When you’re planning a new commercial building, one question rises to the top: “How long will it take?”
For business owners, timelines matter as much as budgets. Every week of delay can affect revenue, customers, or operations. At A&B Buildings, we believe in being upfront about what shapes your construction schedule—so you can plan with confidence and avoid surprises.
Before diving into cost drivers, here are a few local facts worth knowing:
This means your land cost, site conditions, and local market expectations will strongly influence your build cost.In Wyoming (and more broadly in U.S. non-residential construction), timelines vary widely based on project size, scope, site and approvals. According to the U.S. Census Bureau projects in the “private non-residential (commercial)” category completed in 2016-17 averaged about 7.6 months from start to completion across all sizes.
Other industry commentary shows that for mid-sized commercial builds “8-18 months” is common, and large or complex facilities may take a year or more.
Because of this range, the following timeline estimates are offered as guidelines—not guarantees:
These align with the general data, though the “3-6 months” figure for simple builds is more optimistic than many published averages.
Site Prep & Permits: In Wyoming, land may not always be build-ready. Clearing, grading, utility connections, and permitting can add weeks or months. Permitting and approvals often extend timelines significantly.
Design & Engineering: The more bespoke and complex the design (e.g., specialized tenant spaces, high wind/snow load requirements, energy-efficient systems), the longer it takes.
Material Choices & Supply Chains: Construction methodology (e.g., post-frame vs conventional) and supply availability affect pace. Some sources suggest post-frame systems may allow faster erection.
Weather & Building Season: Wyoming’s climate (snow, wind, short warm months) can slow groundwork or exterior work.
Crews & Project Management: The efficiency of the builder, coordination, schedule management and avoiding changes mid-stream are major influences on timeline.
Some companies promise rapid builds at very low cost. The reality: shortcuts in planning, permitting, or construction may cause costly delays, compliance issues or poor long-term performance. Efficiency means smart planning, robust scheduling and communication—not simply “rush it through.”
Post-Frame: These systems often allow faster construction because fewer heavy concrete or structural steps may be required. For example, one manufacturer says larger post-frame commercial projects can take “three to six months or longer.”
Steel-Frame: Often slightly longer than post-frame because of span and structural complexity, but generally faster than traditional stick-built in many cases.
Although both may outperform conventional builds in some contexts, published data suggests that many commercial builds still take 8-18 months or more to complete.
Your build timeline isn’t just about getting doors open—it’s tied to your return on investment. A faster, well-managed build often means:
Here’s our recommended process for business owners:
We don’t deal in vague promises or hidden costs. At A&B, you’ll get:
If you’re ready to plan your commercial build with confidence, contact A&B Buildings today for a free consultation. Let’s build something strong, efficient, and aligned with your business.
Get your free consultation with A&B Buildings.
We’ll help you set a budget you can trust, and deliver a building that will last for decades.
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