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Guides · Process & Approvals

How Long Does a
Fit-Out Actually Take?

"How long will this take" is usually the second question after cost, and the honest answer depends on which stage you are counting from. Here is a realistic breakdown of every stage, from first conversation to opening day.

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The six stages
of every project.

Every fit-out we deliver moves through the same six stages regardless of size: Discovery & Brief, Concept Presentation, Technical Design & Drawings, Authority Approvals, Build, and Handover. The stages do not fully run in sequence — technical drawings and authority submissions often overlap — but understanding each one is the difference between a realistic timeline and a guess.

Stage By Stage

From brief to handover.

1. Discovery & Brief
Typically 1–2 weeks. Covers brand standards, functional requirements, budget parameters and opening timeline before any design work begins.
2. Concept Presentation
Typically 2–3 weeks. Spatial layouts, mood boards, material directions and visuals, refined iteratively until approved.
3. Technical Drawings
Typically 2–4 weeks, often overlapping with authority submission. Full CAD packages for joinery, electrical, MEP and structural coordination.
4. Authority Approvals
Varies significantly by mall and submission complexity — see our dedicated guide on the approval process for what drives this timeline.
5. Build
6–10 weeks for a standard retail unit; longer for F&B due to kitchen equipment lead times and additional inspections.
6. Handover
Typically 1 week. Snagging, authority sign-off, and store-team walkthrough before keys and warranties are handed to the client.

Typical build
durations by category.

Once design is approved and construction begins, build duration itself varies by category. A standard 90–190 sq m retail unit typically takes 6–10 weeks from approved design to opening. Restaurant and F&B fit-outs generally run longer than retail of the same size due to kitchen equipment lead times, extraction system installation and additional food authority inspections. A bespoke kitchen renovation inside a villa typically takes 2–4 weeks from design and manufacture through to installation, while a full villa renovation covering multiple rooms is sequenced in phases and quoted individually based on scope.

What actually
extends a timeline.

The single biggest timeline risk is not construction itself — it is changes made after design approval. Every revision after a concept or technical drawing has been signed off resets part of the approval and procurement process behind it. The second most common cause is mall handover condition: a unit handed over with existing MEP infrastructure moves faster than a raw shell requiring full base-build coordination.

The most reliable way to protect a timeline is having design, technical drawings, authority submission and construction managed by one team, so nothing waits on a handoff between separate companies.

Frequently Asked

Common questions.

Can the design and approval stages run at the same time as construction?
Some early construction preparation can begin before final approval in certain malls, but structural and MEP work generally cannot start until the relevant authority sign-off is in place.
What is the fastest a retail unit fit-out can realistically be delivered?
For a straightforward unit with a handed-over MEP infrastructure and no design changes after approval, 6 weeks from approved design to opening is achievable. Most projects run 8–10 weeks when realistic contingency is included.
Does a bigger unit always mean a longer timeline?
Not proportionally. Unit size matters less than finish complexity and how much of the base-build infrastructure needs to be built from scratch versus inherited from the mall.
How far in advance should I start the process before my target opening date?
As a general guide, allow 3–4 months from initial brief to opening for a standard retail unit, and 4–6 months for a restaurant, to comfortably absorb design iteration and authority approval timelines.
Related Reading

Explore further.

Design & Consultation Process → Mall Authority Approval Explained → Fit-Out Cost Guide → Restaurant & F&B Fit-Out → Kitchen Renovation →
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