5 Tips on How to Build a Storefront
by Miles Bianchi, Build Environmental Lead
So you’re ready to take the next step in your business journey and manifest your great idea in the physical realm by building out a storefront, cafe, office, or restaurant. Congrats! The prospect of having a space is an exciting one if not a daunting one. In order to get you started in the right direction, we put together a few tips that will hopefully make the process seem more doable and less mysterious. With the right open mindset and a little bit of help, the process is as fulfilling as it is educational.
Take your time
From finding a space to move in, a typical build-out can take anywhere from 9 months to 2 years or more, depending on how big the space is, and how complicated the construction is. When planning a build-out project of your own, be sure to consult with your architect, designers, and contractors to understand how long the project should take if all goes to plan, and at which points in the process you could face delays. Construction is complicated, so make sure you have enough padding in your schedule to account for changes, and that you have enough runway to accommodate the time it takes to complete your build-out without having to make sacrifices due to time.
3. Build a team you can trust
If you’ve never built anything before, there will be so much you don’t know about the process. I’ve been building spaces for nearly 15 years, and I come across new challenges during every project and rely on a team of seasoned professionals to help navigate these situations. You can’t know what you don’t know, which is why it’s important to hire a team of project managers, designers, architects, engineers, consultants, and a contractor, who you feel that you can trust, and who holds similar values to you. It takes a village to build a project, and everyone in your village should want to see you succeed every step of the way. A great place to start is to work with an owners’ rep construction manager who will be focused on understanding your needs, how you like to work, and assembling a team that matches those needs.
5. Get Creative
Construction costs are getting increasingly more expensive every year, and supply chains are extending construction schedules in ways that can make the building process seem untenable. The good news is that there are tons of ways to incorporate non-traditional methods and materials into your project that will save you time and money. One of my favorite examples is Tides Restaurant in New York City. LTL, the architecture firm that designed the project, used over 100,000 bamboo skewers to create a wave-like form on the ceiling that created a connection to the restaurant's branding and concept. With a little extra of your time and a creative mindset, these kinds of installations can provide a powerful customer experience for a relatively low cost.
2. Contingency, contingency, contingency!
Like construction schedules, construction budgets have a tendency to grow, not contract, over the course of a project. In order to avoid delays due to unforeseen physical conditions, or city requirements, make sure to add 15-20% on top of the amount you already have budgeted to account for the unexpected. There will likely be changes that come up that may be expensive, and you’ll be glad you have the extra money set aside to cover them. If not, you can use that extra money to buy yourself champagne and celebrate completing the only project ever to not need contingency!
4. Find Resources
The more successful your storefront, cafe, or restaurant is, the better it is for your community. With that in mind, there is likely a whole ecosystem of resources in your city to help you succeed. For instance, if you’re in San Francisco, the city will give you up to $5k towards construction, and free design services to help build your storefront. There are also organizations like the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center that can help you find technical assistance, provide entrepreneurship training or connect you with a network of resources in the Bay Area targeted at new and growing business owners. Don’t be frugal with your Google - there are plenty more grants and organizations in your community that are there to help!
Hopefully, these tips (or tips of the iceberg) give you a small sense of how to be successful in your build-out journey. If you have any questions or want some more help with the process, reach out to us for a free construction management consultation and more information on how we help small businesses thrive in their physical spaces!