Get the starter files

Free emails when there is something worth sending.

For principals of 1–10 person firms

Get paid for the work. Stop the rework.

Notes from running a small firm: fees, construction administration, cash, and how not to become the bottleneck.

Jump to a Category

Click the icon or link - Design, Proj Mgmt, Firm Mgmt, Bus Dev

Icon of a pencil drawing on a light bulb surrounded by gears, representing design.

Featured

How To Set Priorities for Architectural Projects

Architects, and other project-driven people, can improve their effectiveness by following these four principals for setting priorities that will reduce rework, assist in delegation, and eliminate bottlenecks for a smoother, more profitable project outcomes.

Zoning Analysis Tools

Zoning is an odd duck. Zoning is unique among codes because you might not be able to build. Period.

Building Acoustics For Architects

Good Architectural Acoustics requires the use of just five simple concepts...

AI Design Assistants

It may be time for small-firm architects to start using AI - or at least get very familiar with what it can do.

Contingency

For Architects a Contingency works better than stating a range of costs. Here is how much contingency to include.

The Key To Estimating Building Costs

The accuracy of estimating architectural project costs relies on just five concepts.

The Technical Design Diagnostic

The best way to understand what a good design solution requires is NOT to start designing. Try the TDD instead.

How To Design - Schematic Design

This Schematic Design Process has been developed over many projects.

Natural Light

Photos of some of the ways of introducing natural light into a building.

Planning A Basement - Rule Of Thumb

Basements sound like a really good value - residential, yes; commercial, no.

Stair Finishes - Rule Of Thumb

Overview of stair finish selection options.

Commercial Stair Layouts - Rule Of Thumb

Stairs can ruin the design budget. Early planning is the antidote.

Stair Technical Considerations - Rule Of Thumb

An evaluation of things to consider when designing stairs.

Enhancing Project Management with Detailed SpecNotes

The SpecNotes concept can replace Project Manuals for many architectural projects. Notes in lieu of specifications.

Design Strategy Tool

An Architect’s tool for gaining a quick grasp of the project requirements.

Icon of a gear with a group of people inside, representing project management, on a red background.

Featured

Construction Administration for Architects

Why Architects Should Master Construction Cost Estimating

Small-firm architects can master construction cost estimating with 5 simple principles. Learn how to stay on budget, impress clients, and build your reputation.

How To Avoid Rework

If you have the work but it is not profitable, the cause is almost always REWORK.

Bidding - A How-To Guide

An overview of the architectural bidding process including checklists in a template format for use by small-firm architects in managing the Bidding Phase of services.

Mastering Collaboration with Consultants: A Guide for Small-Firm Architects

An Architect’s expectations about working with engineering consultants.

Deliverables Checklist

Do you have an easy way to determine the Deliverables you will need to produce to complete a project? Here is one idea. The master deliverables checklist and its many uses.

The 2 Main Things About Project Signs

An architectural project sign is a good idea for enhancing your brand.

Thoughts On Specifications

The economics of design do not allow for the time it takes to write a specification and assemble a project manual. The solution.

Assembly Concept For Organizing Work

Using the ‘assembly’ concept makes organizing much better for many things Architects do.

Make Your Own Building Code Checklist

Improve your process for meeting building codes. Includes an example.

The Construction Administration Phase

The Construction Administration Phase of the Architect’s services.

Scheduling And Grouping Design Decisions

Architectural design decisions - when to make them and how to group them for delegation.

The 45 Steps Of Project Management

Week by week list of tasks for project management.

Constraints - A Checklist And Questionnaire

There are always constraints in architectural projects. This is a way to uncover them early.

Pre-Design Cost Estimating

The big secret to good cost estimates is revealed and a method of estimating construction costs without drawings.

Icon of a briefcase inside a gear, with a lightbulb and three vertical bars, representing firm management

Featured

Inside The SimpleTrends App

The SimpleTrends app demonstrated with annotated screenshots showing its advantages for small-firm architects.

Construction Administration Economics for Architects

Small-firm architects routinely lose money on Construction Administration. Learn the fee protection strategies that protect your time and your bottom line.

Time Concepts

I have studied time management a lot over my career. I needed to. I can slack off with best of them. I’m a natural.

2 Rules Of Thumb For Architects To Allocate Time And Money

Managing time and money effectively is critical to running an architectural practice profitably.

How Do You Calculate Fees?

Learn how to calculate an appropriate fee for nearly any architectural project - large or small.

Project Forms

Project Forms close the gap between project management and business management for small-firm architects.

Architect’s Best Practices for Getting Paid

Thoughts and advice on small-firm architects’ invoicing methods.

Downsize Your Accounting

Why your architectural firm cannot afford accounting.

Why Are Most Architectural Firms Small?

Did you know that census statistics indicate that most architectural firms are small. I have been wondering about that. Why would that be?

A Better Timekeeping App

Timekeeping is the most valuable management information for Architects.

Building Value With Unique Methods

Building a strong business takes more than YOU. It takes processes that anyone can repeat successfully.

Strategic Planning

A tool to help Architects create and implement strategic plans.

Profit Planning

Planning for Profit increases your chances of actually having a profit.

Architects Financial Model

The Financial Model of an Architect’s Office is a well-kept secret. Until now.

Working With A Building Committee

A Building Committee seems to be the preferred project management method for non-profits, church-based organizations and higher education.

Icon of a briefcase inside a globe with multiple arrows pointing outward, representing global business development on a green background.

Featured

Making An Image With AI

AI can help small-firm architects punch above their weight.

The 2 Main Things About Project Signs

An architectural project sign is a good idea for enhancing your brand.

Publishing to Build Your Niche

How Architects can build a niche to be known for.

Marketing - Simple, Cheap And Easy

A simple, cheap, and easy way for Architects to do marketing.

The 3 Ways Of Business Development For Architects

I think there are three ways to go with business development for architects.

Jargon

My Take On Using Jargon.

Project Milestones As Marketing

Your ‘work on the boards’ is a great source of marketing.

Thoughts On Marketing

I stumbled upon a comprehensive list of marketing tactics - 75 of them to be exact.

How To Select An Architect

These are my ideas on how an architect should be selected. I am not a fan of the usual methods.

The Perennial Marketing Problem

A solution to Getting Noticed and Being Considered - the two Perennial Marketing Problems.

How To Evaluate A Potential Project

Architect’s guide to determining if a project is the right fit.

A Survey As A Marketing Tactic

As an Architect marketing tools are few. A survey is one simple tactic.

The Four Value Propositions for Architects

Architects have four ways to focus their marketing efforts.

Marketing Flowchart

There is no other way to dependably get the attention of your target audience without cost.

Mandeville

Mandeville is a sales process developed by Dr. Stu Rose. Mandeville is easy to learn, easy to do, and easily the most powerful sales tactic you will ever use.