How to calculate the cost of your office fit out

What type of office space do you need?

The cost of your fit out will be most influenced by the type of workspace you need to create. Here’s an outline of what goes into four popular kinds of spaces:

• Open plan fit outs
  This working arrangement is the most affordable to fit out and is great if you’re on a tight budget. Aside from saving on materials, you’ll also save on authority approvals, office partitioning, fire services, painting and air-conditioning. They’re also a flexible working environment which can be easily modified, at low cost — making them ideal starter-spaces. They’re also quick  to install, though they don’t offer privacy or a reception area.
• Open plan fit outs with offices
  If you’ve got a little more budget, you may opt for an open plan space that has a few defined offices for meetings or workshops and a small reception area. Most of the space is dedicated to open plan desk space separated by partitions so you get all the advantages of an open plan fit out, but you can receive clients professionally and have privacy when you need it. 
• Mid range office fit outs
  A typical mid-range fit out includes refurbishing a space to include a number of small open plan areas, combined with a few glass or plasterboard partitions. They also include meeting rooms, breakout areas, and a basic kitchen. With this budget you’re also able to afford better quality furniture. 
• Executive office fit outs
  A top of the range can seem expensive, but you’ll take possession of an office worthy of landing enterprise clients and attracting top global talent. Staff breakout areas are fitted with high end kitchen facilities, with group table seating and lounge seating. Your staff could also work in large offices which compliment any open plan work spaces. Reception areas and foyers are luxurious and form the hub for meeting rooms which are fitted with state of the art audio visual equipment. As well as quality furniture, you’ll also be able to upgrade the quality of your finishes, flooring and lighting for a truly delightful work experience.

Keep in mind that this isn’t an exhaustive or fixed list of what each kind of fit out can offer you. Chat to our fit out team to confirm what your needs are and how they can accommodate them within budget. 

Are there comparisons you can use?

Comparing your own plans to offices you’ve seen and admired can help identify how much your office fit out will cost. Inspiration doesn’t only need to come from offices — you may find a local café that inspires ideas for your kitchen and canteen area. 

Sharing pictures of your ideas with your building maintenance company will help them hone in on a ballpark figure for your office fit out. But be aware that this won’t lead to an official quote, but just an informal idea of how much that kind of work could cost. 

Consider the time of year

Turning your office around while everyone’s on end-of-year break sounds logical, but it’s a busy time of year for fit outs and refurbishment in Brisbane. Tackling projects during the high season may suit tenants and employee schedules, but it might also increase the cost of the office fit out as companies sometimes charge a premium from once-off clients seeking a last-minute placement on their job list. 

To get the best value for money and time, contact your contractors well-ahead of time to book in your project. Also consider scheduling your office fit out for “builders’ low season” — outside of school holidays and end of year. A reputable building maintenance and office fit out company would be happy to work after hours and around your busiest times, to keep disruption to a minimum.

Who are you working with?

An established relationship with a building maintenance company works to your advantage when planning an office fit out. After all, it’s more convenient if the team everyone knows that usually fixes the lights are also the ones overhauling the place. Cost-wise, you’ll also be able to plan more efficiently — you’ll be aware of their usual rates, and they know your tastes and requirements well enough to give an accurate quote right off the bat.

If you don’t have a service retainer with someone, it’s still possible to come out ahead. Any reputable building maintenance company would gladly offer a site visit and a free, no-obligation quote to help you pin-down the cost of your fit out. 

Learn more about what you can expect from contractors and office fit outs on our fit out information page. 

Do you have a building maintenance company that can do it all-in-one?

Finding an all-in-one contractor can be the most important factor when determining how much an office fit out will cost. Working with a full-service building maintenance company can save you from hidden costs or having to bring in additional help to cover unexpected tasks. 

At First Response we’re lucky to be able to offer all the skills our clients need for a successful office fit out, within one team. From electrical installation, to painting, flooring and more — we do it all as part of a fixed-cost contract. Contact us and get a quote for your next project, and learn more about our office and retail fit out services.