Typical restaurant project costs
For a 2,000-square-foot restaurant in the GTA, construction often ranges from $300–$500 per square foot for a second-generation renovation and $500–$800+ per square foot for a full restaurant conversion. That places a typical budget between $600,000–$1,000,000 for renovations and $1,000,000–$1,600,000+ for complete buildouts.
Concept development
Brand integration, space planning, guest experience strategy and seating capacity analysis set the direction for every later decision.
Architectural drawings and interior design
Floor plans, demolition plans, reflected ceiling plans and finish plans, supported by material selections, millwork concepts, lighting design and furniture specifications.
Permit drawings and consultant coordination
A building permit package with accessibility compliance and fire code coordination, plus coordination with mechanical, electrical, structural and kitchen consultants.
Construction documentation
Detailed millwork drawings, finish schedules, equipment coordination and tender package preparation give contractors a complete scope to price.
How much should design fees be?
For most hospitality projects, design and documentation fees typically fall between 8% and 15% of construction value, depending on scope and services. Minimizing design costs is tempting, but incomplete drawings often lead to change orders, delays, permitting issues and contractor pricing uncertainty.
The real question
A better question than “How much does design cost?” is “How much risk does proper design remove?” A complete design package helps define scope, reduce construction surprises, improve contractor pricing and create a guest experience that supports long-term revenue growth. Consultony provides restaurant planning, design coordination and construction documentation support throughout Toronto and the GTA.