Free tool · New Zealand
Fit-out budget checklist
Tick off every line a shop, café, salon or clinic fit-out usually involves, put a number against it, and see the full cost — including contingency and the GST you'll pay up front — against the cash you have.
Fit-out total, including contingency
$0
- Lines ticked
- 0
- Costs entered (ex GST)
- $0
- Contingency
- $0
- GST paid up front
- $0
- Less landlord contribution
- $0
- Less your cash
- $0
Funding gap: $0
A planning checklist only — not a quote, advice or an offer of finance. Nothing you enter is stored or sent.
See if you qualify for fit-out funding →Why fit-out budgets blow out
Most fit-out overruns don't come from the big, obvious items. They come from the lines nobody priced: the council fees, the grease trap a café needs, the accessible toilet upgrade the change of use triggered, the week of wages while staff train before opening, the bond the landlord asked for at signing. Ticking each line forces those conversations early, while you can still negotiate.
The GST line catches people out
If you're GST-registered you'll usually get the GST on fit-out invoices back through your return — but only after you've paid it. On a sizeable fit-out, that's a meaningful chunk of cash for a month or two. The checklist shows it separately so it isn't forgotten.
Funding the gap
A fit-out earns its keep over the life of the lease, so it usually makes sense to spread its cost over a similar period rather than drain your working capital. Owners commonly use a mix of their own cash, any landlord contribution, equipment finance for big items, and a term facility — unsecured for smaller amounts, or property-secured for larger ones. Read more on shop fit-out finance, plan the full project with our fit-out budget guide, and check the lease side in our commercial lease checklist.
When your numbers are in, start a 60-second enquiry with the total and the gap. No credit check to ask, your enquiry stays with one team, and a person will ring to talk it through. Accurate figures help us find the right fit first time.
Fit-out budgets: common questions
How much contingency should a fit-out budget include?
There's no official figure, but older buildings, kitchens and anything involving plumbing, extraction or structural work tend to throw up surprises. Many owners hold back a meaningful percentage of the build cost for the unexpected. The checklist lets you set your own and shows how it changes the total.
Do I need a building consent for a shop fit-out?
It depends on the work. Some interior alterations are exempt, but work affecting structure, fire safety, means of escape, plumbing or accessibility often needs consent. Changing the use of a space — for example turning a shop into a café — means notifying your council. Check with your council before work starts.
Can I claim GST back on fit-out costs?
If you're GST-registered, you can usually claim back the GST on fit-out costs in your return. But you still need the cash to pay the full invoice first, which is why the checklist shows GST as a separate cash line.
Does a fit-out qualify for Investment Boost?
Inland Revenue says improvements to depreciable property (but not residential buildings) can qualify, and that second-hand assets sourced from New Zealand don't. Investment Boost lets businesses claim 20% of the cost of new assets bought from 22 May 2025 as an expense. Confirm the detail with your accountant.
Who pays for the fit-out — me or the landlord?
It's negotiable. Landlords sometimes contribute to fit-outs or offer rent-free periods, especially on longer leases. Get the agreement in writing in the lease, along with what you'll need to remove or reinstate when the lease ends.
Fit-out costed? Let's fund the gap
A one-minute enquiry, no credit check to ask, and a person who understands main-street trade rings you back with options that fit.
No credit check to ask
Not handed round town
A local-minded person