Technology Planning Checklist for a New Business Location

Opening a new office, store, clinic, or warehouse involves hundreds of decisions. Technology often gets attention late, right around the time someone realizes the internet will not be installed until two weeks after opening day. This checklist helps you avoid that.

Before you sign the lease

If you can, check technology options before committing to a space.

• Run an availability check for the address and suite. Which internet providers already serve the building?
• Ask the landlord about existing fiber, cabling, and telecom rooms, and whether there are restrictions on which providers can enter.
• Note any construction requirements. If a provider must build to the building, timelines and costs can change significantly.

A building with several fiber providers already in place can save months and give you better pricing.

Three to six months before opening

Internet

• Choose a primary connection based on how critical the site is and how many people will rely on it.
• Decide whether the site needs a backup connection from a second provider.
• Place the order. Installation for fiber and dedicated connections can take weeks to months.
• Confirm who will be on site for installation and where the equipment will go.

Phones and communications

• Decide whether the location will join your existing phone system or needs its own.
• Plan main numbers, extensions, and how calls should route between locations.
• If you are moving, plan number transfers well ahead of the move date.
• Account for special lines: fire alarms, elevators, security systems, fax, and door entry.

Contracts

• If you are moving or closing a location, review existing contracts for that site. Note end dates, notice requirements, and any relocation or termination terms.
• Some providers allow services to move with you. Others treat a move as a cancellation.

One to three months before opening

Network and Wi-Fi

• Plan cabling for desks, phones, printers, cameras, and wireless access points.
• Determine Wi-Fi coverage needs, including separate guest networks.
• Order routers, switches, and firewalls, or confirm your managed service provider is handling them.

Security

• Plan firewall and endpoint protection for the new site.
• Coordinate security cameras, access control, and alarm monitoring.

Mobile

• Confirm mobile coverage inside the building. Some construction materials block cellular signal, and indoor coverage solutions take time to install.

Point of sale and specialized systems

• Confirm requirements for payment terminals, scheduling systems, or industry-specific equipment.

Two to four weeks before opening

• Confirm internet installation dates and test the connection once installed.
• Test failover to the backup connection.
• Test phone calls in and out, transfers, voicemail, and emergency calling location information.
• Walk the space to verify Wi-Fi coverage.
• Update your technology inventory with every new service, account number, and contract.

After opening

• Confirm the first invoices match what was quoted.
• Make sure promotional pricing and waived installation fees were applied.
• Add every new contract renewal date to your renewal calendar.
• Disconnect services at any location you left, and confirm final bills.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Ordering internet too late. This is the most common cause of delayed openings.
• Assuming a provider serves the building because they serve the neighborhood.
• Forgetting special lines for alarms and elevators.
• Leaving old services running at a former location.
• Skipping the backup connection at a site that cannot go offline.

Frequently asked questions

When should we start planning technology for a new location?

As soon as you are seriously considering an address. Internet availability can influence which space you choose, and installation can take weeks to months.

Can our current providers serve the new location?

Sometimes. National providers may cover the new address, but availability varies building by building. Always run an address-specific check.

Who should coordinate all of this?

Someone needs to own the timeline across providers, contractors, and internal teams. Many businesses ask a technology advisor to coordinate provider selection, ordering, and installation alongside their IT team.

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This article is general information, not advice for your specific situation. Pricing, availability, and terms vary by provider and location.