How long should your office fit out take?
If you’re considering refurbishing your current office or setting up a new one, you’ve come to the right place! This article will guide you through the journey of transforming your workspace into the perfect home for your business.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the office fit out timeline. We’ll explain what an office fit out entails, the various components involved in the process and how long you can expect it to take. Additionally, we’ll provide you with valuable tips to ensure your office fit out is completed efficiently.
What is an office fit out?
Our definition of fit out is the process of transforming your interior space to align perfectly with your business’s vision and values, creating an inspiring, collaborative and productive working environment.
Check out our article on the different types of office fit outs for a more detailed exploration:
Soul Spaces Insights: ‘The difference between Cat A, Cat B & Cat A+ office fit outs’
What does the fit out process typically look like?
Step 1 – Choosing your Team
Your upcoming office fit out project holds significant importance as it will have a lasting impact on the trajectory of your business. Therefore, putting together the right team to lead this project is crucial. Our recommended approach includes the following key roles:
People Director/HR/Office Manager:
The office serves as the nucleus of your company’s culture. Hence, having a dedicated ‘people’ expert is essential to ensure that your employees’ well-being and needs are at the forefront throughout this undertaking.
Financial Director/Equivalent:
While the specifics of your decision are pending, effective budget management stands as a pivotal factor for a successful outcome.
COO or Project Manager:
Entrusted with the operational aspects, this individual will play a vital role in managing administrative responsibilities.
Of course, the owner(s) have the ultimate decision-making authority but getting organised internally from day one will save time and resources in the long run.
Step 2 – Creating your Brief
With your dream team in place for the office fit out project, it’s time to ensure your envisioned workspace is designed accurately. Start by crafting a clear and concise brief. This initial action streamlines collaboration with partners, guarantees solutions align with your unique needs and establishes a success benchmark for your team.
Step 3 Calculating the Costs of your Office Fit out
Now, the question you’ll have been wanting to ask – how much will the office fit out cost you?!
As a guide to help give you an idea, we’ve based the costs below based on a 5,000 sq. ft office relocation with a rent profile of £60 per sq. ft. The costs provided are at an entry level to an office refurbishment. Every project is unique but 70% of projects fall into this bracket and should therefore provide you with a good indication of the cash you will need to make your new workplace dream a reality.
| Description | Cost per sq. ft | Total Cost, 5000 sq. ft |
| Office Refurbishment | £40.00 | £200,000 |
| AV | £6.00 | £30,000 |
| IT | £4.00 | £20,000 |
| New Furniture | £12.00 | £60,000 |
| Security | £2.00 | £10,000 |
Keep in mind that these figures offer rough guidelines; you likely have a budget in mind for your office fit out. When selecting an office design and build partner, consider evaluating several options, both small and large. This approach streamlines the design phase and taking the time to understand your partner’s values is crucial for ensuring smooth collaboration and budget alignment over time.
How long does an office fit out take?
Time is undeniably one of the most precious resources for businesses. Creating or refurbishing your workspace might not currently rank highest on your to-do list but it remains an essential task. To maximise time efficiency it is important that you select and collaborate with the right team to achieve a seamless project delivery without compromising on the highest quality standards.
Your office fit out journey is going to depend highly on the size of your business and it’s important to note that each project is unique. However, to give you an idea of what to expect, here’s a rough guide to the timeline:
During this journey, there will be milestones to hit, a variety of tasks, and you’ll also need to handle your day-to-day responsibilities. Additional support from external project management can make a significant difference, ensuring seamless coordination and execution. Leveraging external project management can make a significant difference in navigating the journey successfully.
We’ve created a handy office fit out checklist to ease the project management process and make sure no stone is left unturned.
Who do we recommend?
Among the many remarkable design and build agencies, our top pick is, well, the Soul Spaces team – no surprises there!
At Soul Spaces, our goal is to transform spaces into your dream workspace, always with a touch of soul. Being owner-led, we bring an authentic approach to the fit out process, guiding you every step of the way.
There is a slight catch – we’re only committed to partnering with businesses that share our passion and values!
If this resonates with your ethos and you’re intrigued by the prospect of embarking on an exceptional office fit out journey, feel free to reach out to us via email or drop us a quick call at 0208 588 9876.
