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Fitting out your own office: what it takes
If you lease a bare-shell floor, you design and build the office yourself. It suits teams of about 100 seats and up planning to stay 5 years or more. Here is how it works and what to check.
Managed office or your own fit-out?
| Managed office | Your own fit-out | |
|---|---|---|
| Move in | 2 to 6 weeks | 45 days to 5 months after signing |
| Upfront spend | Deposit only | Design and build cost, plus deposit |
| Design control | Operator's standard, some changes | Fully yours, your brand |
| Best for | Under about 100 seats, or under 3 years | About 100 seats and up, 5 years or more |
The steps
- Shortlist floors with the right floor plate, power back-up and parking. See office space for lease.
- Test-fit before you sign: a quick layout shows how many seats each floor really takes.
- Agree the fit-out period and landlord approvals in the lease.
- Design: layout, meeting rooms, services, then landlord and fire approvals.
- Build and hand over: civil work, services, furniture, IT, snag list.
Our interior partner
For design and build, we work with Officea, an office interiors firm that designs and builds workplaces across India. Ask us and we can arrange a complimentary test-fit for the floors on your shortlist.
Questions people ask
How long does an office fit-out take?
Most office fit-outs take 45 days to 5 months from design to handover, depending on size, scope and building approvals. A small office can be ready in about 45 days; large or multi-floor offices take up to 5 months.
Is it better to take a managed office or fit out my own?
A managed office is quicker and needs no upfront spend, and suits teams under about 100 seats or stays under 3 years. Your own fit-out costs more upfront but gives you full control of the design and usually costs less per seat over 5 years or more.
What should I ask a fit-out company?
Ask for a fixed scope and timeline, built projects of a similar size you can visit, who manages building approvals, what the warranty covers, and how changes during the project are priced.
Do landlords give a rent-free period for fit-out?
Many landlords in Gurgaon and Noida offer a rent-free fit-out period on bare-shell floors. It is agreed in the lease, so ask for it before signing.