business entity. If you signed a commercial lease through an LLC but added a personal guarantee, the landlord can come after your personal assets — not just the company’s — if rent goes unpaid. Guarantees can be unlimited or capped, and some spring into effect only under certain conditions. Understanding the scope before signing is critical, because it can expose your home and savings.

What to do, in order

  1. Identify whether the lease includes a personal guarantee.
  2. Check if it’s unlimited or capped at a certain amount.
  3. See whether it has an end date or "burn-off" condition.
  4. Understand your personal assets are exposed if it defaults.
  5. Negotiate limits or removal before signing if possible.

Common questions

Can I negotiate out of a personal guarantee?

Sometimes — landlords may accept a capped guarantee, a limited-term ("good guy") guarantee, or a larger deposit instead. It’s worth asking before signing.

Does an LLC protect me if I signed a personal guarantee?

No — a personal guarantee specifically bypasses the LLC’s liability shield for that obligation, exposing your personal assets.

Stop guessing what your document says.

Upload the actual document and Main AI reads every clause, flags the risks, extracts the deadlines, and cites the law — free to start, no signup to see your first analysis.

Run the Lease Analyzer — free →
Main AI explains documents and general legal rights in clear terms. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Laws vary by state and change over time — verify specifics for your jurisdiction, and consult a licensed professional for advice on your situation.