No two builds are the same. While custom design details, square footage, and material selections can shift your finish date, these general timelines offer a starting point for your planning:

Project Type

Estimated Timeline

Small Renovation (Commercial Bathroom/Kitchen/Conference Room Remodel)

4 – 8 Weeks

Large Renovation (Commercial Renovation/Addition)

4 – 9 Months

Commercial Build

6 – 18 Months

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to account for “Pre-Construction.” Design and permitting can add 2 to 5 months to your calendar before a project can begin.

Think of a permit as your “legal green light.” It ensures your project meets safety, zoning, and structural codes. Here is the typical path a permit takes:

Application & Drawings: You (or your builder/architect) submit detailed blueprints to the local building department.

Review: City officials check for compliance with fire safety, energy codes, and zoning laws.

Issuance: Once approved, you pay the permit fee and work can begin.

Inspections: At key stages (foundation, framing, electrical), an inspector will visit to ensure everything matches the approved plans.

Final Sign-off: After a final walkthrough, you receive a Certificate of Occupancy.

In 2026, costs have stabilized but remain higher than in previous years due to labor and specialty material costs. While “per square foot” is a helpful baseline, remember that high-end finishes (like marble vs. laminate) can swing these numbers significantly.

Light Tenant finish, MEP already in place, just redistribution, $65-95

Interior Tenant finish Ranges: $80-150 per square foot

Light medical, dental, Heavy MEP projects: $125-250 per squar efoot

High-End Luxury: $250 per square foot and up

Factors that drive the price up:

Site preparation (demolition, moving existing electrical, hvac or plumbing, etc.)

Complexity of the roofline and architectural features.

Heavy Mechanical, electrical, Plumbing projects

High-end finishes

Traditionally, you would hire an architect to design a building and then “bid” that design out to different contractors. Design-Build simplifies this by putting everyone under one roof.

The 5 Steps of Design-Build:

Team Selection: You hire one firm that handles both design and construction.

Pre-Construction: The architect and builder work together with you to ensure the design fits your budget from day one.

Architectural Design: Plans are finalized. Because the builder is involved, “unbuildable” designs are caught early.

Construction: The same team that designed the project now builds it, leading to fewer communication gaps.

Post-Construction: A final walkthrough and hand-off.

The Benefit? It typically results in faster delivery and fewer change orders because the people building the project helped design it.