Opening a shop? Know what the fit-out will cost — and what needs approving
Start with what it will cost, then what you'll need approved, then the right people to build it — a fit-out cost estimator, a contractor directory, and plain-English approval guidance for every Australian state. Free, independent, no sales calls.
What will your fit-out actually cost?
Get a real number before you talk to anyone — 2026 rates by sector, quality tier and state, from published market data.
Estimate my fit-out cost
Six questions — sector, state, size, quality tier — and you get a low / likely / high budget range with the full line-item breakdown: demolition, partitions, joinery, services, contingency.
- 2026 published bands: retail $1,000–2,750/m², hospitality $2,800–4,500/m², medical $2,500–4,000/m², office Cat B $1,500–2,500/m²
- Adjusted for all 8 states — e.g. NSW ×1.25, VIC ×1.12, QLD ×1.09
- Approval fees built in, not hidden
Costs in my state
Local 2026 cost benchmarks, typical project timeframes and the contractors working in your state — one page per state and territory.
See my state's numbers →Do you need council approval?
Find your state's pathway in minutes — written for tenants, not lawyers.
Approvals in my state
Exempt development vs CDC vs DA, side by side — who signs off, realistic timeframes and fee ranges for every Australian state.
- The four triggers that force a full development application
- Food, liquor, signage and fire licensing
- State-specific FAQs with links to the official authority
My state's checklist
Each state page carries its own approval FAQ — NSW CDC vs council DA, ACT crown lease variations, WA permits and more.
Open my state page →Three things, done properly
Everything on this site exists to answer one of three questions. Nothing else.
Fit-out cost estimator
Answer six questions and get a realistic 2026 budget range for your tenancy — plus the line-item breakdown so you can see where the money actually goes.
- Seven sectors, eight states, three quality tiers
- Line items: demolition, partitions, joinery, services, contingency
- Approval fees built in, not hidden
Contractor & designer directory
1,023 fit-out contractors, interior designers and design-and-build firms across Australia — filtered by state, area and the type of work you're doing.
- Interior designer · Fit-out contractor · Design & build
- Search by service area, not just suburb
- Free to list; sponsored placements always labelled
Approvals & permits
What needs approval, what doesn't, which pathway applies in your state, and how long each one actually takes — written for tenants, not lawyers.
- Exempt vs CDC vs DA, side by side
- Food, liquor, signage and fire licensing
- Realistic timeframes and fee ranges per state
Pick your state
Every state runs its own approval system, its own fees and its own cost index. Start with the one your shop is in.
What are you building?
Rates differ enormously — a café and an office shell are not the same job. Pick the closest.
Find contractors near you — 1,023 companies listed
Pick your state and fit-out type and we'll take you straight to the local shortlist — costs and approvals sit on the same page. No sign-up.
Straight answers to the questions people actually ask
Do I need council approval to fit out a shop?
Only if you change the use, the structure, the fire systems or the exits. Here's how to tell which of the three pathways you're in — with the four triggers that force a DA.
Why your fit-out quote came back 40% over budget
The five things that blow a shop fit-out budget: make-good clauses, after-hours works, fire upgrades nobody priced, joinery measured wrong, and the landlord's design panel.
The 6 stages of a shop fit-out, and who owns each one
From lease condition report to the final inspection — what happens in each stage, what it costs, and where tenants lose the most time.
Run a shopfitting or design business?
Get a free listing on the directory. Claim an existing listing, add your service areas and the sectors you work in — no cost, ever.