Search for a retail fit-out company in India and you will find long lists of names. A list does not tell you which contractor suits your store. This checklist sets out the questions brand, projects and property teams should ask before appointing a fit-out partner.

1. Have they built stores like yours?

Ask for completed projects in your category and format: fashion, beauty, electronics, jewellery, food and beverage, mall or high street, single flagship or national rollout. Look at photographs of finished stores, not renderings, and ask what the contractor’s scope was on each project.

2. Do they manufacture fixtures in-house?

Fixtures are often the longest lead item in a store fit-out. A contractor with its own workshop controls finish quality and dispatch timing. Ask to visit the facility and see work in production. PID Projects operates a 36,000 sq ft workshop in Tikri Kalan, New Delhi, with steel fabrication, modular woodwork, upholstery, painting and powder coating.

3. Can they deliver across cities?

For multi-store programmes, ask how the contractor manages simultaneous sites, local labour, transport and quality checks. Request examples of repeat delivery. Our retail experience includes 175 outlets for Blackberrys, 20 stores for Octave and 18 for Innisfree.

4. Is the quotation transparent?

A good quotation is an itemised BOQ priced against your drawings and specification. Check for provisional sums, exclusions and client-supply items. Compare quotes line by line, not by the total alone. Our guide to retail fit-out cost explains what to look for.

5. Do they understand mall requirements?

Mall projects come with fit-out manuals, approvals, deposits and night working. Ask how the contractor handles submissions and inspections. See our mall store fit-out guide.

6. Who will run your project?

Meet the project manager and site supervisor, not just the sales team. Ask how often you will receive progress updates, how decisions are recorded and who is the escalation contact.

7. How do they handle MEP and safety?

Electrical, HVAC and fire works must meet landlord and statutory requirements. Confirm whether these trades are in-house or subcontracted, and how testing and certification are documented.

8. What happens after handover?

Ask about the snag-closing process, defect liability period, as-built documentation and support for fixture repairs or replacements as the store trades.

9. How long have they been in business?

Longevity is not everything, but a long track record usually means stable teams, established suppliers and repeat clients. PID Projects was established in 1975 and has delivered more than 2,500 projects across retail, hospitality and commercial interiors.

10. Will they give you references?

Speak to existing clients, particularly those who have worked with the contractor on more than one project. Repeat appointments are one of the clearest signals of reliability.

Quick comparison checklist

Explore our retail fit-out services and completed projects, or share your store brief.