What does $200 / SF get you now?

Ed Waldvogel • July 8, 2025

Construction budgets are rising, but so are complexity and delays. Here’s what that means for real-world projects.

We’re spending more than ever to build...and getting less.

 

Back in 2015, I was building Starbucks stores across the western U.S. At the time, the core and shell came in around $180 per square foot.

 

Fast forward to today: You can spend well over $200/SF and still fall short.

 

In addition to inflation, we're also facing:

  • Longer permitting cycles
  • Stricter energy codes and plan reviews
  • Trade shortages and labor premiums
  • More ambitious tenant expectations

So what do smart teams do now? They shift their mindset from, How can we save?, to:

  • How can we build more efficiently?
  • How early can we align expectations?
  • Where can we avoid design, permitting, and coordination delays before they start?

Better planning and earlier management will help keep costs down.

 

Here's a look at current averages by building type:

Retail: $325 – $450

Office: $300 – $550

Medical Office: $280 – $500

Restaurant / Food Service: $250 – $600+

Warehouse / Industrial $200 – $300

 Source: Commercial Construction Cost Per Square Foot, HomeGuide


If you’re navigating growth, remodels, or team changes, let’s connect. A 20-minute call could save you months of headache.


Join Our Newsletter

It’s a tech-driven indoor golf simulator experience powered by Full Swing.

Emerging Brands: Why this Indoor Golf Brand is Surging

By Ed Waldvogel • July 8, 2025
Founded in 2020, Back Nine is one of the fastest-growing franchise concepts in the country with more than 165 locations open or in development across 38 states. There's no kitchen to staff, no inventory to manage, no grass to cut and fertilize. Each location runs on automatic.
You know the drill, one quarter it’s go (more& new), the next it's pause (cut, & reduce).

Hiring Smarter in a High Pressure Year

By Ed Waldvogel • May 30, 2025
Building the right team has always been part strategy and part gut instinct. But in 2025, with directives shifting quarter by quarter, it’s more like threading a needle during an earthquake.
Even fast-growing brands are making tough calls, scaling back in-house teams, hitting pause...

The Most Valuable Hire in 2025?

By Ed Waldvogel • May 1, 2025
Growth isn’t off the table. It just looks different (perhaps better). This is when flexible partnerships win. Outsourced project management works for retail brands and franchises that want to expand without rebuilding full in-house teams, keep projects moving while staying lean, and get expert-level management without long-term payroll commitment.