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Store opening checklist: from signed lease to first trading day

A phased checklist covering legal, fit-out, systems, stock, staffing and launch — written for opening a store in an Asian market where permits and landlord approvals set the timeline.

9 min read · Updated 1 August 2026

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Most delayed store openings are traced back to the same three causes: a permit that needed a document nobody owned, a landlord approval step that was not in the plan, and stock that arrived after the fit-out was finished. This checklist is ordered by dependency so those three do not happen.

Use it as a working document. Phase durations vary by market; the sequence rarely does.

Phase 1 — Legal and lease (before anything is built)

  • Signed lease with fit-out period, rent commencement date and turnover-rent terms confirmed in writing.
  • Local entity registered and tax registration complete, including any retail-specific licence.
  • Business permits identified per market, with lead times documented and owners assigned.
  • Fire safety, signage and, where relevant, food-handling permits started — these are usually the long poles.
  • Insurance in place: public liability, stock, business interruption, and any landlord-mandated cover.

Phase 2 — Design and fit-out approvals

  • Design pack submitted to the landlord and formally approved; keep the approval, not just the email.
  • Contractor appointed with a fixed programme, penalties and a named site manager.
  • Mechanical, electrical and data drawings reconciled with the point-of-sale and network plan.
  • Accessibility, fire egress and shopfront line checked against the mall's tenant handbook.
  • Site handover date confirmed and a weekly site meeting scheduled from day one.

Phase 3 — Systems and payments

  • Point of sale configured with local tax rules, receipt requirements and language.
  • Payment acceptance live and tested: cards, QR wallets used locally, and any mall gift-card scheme.
  • Network and back-up connectivity installed and tested under load, not just switched on.
  • Inventory system location created; store included in replenishment and stock-count schedules.
  • Loyalty programme, e-receipts and customer data capture tested end to end for privacy compliance.

Phase 4 — Stock and merchandising

  • Opening order placed with delivery dated to arrive after fit-out completion and before merchandising week.
  • Planogram and visual merchandising guide issued, with a fallback for late deliveries.
  • Pricing and promotional signage produced in the required local language.
  • Security tagging, back-of-house layout and stockroom capacity confirmed.
  • Full opening count completed and reconciled before trading, not after.

Phase 5 — People

  • Store manager hired well ahead of the team; they should recruit the rest.
  • Employment contracts, statutory registrations and payroll set up and tested with a dry run.
  • Product, service and system training delivered on site, with a mock trading day.
  • Rosters built for opening week at higher-than-steady-state cover.
  • Cash handling, opening and closing procedures documented and signed off.

Phase 6 — Launch and the first month

  • Google Business Profile, mall directory listing, website store locator and map data updated.
  • Local launch activity agreed with the landlord's marketing team; malls often co-fund.
  • Press and community outreach scheduled, with photography booked before opening day.
  • Daily trading review for the first two weeks: conversion, transaction value, queue times, stock gaps.
  • Thirty-day review against the pre-opening model, with actions on range, hours and staffing.

Key takeaways

  • Permits and landlord approvals set the critical path; start them the week the lease is signed.
  • Opening stock should arrive after fit-out and before merchandising week — not with the shelving.
  • Hire the store manager first and let them build the team.
  • Update local listings and map data before opening day, not after.

Questions & Answers

How long does a typical store opening take in Asia?

From signed lease to trading, fit-out itself is often the shortest phase. The variable is permitting and landlord approval, which differs by market and by mall operator. Build the plan backwards from the permit with the longest documented lead time.

What is most often forgotten?

Three things: business interruption insurance, tested payment acceptance for locally dominant QR wallets, and a full reconciled stock count before the first trading day.

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Researched, written and fact-checked by our newsroom. Last reviewed 1 August 2026. Meet the editorial team.

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