EntreArchitect

JANUARY 26, 2014

The confidence level of our clients has been riding the roller coaster of an uncertain, unpredictable economy. Below are two charts that present data collected throughout the history of our small firm architecture studio. This first chart shows the number of commissioned projects in reference to prospective clients.

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EntreArchitect

JANUARY 19, 2016

Seven years into owning our own small firm, Annmarie and I decided to make some changes. During the first two business days every month I prepare my client invoices (receivables), pay my bills (accounts payable), reconcile my bank accounts and credit card statements and review my financial statements.

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Small Firm Firms Architect Management 52

EntreArchitect

JANUARY 17, 2017

There are 3 key strategies required for a successful architecture firm. Then find one thing that clients need and become the very best at that one thing. Missing deadlines or, even worse, not managing the expectations of your client could destroy a working relationship in one meeting. Have patience and don’t over-promise.

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EntreArchitect

NOVEMBER 16, 2015

What do you wear when meeting with clients?”. About 20 small firm architects posted their response and the answers were mixed, but certainly leaning toward the casual. Small firm architects, many of whom are working solo from home offices, tend to dress for comfort over fashion. Or something in between?

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EntreArchitect

JUNE 14, 2016

As small firm architects, we are responsible for so many different roles and responsibilities. We need to meet with clients, develop and distribute marketing, respond to important email, manage our social media accounts, send invoices, collect payments and so much more. 6 Digital Tools to Automate an Architecture Firm.

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EntreArchitect

FEBRUARY 7, 2017

As small firm architects, we are all working so hard to get everything done. Between the many hours we dedicate to building our firms and the time we spend building strong relationships at home, there are not many minutes left to do anything else. Set expectations with your team and clients and you will live happily ever after.

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EntreArchitect

APRIL 24, 2018

It may be the most critical step in the entire process of acquiring a new architecture client. We may have perfected our marketing, developed a strong reputation, executed a flawless sales process and have received our prospective client’s eager authorization to proceed with a new project. Make it “client friendly”.

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Bustler

JUNE 3, 2024

Registration Deadline: Jun 27, 2024; Submission Deadline Jun 27, 2024 We're thrilled to announce that Small Firms, Great Projects is back, and it's better than ever! Small Firms, Great Projects offers a platform for small business owners to amplify their firm's visibility in print and online.

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EntreArchitect

MARCH 21, 2017

Fees for Small Firm Architects. There are hundreds of articles, forums, blog posts and comments discussing how we architects are not paid enough and how our clients don’t understand what we do. The value of architecture and the services we provide are established by you and me, not our clients.

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EntreArchitect

SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

” When Annmarie and I launched Fivecat Studio more than 15 years ago we had no projects, no clients and no money. We were two young architects seeking the freedom of our own firm. I wrote a 3-part blog series a couple years back sharing the full story of how Annmarie and I started our own architecture firm.

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EntreArchitect

SEPTEMBER 7, 2015

As small firm architects, work/life balance plays a critical role in the success of our businesses, as well as the success of our families. Small firm architects have a very difficult time keeping work and life separate. We need to be realistic here… stress isn’t going away as long as we have clients.)

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EntreArchitect

JULY 18, 2017

Our complete Pre-Design Client Questionnaire template is included with your purchase of our Foundations: Business Forms and Checklists for Architects package. It’s the document that we use at my firm to gather much of this important information from our clients. Listen carefully. Estimate often. Tweet This! ).

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EntreArchitect

OCTOBER 2, 2018

The blog is still one of the most effective tools a small firm architect can use to foster community. Small firm architects are busy people. Small firm architects often ask me how they can find new projects. The Power of Blogging for Architects. The goal when writing a blog is to gain an audience.

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EntreArchitect

FEBRUARY 23, 2016

When we present our initial schematic designs to our client, we are selling. When I present a product or service to a prospective client, I am presenting them with something that will improve their lives. A Simple Sales System for Small Firm Architects. Qualify the Client. There is value in what I am providing.

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EntreArchitect

DECEMBER 18, 2018

During good times and bad, the dangers threatening our firms not only come from outside pressures but literally from inside our heads. Six Ways To Earn More Profit As A Small Firm Architect. Here are six approaches to earning more profit as a small firm architect: 1. Remember, without profit our firms will fail.

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EntreArchitect

DECEMBER 16, 2024

Emily brings over 20 years of experience in branding and marketing for architects, helping firms align their identity with their values, culture, and future aspirations. Her insights on naming are practical, thoughtful, and tailor-made for small firm architects like us. Naming isnt just about creativityits about strategy.

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EntreArchitect

APRIL 12, 2016

Marica finds inspiration by surrounding herself with creative people, collaborating with her clients, and forging strong working relationships with her contractors. In this article Marica shares her recent experience with building a new team for her small firm and how she is being intentional about the culture in which they work.

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EntreArchitect

APRIL 6, 2015

Most sole proprietors and small firms I know, struggle to meet the minimum requirements of operation. These are services available to your client, but are NOT included in your basic architectural services. Through the years we have learned that not every project and not every client is a good fit for these services though.

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EntreArchitect

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

Relative to the other expenses of a small firm, professional liability insurance is down right expensive… until you need it. If our business systems failed and the firm was required to defend itself without a policy, we certainly would have been crushed by the costs involved in such a legal action.

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EntreArchitect

JULY 24, 2018

Recruitment Strategies for Small Firm Architects. Recruiting new employees is one of the most important things a professional services firm can do to be sustainable. Firms leaders can start by breaking down recruitment into three stages: developing a candidate pool, narrowing to set of finalists, and negotiating the hire.

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EntreArchitect

JULY 3, 2018

This is the transcript from EntreArchitect Podcast Episode 226, Successful Project Planning for Small Firm Architects. Do you know how to calculate the exact amount that you need to charge your clients in order to earn 20 percent profit on that project? Listen to this podcast episode or download the audio file here.

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EntreArchitect

OCTOBER 17, 2017

I’m a “scout dad”, a “swim dad” and a “row dad” I eat dinner with my family every evening (unless I have a conflicting client meeting). As a small firm architect running a virtual studio , I am wearing many hats these days. YOU determine when you meet with clients. It’s impossible.

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EntreArchitect

AUGUST 9, 2016

Publication is a form of social proof indicating that our designs are worthy of our prospective clients’ attention. Assemble a collection of your best works and publish your own monograph to share with prospects and clients. For some it’s a right of passage – a testament to hard work and years of focus.

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EntreArchitect

SEPTEMBER 26, 2017

Starting a new business as a small firm architect or a new career trajectory is something you must experience on your own. Who is your ideal client/customer/beneficiary? Which clients/customers/beneficiaries can you easily reach right now? This is a post that you might want to bookmark and come back to.

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EntreArchitect

AUGUST 8, 2024

The Value of Offsite Retreats for Small Firm Architects As small firm architects, we live in the fast lane. Juggling client demands, meeting deadlines, and keeping the business afloat often leave us with little time to catch our breath, let alone think creatively or strategically.

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EntreArchitect

NOVEMBER 20, 2017

This quiet time would clear my mind and prepare me for the “chaos” that is running a small firm architecture studio. An urgent email sent by an concerned client can quickly ignite into an inferno if not attended to promptly. Before moving to a home studio, I used my morning commute as my decompression time. Scan Email.

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Small Firm Firms Architect Management 52

EntreArchitect

JULY 25, 2016

Most firms, here in the United States, experience a slow down at the same time every summer. Clients are focused on their own personal schedules and are away on their own vacations. For many of us small firm architects, this sounds a bit scary. Your clients need to know. ” The United States Slows Down Too.

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Small Firm Firms Architect Management 52

EntreArchitect

MAY 30, 2021

With the right systems in place, such as the Project Summary Spreadsheets I create for my clients, design staff can understand how much time they have to complete certain tasks, and how to schedule work to keep projects profitable. Little or no communication about budget and fees between principals and staff.

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Life of an Architect

FEBRUARY 27, 2014

I have almost always worked in small firms – except for that one time when I didn’t, which wasn’t a bad year but it cemented in my mind that my skill set is better suited for a small architectural firm. Here are my Top 5 Reasons to work in a Small Architectural Firm: 1.

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Small Firm Architect Firms Architecture 109

Deezen

DECEMBER 22, 2023

The interface provides an easy way to visualise the impact of material choices while also being a useful communication tool in meetings with clients. She describes "a slight monopolisation happening" over sustainability in architecture, with small firms falling "very far behind".

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Materials Architect Small Firm Firms 134

EntreArchitect

MARCH 10, 2013

” When one of my residential architecture clients finally reaches out and calls Fivecat Studio , these are some of the thoughts they may start with. Most of our clients are first time builders. You’re in the Client Happiness Business. .” “If I start now, I’ll be living in it by summer.”

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EntreArchitect

APRIL 6, 2014

From the point of view of our clients, great architecture is where we start. So, yes, great design is important, but it’s not what’s going to keep our clients happy? The first step, before you ever put your pen to sketch paper, is to know what your client is looking for. We’re in the Client Happiness Business.

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EntreArchitect

OCTOBER 6, 2013

I have no portfolio of my own to show clients. I’ve shared articles on how much it may cost to start your own firm and how Annmarie and I launched Fivecat Studio with no clients and very little money. Your first clients may come from relationships built during your time as an employee. Be Certain.

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EntreArchitect

DECEMBER 2, 2024

From grueling all-nighters in architecture school to managing relentless client demands, architects have historically worn their stress as a badge of honor. Morgan recounted how she and her clients practiced brief moments of silence—whether during a commute or in a parked car—to reset their minds before transitioning between work and home.

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Architect Building Management Small Firm 89

Archmark

MAY 13, 2022

Set Up and Use Your Linkedin Profile to Find, Attract, and Connect with Your Ideal Architecture Firm Clients Archmark's Definitive Architecture Firm Marketing Guide to Perfecting Your Linkedin Profile. Have your clients or prospects ever made any of the following statements?: “We Sorry, but it’s true.

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EntreArchitect

FEBRUARY 6, 2022

Empowering architects to better serve the world with more than 681,000 total downloads in 2021, the EntreArchitect Podcast has grown to serve small firm architects from every corner of the planet. Number 3 with 7,011 downloads is episode 366 with Anna Laman – Attract Ideal Clients Through Better Messaging.

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Portland Architecture

JUNE 13, 2023

For me, like many, Gradient provided an introduction to the work Linden, Brown, which is the latest in a succession of award-winning local small firms founded by architects formerly with Portland’s Allied Works (including Waechter Architecture, Lever Architecture, and Beebe Skidmore).

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