How to Create an Office Fit Out Budget
A fit out budget isn’t just a total figure. It’s a plan for how money moves through the project, and getting that structure right early avoids painful conversations later.
Start with a realistic per-sq-ft benchmark
Before detailed design, get an early estimate based on your space and specification level, so you’re not designing towards a figure that was never achievable. This is exactly what a fit out calculator is useful for — a starting point, not a final number.
Build in contingency properly
A sensible contingency allowance, typically somewhere in the region of 5–10% of construction cost depending on how much is unknown about the existing space, should be built in from the start rather than added as an afterthought when something goes wrong. Older buildings and full refurbishments generally warrant a higher contingency than a straightforward Cat B fit out.
Sequencing spend across the project
Not all costs land at once — design fees come early, construction costs are staged through the build, and furniture and final fit out costs land near completion. Understanding this cash flow shape helps avoid budget approval bottlenecks partway through the project.
Getting sign-off without surprises later
Present budgets with a clear breakdown by category (construction, M&E, furniture, IT/AV, professional fees, contingency) rather than a single number. This makes internal approval easier and gives you a clear reference point if variations come up mid-project.
