EntreArchitect Blog - Success in Architecture, Leadership and Life as a Small Firm Architect

Oct 17 2017

4 Steps to Higher Productivity as a Small Firm Architect

Finding The Time To Be An Architect A little past 6AM, tunes from the local radio station wake me from a very deep slumber. (I set the alarm to 6:14, so I hear music rather than the daily ‘bad news” report. I am very serious about my “full media blackout“.) After making the family breakfast […]

Oct 10 2017

Which Business Structure is Best for an Architecture Firm?

My firm, Fivecat Studio, was founded in 1999. Annmarie and I were 29 years old. She was licensed. I was not. With no clients and no money, we launched the firm as a sole proprietorship; Annmarie McCarthy, Architect. Slowly, we grew the firm and in 2002, with my license in hand, we incorporated as McCarthy […]

Oct 03 2017

Getting It All Done

As an Entrepreneur Architect I wear many hats. I’m a designer, a draftsman, a project manager, a construction manager, a book keeper, a marketing director, a salesman, a customer service representative, an IT manager, a boss, a partner, a CEO, a COO, a CFO… the list goes on and on. And those are only the […]

Sep 26 2017

Two Perspectives You Need to Launch a New Business as a Small Firm Architect

I recently reached a very big milestone. About eighteen months ago I dropped my daughter off for her first full day with her childminder (home-based daycare for non-Brits.) She was six months old and I was filled with those new parent anticipations: nervous, desolate, excited, hopeful. Not only was it a big day as a […]

Sep 19 2017

Only Do What Only You Can Do

“Only do what only you can do” – Paul Sloane This quote from Paul Sloane (author of several books about ‘lateral thinking’) has been the most provocative and impactful lesson I have had to learn in my professional career. “Get the monkeys off your back” (perhaps taken from a quote by Anne Lamott) ranks a […]

Sep 12 2017

Do Small Firm Architects Need Professional Liability Insurance?

Professional Liability Insurance for Architects Perfection is Impossible Architects are inherently burdened with risk and liability for the services we provide. As licensed professionals we are legally responsible for the health, safety and welfare of the people using the structures we design. We practice under legal contracts requiring us to meet very high standards and […]