A commercial general contractor in New Jersey turns an empty box into a working business: framing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, finishes, and the permits and inspections that let you open. Call (201) 676-3099 or book a free estimate.
A commercial general contractor in New Jersey turns an empty box into a working business: framing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, finishes, and the permits and inspections that let you open. This guide covers what a build-out costs per square foot in NJ in 2026, how long it takes, and what to have ready before you sign a lease.
First Call handles small and mid-size commercial build-outs across NJ: salons and med spas, cafés and restaurants, medical and dental offices, retail, and office suites up to about 10,000 square feet.
2026 NJ commercial build-out cost per square foot
Prices assume a vanilla shell with power and water at the wall. Older buildings, second-floor spaces with no elevator, and anything needing a new grease line or a sprinkler tie-in cost more. Ask for the number as one written price, not a per-foot guess.
| Type of space | Typical cost per sq ft, finished |
|---|---|
| Office suite, basic finish | $60 – $120 |
| Retail storefront | $80 – $160 |
| Salon, barbershop, spa | $120 – $220 |
| Medical or dental office | $180 – $350 |
| Café or quick-service restaurant | $180 – $300 |
| Full-service restaurant with kitchen | $250 – $450 |
What a commercial GC does that a handyman cannot
- Pulls the building, electrical, plumbing, fire and mechanical permits and coordinates every inspection
- Reads the landlord's work letter and tells you what the landlord pays for and what you pay for
- Handles ADA compliance: restroom clearances, door widths, counter heights
- Manages health department requirements for food and personal-care businesses
- Runs one schedule so the electrician is not waiting on the plumber who is waiting on the framer
- Carries commercial liability insurance the landlord will ask to see
Realistic timelines
Permits are the part nobody budgets for. Sign a lease with a free-rent period that covers them, and get drawings started before the lease is signed if you can.
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Design and drawings | 2 – 6 weeks |
| Permits in most NJ towns | 3 – 8 weeks |
| Construction, small office or retail | 4 – 8 weeks |
| Construction, salon or clinic | 6 – 12 weeks |
| Construction, restaurant | 10 – 20 weeks |
| Final inspections and certificate of occupancy | 1 – 3 weeks |
What to have ready before you call
- The lease or letter of intent, especially the landlord work letter
- A floor plan or a phone video walking through the space
- Your must-haves: number of chairs, rooms, sinks, ovens
- Your open date
- Your budget range, so we design to it instead of over it
Questions people ask next
Do you do commercial construction management in NJ?
Yes. For owners who already have an architect and drawings, we act as the general contractor and manager: permits, subs, schedule, inspections and the certificate of occupancy.
How much does a salon build-out cost in NJ?
Most salons and small spas land between $120 and $220 per square foot finished, so a 1,200 square foot space runs roughly $150,000 to $260,000 depending on plumbing at each station and finishes.
Who pays for the build-out, me or the landlord?
It depends on the lease. Many landlords give a tenant improvement allowance, a dollar amount per square foot toward the work. We read the work letter with you and split the scope into landlord items and tenant items.
Can you work at night or around a business that is open?
Yes, for renovations of an operating business we phase the work and do the loud parts after hours.
Do you handle restaurant kitchens?
Yes, including hood and fire suppression coordination, grease interceptors, floor drains and the health department walk-through.
Need a general contractor near you?
If you searched “general contractor near me” anywhere in New Jersey, that's us. First Call Contracting is based in Paramus and sends its own licensed crew to all 21 counties — written price before work starts, no deposit, a real person on the phone 24/7.
Opening a business in New Jersey?
Send the floor plan and your open date. We come back with a written price and a schedule that gets you open on time.
Or call Alex direct: (201) 676-3099