A layout refresh, a complete visual concept, and a detailed design handoff are different assignments. Before comparing fees, write down the outcome you need: a better customer path, a stronger brand experience, or a coordinated set of design decisions for contractor discussions.
The figures below are JQ33 DESIGN's published starting prices in Canadian dollars as of September 2026. They are design fees, not a survey of Montreal market rates or an estimate of your construction cost. Your proposal confirms the actual scope and price.
Reference / Planning & documentation
"BUDGET FOR THE DECISIONS. THEN PRICE THE WORK."
Start with the right scope
Choose the package that matches the work you need now. A higher tier makes sense when you need more coordinated decisions and documentation; it is not automatically the best place to start.
- Layout Sprint — from $2,900 CAD. A starting point for zoning, furniture or equipment placement, and circulation decisions.
- Signature Interior — from $6,800 CAD. A broader concept with layout, finish palette, lighting direction, and key 3D views.
- Contractor-Ready Package — from $12,500 CAD. More detailed design direction for multi-zone spaces, sourcing, and contractor pricing discussions. Confirm the exact drawing and specification list in your proposal.
What changes the quote?
Floor area matters, but it is only one part of scope. A small salon with wash stations, storage, retail display, and several service types can involve more decisions than a larger room with one use. Share your equipment list and the number of zones before asking for a price.
Existing information matters too. A usable floor plan, clear photos, and reliable dimensions help establish the starting point. If measurements or a site visit are needed, ask how that work is included in your proposal. Decide who will approve the design and consolidate feedback so each revision round has a clear purpose.
- Number of customer and staff zones
- Existing plans and site information
- Number of views, elevations, and specified items
- Custom fixtures and technical coordination needs
- Revision rounds and changes after approval
Keep separate budget lines
Use separate lines for design fees, construction and installation, furniture and equipment, professional or approval-related services, and the amount you want to hold for unresolved conditions. Ask who is supplying and pricing each item. A material direction in a design presentation does not mean the material itself is purchased.
Do not treat a rendering as a construction quote. A contractor needs site information and an agreed scope to price the work. Confirm any specialist drawings, permit submissions, engineering, purchasing, or site supervision separately rather than assuming the package name includes them.
Compare proposals like for like
Make a short comparison with one row per deliverable: layout, finish schedule, lighting direction, 3D views, elevations, revision rounds, and handoff meeting. Beside each, note what is included, what information you must provide, and what remains to be quoted.
Then compare the questions each proposal resolves. If you mostly need to decide whether the customer and staff flow works, start there. If that flow is settled but the space lacks an identity, finish and lighting direction may be the more useful investment.
Bring a brief, even a rough one
Send your business type, location, approximate area, existing plans or photos, target opening period, and the three decisions that feel hardest. Separate your total project budget from what you have allocated to design. If either is unknown, say so; an honest starting point is more useful than a number chosen to fill a box.
Use the sample package in our planning resources to see how a brief becomes a set of recorded design decisions. The package-fit guide can help you start the conversation, and the written proposal determines the final scope.
Prices are starting points for JQ33 services. Your space, existing information, and requested deliverables determine the proposal. Check the Services page for the current package details.
Put a scope around your idea
Tell us what you are planning and what you need to decide. We will discuss a suitable design scope.