Opening a factory in Mexico is not one big decision — it’s eight to twelve smaller decisions made in the right order, each of which constrains or enables the next one. Get the order wrong, and you’re not just behind schedule: you’re making expensive decisions with less information than you would have had if you’d waited another week.
What Do You Need to Verify Before You Commit to a Site in Mexico?
Before committing to a site in Mexico, verify your real power requirement in MVA, a written CFE capacity commitment at the park level, your labor market envelope (size, skill, wage), and a lease milestone structure that protects your timeline if power or permits slip. Confirm these in writing, not from a listing sheet.
Before you commit to an entry structure
Before you hire
| Phase | What to Verify First |
|---|---|
| Site | Power in MVA, written CFE commitment, labor envelope, lease milestones |
| Entry structure | Shelter vs. standalone fit, customs broker relationship, permit dependencies |
| Hiring | Recruiting timeline, training plan, payroll and compliance readiness |
Where to start the diligence
our softlanding checklist was built for exactly this list — organized by stage, specific enough to catch the questions that actually cause delays, and short enough to run through before your first site visit. This is the same diligence our site selection process runs before any building reaches your shortlist.
talk to a softlanding lead and we’ll walk through your specific factory requirements — and tell you honestly what’s missing before you start.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the single most important thing to verify before choosing a factory site in Mexico?
A written CFE power capacity commitment at the specific park, not a regional estimate. It is the most common cause of unexpected delay in a Mexico factory opening.
When should I decide between shelter and standalone IMMEX?
Before you shortlist sites, not after signing a lease. The entry model changes your permitting path and should be a deliberate early decision, not a default.
When should workforce recruiting start relative to construction?
At site selection, not at construction completion. A training plan built around when equipment actually arrives avoids a rushed ramp-up.
How many decisions actually need to happen before opening a factory in Mexico?
Roughly eight to twelve, spanning site, entry structure, and hiring. Each one constrains or enables the next, so the order matters as much as the decisions themselves.
