08/05/2022
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1ď¸âŁ Scoping
Good planning is the essential foundation of a successful business refurbishment project. So much of the process is dependent on other factors: do you work out your designs before you have your budget in place? Can you successfully budget before you know what permissions youâre likely to obtain? And is there any point applying for permissions before you know the actual design of your refurbishment?
This can often seem like a daunting and impossible task, but the key thing to remember is that your plans donât need to be especially fleshed out or perfect at the start. Thereâll be plenty of time to pick out the exact shade of paint and break down the budget later. For now, you just need a rough idea on the key aspects. Structural changes to the building, the overall funds you have available for the project and basic information about your areaâs permissions are all key points to investigate.
2ď¸âŁ Design and Budget
With an overview in place, itâs time to start filling in the details. First and foremost for your budget: assign contingency funds. The nature of refurbishment is unpredictable, and you can easily end up running into a cost that you havenât expected. If youâre working with tradesmen, ensure that theyâre regularly providing you with updates on costs and materials: keeping track of expenses as they occur is much better than being hit with a hefty invoice at the end of a project. If you need extra financial support, youâll find many banks offer small business loans specifically to cover renovations and refurbishments.
For design, always keep in mind the end goal that youâre hoping to achieve. Itâs no use having lots of beautifully designed elements if they donât have any synergy.
3ď¸âŁ Permissions
The extent of permissions that youâll need to acquire depend largely on the type of work youâre looking to have done. If itâs just a fresh coat of paint and new furniture, then youâre good to go, but for more extensive changes youâll need to seek permission from your local council. This includes work that will âmaterially change the exterior of your businessâ, such as new shop fronts or entrance doors.
For your planning application to be considered, you must submit the following:
The necessary plans of the site
The required supporting documentation
The completed form
The correct application fee
We cannot stress enough how important it is to acquire permission before you actually begin work. Having your plans rejected can be extremely costly if youâve already started making changes, purchased materials or hired labour.
4ď¸âŁ The Refurbishment
Much of the stress and work of the actual business refurbishment can be avoided if you follow the steps above and think ahead as thoroughly as you can. But still, unexpected costs and complications can happen to even the most diligent of planners. The key is to keep calm and keep informed. Have a good idea of the day-to-day running of your renovation and ensure that you nip any potential issues in the bud. Assuming youâve done your homework and allocated a decent contingency, things are likely to work out in the end: a fact that can easily slip your mind when a slew of wiring suddenly needs to be replaced, or a pipe bursts!
5ď¸âŁ Promotion
Arguably the most important step in the entire process, yet one of the most underappreciated, is making the most out of your refurbishment. Once work is complete, itâs time to shout about it. A visual makeover is a great selling point to push out across your social media channels and will often entice existing customers into revisiting soon. You can pair it with events to act as a catalyst to drive in new business as well. The result is often an increased level of exposure for both the event and the refurbishment, ultimately improving awareness and perception of your business.
