"How much to fit out my store?" is the question, and the honest answer is: it depends on how many line items you can name. Buyers who budget "fixtures" as one number always get surprised; buyers who budget five numbers never do. I've quoted hundreds of fit-outs, so let me show you the line-by-line version.
Line one: the racks and rails (the biggest chunk)
For a mid-size store, hanging capacity is where most of the money goes. Working from factory-direct pricing: straight rails $15–25, double-rail units $25–45, four-way stands $30–60, wall systems $8–15 per linear foot installed hardware included. A 100 sqm store typically lands around $4,000–8,000 FOB for the hanging program alone, depending on finish choices. Chrome or custom colors push the top of that range; standard matte black sits at the bottom.
Line two: tables, gondolas and folded display
Denim, knitwear and accessories sell off tables, and tables cost more than people expect — decent nesting tables run $80–200 each at wholesale. Budget 15–20% of your fixture spend here. Stores that skip folded display and go all-hanging look like warehouses with music. Some customers are rack shoppers and some are table shoppers; you need both or you've banned half your market.
Line three: the invisible costs (this is where budgets die)
Freight first: a mixed 40 ft HQ container of fixtures from China runs $2,500–4,500 depending on the season — sometimes a fifth of the project. Then customs, then installation labor, then the hardware nobody budgets: wall anchors, leveling feet, spare casters, the 2% hardware overage. Add 20–25% on top of fixture FOB value and your budget stops lying to you.
Line four: what I'd never cut, and what I'd cut first
Never cut: the racks near the entrance, the checkout counter, and coating quality — those take abuse and define the store's first impression. Cut first: exotic finishes in the stockroom, matching every last accessory, and the temptation to buy for a future expansion that may never come. Fixtures can be added; bad cash flow at opening cannot be un-spent.
A real number to anchor against
Recent project, mid-range menswear store, about 90 sqm: fixtures FOB $6,200, freight $2,900, install two days with two people. He budgeted $12,000 total for the fixture program and came in under, which he spent on better lighting — a trade I'd endorse every time. Fit-out budgeting isn't about spending less; it's about knowing where each dollar actually lands before the invoice does.