Proper planning is the key to success regardless of what you want to do. You might want to open a cafe business in a major city. You should start by getting the financial resources needed to successfully launch your business. You should have enough funds to lease the business premise, pay the business permit fees, buy furniture, purchase kitchen equipment and supplies, market the business and hire a cafe fit outs company to do the fitting. The last item is incredibly important as it will determine whether or not you attract and retain customers. Therefore, you should be prepared to invest heavily in professional cafe fit outs.
Hiring the Right Contractor
There are many cafe fitout companies in any given city, so you need to take your time to identify the best one for your needs. The following are some key factors that you need to consider during the search:
i) Licensing
The ideal contractor should be licensed to offer shop fitting services in the city. Their license should clearly state the type of works the contractor is authorised to handle, and should be valid for the year. Only licensed contractors should be shortlisted as this will make the process of narrowing down the search much easier.
ii) Experience
There are many great cafes in any given city. Once you have made your shortlist, you should check the number of cafes the firm has fitted and assess the quality of works. You can do this in two ways. The first is to go through the portfolio of the contractor to check the before and after pictures of previous projects. Secondly, you can visit some of the local cafes the firm has fitted to check out the ambiance and decor.
iii) Insurance and Bond
The ideal contractor should be properly insured against all the risks that may arise from the project. They should also be bonded to ensure you can always get compensation if the project is not completed, or if there are delays in completing the construction project. Be sure to read the policy document, terms and conditions of the insurance and bond before hiring any contractor.
iv) Pricing
The cost of the fitting job may be fixed, but different firms usually have different profit margins. Therefore, you should request all the firms on your shortlist to provide you with their quote for comparison. Obviously, you should give the contract to a firm that charges the lowest rates, but is highly qualified to handle the cafe fitout job. Before the project commences, make sure the turnaround time has been clearly defined.