In short
Choose a stand builder on evidence: recent work at your venue, a real workshop or named partners, a project manager you can talk to, insurance and a clear contract. Ask to see drawings as well as photos of finished stands, and call a client from the last year. Compare fairly by giving every builder the same drawings. Local knowledge of the venue is often worth more than a lower price.
Key points
- Ask for work at your venue, or at least in your country.
- Meet the person who will run the project on site.
- Check insurance and who the subcontractors are.
- Agree ownership of the design in writing.
Questions to ask
| Question | What a good answer sounds like |
|---|---|
| Have you built at this venue recently? | A named project, and details of how it went |
| Who manages my stand on site? | A named person you can speak to before you sign |
| Do you build in-house? | A clear answer about what is in-house and what is not |
| What is excluded from this price? | A written list |
| How do you handle changes? | A process with rates, not 'we'll sort it out' |
| What happens to the stand afterwards? | Reuse, storage or disposal, with costs |
| What insurance do you hold? | Certificates supplied on request |
| Can I speak to a recent client? | Yes, without hesitation |
Local or international?
A local builder knows the venue, the official contractors and the labour rules. A home-market builder knows your brand and may manage several shows. International exhibitors often use a trusted home partner who subcontracts locally. Ask who actually builds the stand, because the name on the quote may not be the name on the crew's jackets. For more, see exhibiting abroad.
What to look at
- Drawings as well as photographs: are they accurate and well organised?
- Photos taken at the show, not only renders.
- The details: joints, corners and cable management.
- Memberships of trade associations for your market, if relevant.
- Whether their portfolio includes your size of stand.
What the contract should say
- Scope: linked to a dated set of drawings.
- Payment stages tied to progress.
- Who owns the design and any reusable items.
- Deadlines for your artwork and approvals.
- Who orders the venue services.
- Who is responsible for approvals and for the health and safety file.
- What happens if the show is cancelled.
Frequently asked questions
01How do I find a good exhibition stand builder?
Ask other exhibitors at your show, check trade associations, and ask the organiser for a list of contractors who know the venue.
02How many stand builders should I contact?
Shortlist three after checking their relevant work, and then brief them all the same way.
03Should I pay a stand builder a pitch fee?
For a complex custom concept, a fee is fair and can bring better work. For a stand with supplied drawings, the quote is usually free.
04What is the difference between a stand builder and a designer?
A designer creates the concept; a builder makes it. Many companies do both. See [agency, builder or in-house](/guides/stand-design-agency-vs-builder).
Put it into practice
Exhibition stand technical drawings, drawn from the 3D design
A3 plan and elevations at scale, set-out grid, object schedule and a layered AutoCAD DXF, generated from the 3D design.
Guidance here reflects common practice. Venues, organisers and countries set their own rules: always check the exhibitor manual and work with a qualified stand builder and engineer for structures.
