What a fit-out costs in New South Wales
Per square metre, 2026 benchmarks, NSW cost index ×1.25 already applied. Divide the tenancy into three quality tiers — most first shops land in the middle column.
| Fit-out type | Basic | Mid-range | Premium | NSW working range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitality & Food | $3,125–$4,000 | $4,000–$5,625 | $5,625–$7,500 | $3,125–$7,500 |
| Retail & Fashion | $1,250–$2,125 | $2,125–$3,375 | $3,375–$5,250 | $1,250–$5,250 |
| Office & Workplace | $1,000–$1,750 | $1,750–$3,000 | $3,000–$5,000 | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Healthcare & Medical | $3,125–$4,250 | $4,250–$5,625 | $5,625–$8,125 | $3,125–$8,125 |
| Gym & Leisure | $1,125–$1,750 | $1,750–$2,500 | $2,500–$3,750 | $1,125–$3,750 |
| Education & Training | $1,000–$1,750 | $1,750–$2,750 | $2,750–$4,375 | $1,000–$4,375 |
| Warehouse / Industrial office | $1,000–$1,750 | $1,750–$2,500 | $2,500–$3,125 | $1,000–$3,125 |
60 m² ≈ $240,000 – $337,500
120 m² ≈ $480,000 – $675,000
200 m² ≈ $800,000 – $1,125,000
Contractors & designers in New South Wales
One list — fit-out contractors, interior designers and design-and-build firms together. Filter by the area they actually work in, not just where their office sits.
Approvals in New South Wales
Each state runs its own pathway — the three options below are the same everywhere, but the names, the fees and the timeframes are not.
Exempt / complying development
Cosmetic work, like-for-like replacement and joinery-only fit-outs that don't change use, structure, fire systems or egress.
Complying / fast-track approval
A deemed-to-comply pathway through a private certifier when the work meets a published standard — no council DA required.
Development application
Required when you change the use of the tenancy, alter the building envelope, or trigger fire and egress upgrades.
Tips & local guides for New South Wales
Short, specific, NSW-only. The things that cost people money when they find out too late.
Most NSW shopping centres and CBD towers have a design panel with their own drawing requirements, working hours and nominated contractors. Designing first and discovering the guide later is the single most common cause of a six-week delay.
If your lease says "return to base building condition", that is a real cost at exit — often $375–$750/m². Ask for the clause before you sign, and negotiate it down to "fair wear and tear".
Moving a sprinkler head, adding a smoke detector or altering an exit sign all require a licensed fire contractor and certification. On a 120 m² tenancy in NSW this typically adds $5,000–$15,000 — and it is not in most shopfitter quotes.
Inspection slots fill up. A fit-out that's physically finished but waiting on a final certificate still can't trade — and every week of delay is rent you're paying on a shop you can't open.