Most people who call us asking about an office fitout consultation in Melbourne expect a tradesperson with a tape measure and a quote by Friday. That's not what this is, and it catches a few callers off guard.
We run a full design consultation valued at $1,900. It's a proper workspace design process, not a sales visit dressed up as one. If you're trying to work out whether it's worth applying, this covers what actually happens, what you get at the end, and who we take on.
Why this isn't a free measure and quote
A measure-and-quote call takes an hour. Someone walks your space, counts desks, and emails you a number a few days later. That's fine if you already know exactly what you want.
Most businesses don't. They know the current layout isn't working — too much wasted space near the kitchen, not enough meeting rooms, a growth plan that doesn't fit the current floor plate — but they haven't mapped out the fix. Our consultation exists for that gap. It's closer to hiring an architect for a day than getting a furniture quote.
We only take on 10 applications a month. That's not a scarcity trick. Producing an architect-level plan for each client takes real design hours, and we'd rather do fewer properly than rush a dozen.
What the $1,900 actually covers
Here's the sequence, roughly in order.
On-site assessment. We visit, measure the space properly, and talk to whoever runs day-to-day operations, not just the person signing off on budget. We want to know how teams actually move through the space, not just the square metreage.
Workplace strategy session. This is where headcount growth, team adjacencies, meeting room needs, and the split between focus work and collaboration get worked through. Power and data layout comes up here too, especially in older Melbourne CBD buildings where cabling is an afterthought from the last tenant.
2D architectural space plan. A proper floor plan showing circulation paths, desk placement, and where the pinch points will be before you've spent a dollar on furniture.
3D render. A walkthrough of what the finished space looks like. This is usually the point clients start reworking their mental picture of the project — the render tends to show that the layout they'd sketched on a whiteboard doesn't actually work once desks and walkways are drawn to scale.
Moodboard and materials palette. Finishes and colour direction matched to how the business presents itself, not a generic template.
Itemised proposal. Furniture options with alternatives at different price points, so you can see where the budget flexes.
None of this is speculative. It's the same process we run before any fitout project, whether the client ends up spending $25,000 or $250,000.
Who we take on
We prioritise businesses that:
- Are planning an upgrade, renovation, or relocation
- Have 10+ staff
- Want to move within the next one to six months
- Have a project budget over $20,000
- Value a proper strategic process over a quick quote
If you're a five-person team looking to buy a few desks, this consultation is overkill — talk to us about furniture directly instead. If you're 15 people outgrowing a Richmond warehouse conversion with six months left on the lease, this is exactly the process built for you.
What happens if you're not approved
Not every application fits. If the project's too small, too far out, or better solved with a straight furniture order, we'll say so and point you toward the right service instead of trying to force a fit. Some smaller jobs are better served through our office fitouts Melbourne service directly, without the full design package.
What clients ask before applying
The most common question on the phone is some version of "will this actually turn into real drawings, or is it a sales pitch?" It turns into real drawings. The 2D plan and 3D render are deliverables you keep and can take to another provider if you decide not to proceed with us — though in practice, once people see the full plan, most do.
The second most common question is about timing. From application to delivered plan usually takes two to three weeks, depending on how quickly we can get the on-site visit booked and how many revision rounds the workplace strategy session throws up.
Booking the consultation
Applications open every month, capped at 10. If your project fits the criteria above, apply through the consultation page and we'll confirm within a few business days whether we can take it on.
FAQ
Is the office fitout consultation really free? Yes, if your application is approved. The $1,900 figure is the value of the design work delivered — the on-site assessment, 2D and 3D plans, moodboard, and itemised proposal — not a fee you pay.
How long does the whole process take from application to final plan? Most projects take two to three weeks from approved application to delivered space plan, depending on site access and how many changes come up during the strategy session.
Do I need to already have a budget locked in before applying? No, but you should have a rough range in mind. We ask for a project budget over $20,000 because that's roughly where a full design process starts paying for itself versus a straight furniture quote.
What happens if my application isn't approved? We'll tell you why and point you to the right alternative — usually a direct fitout quote or furniture consultation instead of the full design package.
Can I use the 2D and 3D plans with a different fitout provider if I don't proceed with TAO? Yes. The plans are yours once delivered, though most clients who go through the process end up continuing with us for the build.
