Given the fierce competition out there, it’s clear that running a profitable commercial business is not a piece of cake. There are so many things you need to focus on if you want to create a foundation for success, such as making a business plan, studying your competitors, and providing excellent customer service. But a detail that’s often overlooked is the business premise itself. The design of the commercial building plays a crucial role in the success of your business, and you need to pay attention to several aspects, from the site selection to the type of materials used in the construction process.
It’s essential to keep in mind that your business premise is the physical embodiment of your brand, so it has a massive impact on how customers will perceive you. Believe it or not, a functional and appealing commercial building design is highly related to higher sales, bringing your business long-term gains. But truth be told, building a commercial premise can be daunting as it involves many steps. This is why we’ve created a guide for you, so that you can smoothly navigate the process and ensure your commercial property meets a profitable and quality standard.
Set goals for the commercial building
First things first, you want to start by figuring out how the construction of a commercial building will help you. What problems do you intend to solve by building such a premise? What are the benefits you will get? And what about the long-term goals for your business? These are all critical questions to ask yourself before you reach out to contractors and start building the premise.
It’s a good idea to also schedule a meeting with the management team, stakeholders and workers to determine the requirements necessary for the premise.
Develop a clear budget
Constructing a commercial building requires a substantial investment, so you need to have a plan in place and manage your money effectively – otherwise, you could end up running out of funds, forcing you to stretch over your budget. There are many expenses involved in the building of a commercial property, such as site development, permits and consents, design, building materials, specialist contractors, and finishes, to name just a few. So, when budgeting, consider all of them to ensure you get enough funds to support the construction.
Keep in mind that builds are different, so you will need proposals from different sources to get a clear idea of the costs and limitations. Ideally, you should also allocate 5% to 10% of the total budget for any unforeseen costs.
Make sure to get the design right
If you want your commercial building to offer long-term profitability, pay attention to its design. In other words, before you look for a qualified contractor, you’ll need to hire both an interior designer and an architect to help you complete your commercial building project. While an architect will ensure the building layout is functional and efficient, the designer will ensure the space is aesthetically pleasing. An interior designer will also help you make the right choices regarding the materials used in the construction process. You need long-lasting, durable materials for your commercial business, such as concrete, which (luckily) also happens to be quite affordable, making it an excellent choice. Some reliable suppliers like Titan Concrete also provide ready mix concrete, which is not only cost-effective, but also easy to use, making it an excellent option.
An architect and interior designer will collaborate to ensure harmony between the commercial building’s interior and exterior, thus helping you achieve your business goals. For this step, you can refer to the ideas you may have gotten from your stakeholders and staff, as their input could turn out truly valuable for the design of your business premise.
Hire a skilled contractor
After getting clear on the design of the commercial building, it’s finally time to look for a contractor. This can be intimidating, because the success of the building is dependent on how well the construction is executed. This is why you need to be careful when choosing a building contractor, as no matter how much love and money you invest in the project, everything will be wasted if you work with the wrong contractor.
To make the right choice, research different building contractors and focus on their expertise. You can ask them for references and guarantees on other projects they worked on in the past, as this will give you confidence that you can trust them with your own project, too.
Get the necessary documentation
Unlike domestic properties, you need to follow certain regulations and rules when constructing a commercial building and get certain permits. So, before moving to the construction process itself, make sure you have all the required paperwork to get started.
If you don’t have the permits, you could face legal repercussions, and even be forced to stop the construction project. Hence, steer clear of such issues by ensuring regulatory authorities approve your building’s map.
Be realistic about the completion of the project
You probably wish the construction project to be finished as soon as possible, but realistically speaking, this is a massive endeavour which will take some time – as long as you want it to be done carefully. Generally, there are so many aspects involved in the construction of a commercial building, including heavy equipment, sub-contractors and building inspections, so be sure to set a realistic timeline regarding its competition.
When considering the project duration, don’t forget there could be many factors that delay the completion, ranging from manageable ones like lack of human capital and design constraints to inevitable ones like weather conditions. Communicate with your contractor regularly to determine possible delays and remember to be flexible regarding the commercial building construction timeline.
The bottom line
The commercial building is the place where your business operations will take place, so it only makes sense to ensure the project is completed successfully. The space should be well-thought-out, and for this to be possible, it is necessary to work with skilled professionals. They will ensure the business premise is a direct reflection of your brand, helping you make a good impression and setting you up for long-term profitability.
