Carlson Construction
We Bring Your Vision To Life
A high-end establishment should look as perfect as the products that it serves. We partner seamlessly with architects and designers to create spaces with custom finishes that you and your customers deserve.
Ready to make your mark on the Madison scene?

Restaurants & Cafes
You don’t make great food and then just throw it on the plate. Your space should be as exciting and inviting as your menu.

Bars & Coffee Shops
We believe that no two bars or coffee spots should ever look the same, and we can help build out a spot worthy of your brand.

Salons & Retails
Your establishment should be as fashionable and pleasing as the wares you’re selling or the services you’re offering.
Some Of Our Projects












Jobs Done Right The First Time
Our team has decades of experience completing projects on time and on budget.
Professional Friendly Service
Our team brings a positive attitude and our clients satisfaction is our number one priority.
High Quality Construction Management
Our project management processes are based on decades of optimization and experience.
Cost Plus Collaborative Contracts
Everybody wants their project to be perfect. But not at any cost! That’s why we believe in total transparency when it comes to our process and progress on your project.
With that in mind, we’re strong believers in the transparency of open book contracts that allow everyone to see everything related to the project. These types of contracts are ideal for complicated projects typical of construction and help keep costs down and timelines moving forward.
Over the years, we’ve found that these types of contracts are ideal for complicated projects typical of construction. Ultimately, they help keep costs down and timelines moving forward. It also allows us to keep the build-out process from becoming secretive and adversarial.
What’s a cost-plus collaborative contract?
A cost-plus contract is a contract where the contractor is paid based on the actual expenses, plus an additional amount to allow for overhead and profit. We start with budget estimates and a discussion of workflow. When the scope is defined, we transfer these numbers into a cost-plus contract. Should we encounter the need to deviate during a complicated build-out, we’ll have a framework in place that ensures it’s easy and seamless to make changes and decisions quickly. This helps our customers keep costs down and ensures we can remain on schedule– even when things don’t go exactly as planned.
How do I know what the actual expenses are?
We provide access to a shared spreadsheet that lays out the actual costs of everything from our team’s labor to the cost of a box of screws. This lets our clients track costs in real time. No surprises for you, no unneeded headaches for us. After all, we are all on the same team.
We’ve Been Working with Madison Area Small Business Owners For Over 20 years
Client Testimonials
“Chad Carlson’s ingenuity, professionalism, industry relationships and experience allowed the vision for my retail build-out to come to life. Chad’s transparent budgeting process made our project a partnership. Working with Carlson Construction has been a pleasure and I’ll continue to use their services for all my future projects moving forward.”