Project Planning

Retail Fitout Checklist: What to Plan Before Construction Starts

A practical checklist for planning a Sydney retail fitout, covering the lease, approvals, budget, design, services, landlord requirements, construction and handover.

TL;DR A successful retail fitout begins well before demolition or construction. Before work starts, confirm that the tenancy suits the business, understand the lease and make-good obligations, obtain landlord approval, identify the correct planning and certification pathway, document the design, verify existing services, set a complete budget and order long-lead items. The most expensive retail fitout problems usually come from decisions made too late: signing an unsuitable lease, assuming existing power or air conditioning is adequate, starting without coordinated drawings, leaving signage approval until the end or setting an opening date before approvals and procurement are confirmed. Use the checklist below to move from an empty or existing shop to a construction-ready project with fewe…