How do you choose a shopfitting contractor?
Questions to ask, documents to request and warning signs to look for before you sign.
Choose a shopfitting contractor who surveys the unit before pricing, gives an itemised fixed price with a dated programme, can show insurance certificates and references from completed jobs, explains who will do each trade, and sets out payment stages, warranties and approvals in writing.
What should you ask for?
- Public and employers' liability insurance certificates
- References or photos from similar completed jobs
- An itemised quote rather than a single lump sum
- A dated programme
- Who manages the job day to day
- Which approvals they will handle
- What certificates you will receive at handover
What are the warning signs?
Prices given without a site visit, large upfront payments before any design work, vague descriptions such as "fit-out as discussed", no written programme, and reviews or accreditations that cannot be verified.
How do we work?
You contract with one company for the whole job. Our managers run the programme and the trades are carried out by vetted specialist teams under our supervision. Our quotes are itemised, include a programme, and set out payment stages and warranties.
Questions people ask
Should I get more than one quote?
Yes, it is sensible to compare. Itemised quotes make it easier to see whether contractors have priced the same scope.
What payment terms are normal?
Staged payments tied to progress are common. Ours are set out in your quotation.
Related guides
- Which building regulations apply to a shop fit-out?
- What do you need to fit out a café or restaurant?
- What is the difference between shell, Cat A and Cat B fit-out?
- How much does a shop fit-out cost in the UK?
Last reviewed September 2026. General guidance only; your survey confirms what applies to your premises.
Ready to plan your fit-out?
Book a free site survey and get a fixed-price, itemised quote.