What changed after 2021
The formalisation and expansion of MIPYMES gave private economic actors a clearer legal identity. With that came a more visible need for premises: workshops, small production units, service locations and points of sale. Unlike large foreign investment, this activity is primarily domestic and Cuban-owned, and it operates within national rules for private enterprise.
As a result, more leasing of premises now happens at this smaller scale, often involving state-owned buildings, mixed arrangements, or privately held property where that exists. This has added texture to a market that was previously almost entirely state-run, though it remains far from an open commercial-property market. The trend has nonetheless created real, ground-level demand for workshops, kitchens, storerooms and points of sale, and it has made premises a more actively discussed subject among Cuban entrepreneurs than at any point in recent memory, even as availability, condition and terms stay uneven from place to place.
How premises are secured
MIPYMES generally obtain premises through lease or use arrangements consistent with their licensed activity. Because so much building stock is state-controlled, many arrangements involve state entities as landlords, while others use privately held space. Terms, permitted uses and conditions vary, and the enterprise must stay within the scope of what its registration allows.
For outside companies, the relevance is indirect but real: a foreign firm might partner with, supply, or contract a Cuban MIPYME rather than lease space itself. That relationship is commercial and must respect both Cuban rules and any applicable foreign sanctions law.
Cross-border cautions and a disclaimer
Anyone with US connections should remember that dealings touching Cuba can fall under OFAC's 31 CFR Part 515, and that Helms-Burton Title III liability can attach where premises sit on confiscated property. Even a small private counterpart does not remove these considerations.
This is not legal or investment advice. The rules governing private enterprise and premises continue to evolve, so confirm the current framework with qualified counsel before entering any arrangement based on this overview.