Do you have a lease renewal coming up? Are you opening a new practice? Are you trying to decide whether to renew a lease or purchase a building of your own? Here are the answers to common questions that people have when planning for their new holistic healthcare office space.
When should I begin planning for opening my new office?
We recommend starting on the process 18 months out. It can be done in less time, but the added time will reduce stress and allow your life not to get too out of balance.
Ready to get started?
Download our 5 PHASE Checklist For Opening Your Office
How much space do I need for my Chiropractic office?
This depends on your type of practice. We have never seen two Chiropractors practice exactly the same. Questions we ask in our process include: Will you have an open, semi-open, or closed room approach? What is the expected duration of each patient visit? What type of equipment will you be using? What are the ADA requirements and code regulations in your area? Check out our blog “Establish How Much Space You Need” to help you get a more clear picture.
What is the first step to finding space?
You need to know how much space you really need, what is your aesthetic vision, and the financial requirements. We refer to this first step as Due Diligence Design. This is where you develop an understanding of your square footage needs based on function, flow, adjacency requirements, and codes. Once you have the Due Diligence Design done, you can hire a commercial real estate agent to help locate spaces that fit your criteria. Learn more about space planning in our article about getting the most out of your Chiropractic office space.
I want to make changes to a space. When do I need a building permit?
If you are just opening a window in a wall, or just changing finishes, you don’t need a permit. But you do need the landlord (or past owner in a purchase) to provide you a current CO – Certificate of Occupancy – to get insure you can open for business. When you totally demolish, build or move a wall, you will need a building permit. You would also need a permit to add electrical or plumbing to your office space. When you’re doing any renovation project, even if it is small, it is often a good practice to ask permission from the city/county approval authorities in advance, instead of asking for forgiveness later. Cities and states write their own rules about when a building permit is needed, so it’s best to reach out to them to see what you need to comply in your area. Read more about building permits here.
How do I get a building permit?
You need to start by having a construction document prepared and then signed and sealed by a registered design professional. Depending on the magnitude of electrical, plumbing, & HVAC work you will be doing for your office, you may need to have separate electrical, plumbing, & mechanical work drawings prepared by the respective engineer. Your municipality should have the building permit information on their website to help you find out how and where to submit them.
How CrossFields Can Help
Whether it’s your first office or tenth, our team can help you with planning, designing, building, and equipping your holistic healthcare office. Contact us to schedule your Complimentary Consultation to talk to someone about your project today!
