Conceptual investment · 6 min

Office build-out cost: what to include

The cost of planning an office and the cost of building it are different. A useful early investment discussion starts with the existing conditions, the proposed scope and the assumptions that still need verification—not a single national price per square foot.
Planora field guide

For businesses, property owners and broker teams planning a U.S. office.

Wood finishes and turquoise accents in the concept café.
Furniture, finishes and scope shape the investment. Concept café detail.

01

Separate the pack fee from the implementation budget

The PLANORA pack price pays for the conceptual proposal and its defined deliverables. It is not the price to construct, furnish or occupy the office. Decision adds conceptual investment information; Presentation focuses on the spatial and visual proposal.

Keep design fees, proposed construction, furniture and owner-side costs distinguishable. Identify what is included, excluded, already provided by the building or still unknown before comparing totals.

02

Build the budget around a scope

Use these headings to organize the first discussion. Their relevance and size depend on the actual project; this is not a national rate card or a contractor quotation.

Existing conditions

Surveys, removals, reuse and base-building assumptions

What is present, usable and confirmed?

Architectural fit-out

Partitions, doors, ceilings, flooring, finishes and joinery

What must change to realize the proposed layout?

Building systems

Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, lighting, data and fire-protection scope

What needs further specialist review or coordination?

Furniture & equipment

Workstations, meeting furniture, reception and shared amenities

What is reused, purchased separately or included?

Professional & project costs

Design, engineering, permits and other relevant project costs

Who is responsible and what is excluded?

Allowances & uncertainty

Unverified scope, contingencies and procurement assumptions

Which assumptions could materially change the total?

03

Compare offices on the same basis

An existing fitted suite and an unfinished shell do not begin at the same point. Compare the intended program, work area, reuse assumptions, finish level and systems scope—not only the headline total.

State location, estimate date and price basis. Separate a landlord contribution or lease incentive from the gross investment needed to deliver the proposal. Do not subtract an unconfirmed allowance as though it were agreed funding.

  • Same program and scope boundary
  • Existing versus proposed work clearly identified
  • Explicit exclusions and unverified conditions
  • Comparable estimate date and price basis

04

Use Decision to organize the next step

Decision connects the furnished proposal to fit and growth analysis, quantities, conceptual investment, a preliminary implementation timeline and supporting spreadsheets. The analysis is a starting point for review, not a guaranteed construction cost or contractor commitment.

The pack delivery time and the implementation timeline describe different things. Online pack delivery is within 24 consecutive hours of confirmed full payment; construction, approvals, purchasing and installation follow the actual project conditions.

See what Decision includes

One design, with fit, conceptual investment and implementation information.

Explore the next step See the demo

Next move

Bring the requirement. We will test the fit.

Choose your pack, add your brief and review the final total in one place. Your private project keeps the proposal and delivery together. A call is optional.

Start your project