EntreArchitect // Small Firm Entrepreneur Architects

EntreArchitect provides information and resources for the business of architecture and inspires your success as a small firm entrepreneur architect.

The Seven Most Common Bookkeeping Mistakes Made by Small Firm Architects

By Kimberly Burgraff, Director of Studio Services Bookkeeping (A Division of Charrette Venture Group) I’ve sorted through a lot of messy books in the 17 years that I’ve been in the accounting industry. It’s completely understandable that non-bookkeepers struggle with accounting best practices. How would an architect know that supplies purchased for a project shouldn’t […]

The Real Definition of a Referral

Most of us think we know what a referral is since referrals have been around forever as the holy grail of how to grow your business in the easiest way possible. But most don’t understand what makes a referral a referral which leads to lower closing ratios, mislabeled leads, and incorrect assumptions about how your […]

Why Your Architecture Practice Website Matters
Now—More Than Ever

Last year I studied 163 architecture websites (crazy, I know!). I studied them because I was tired of hearing architects say: “My website doesn’t matter… I get all my projects from referrals or word-of-mouth”. But in today’s Google-driven, economic-uncertain, pandemic-plagued world, nothing could be further from the truth. Architecture practice websites do matter. Your practice […]

Contract Documents
for Small Firm Architects

You may have built your brand, perfected your marketing, developed a strong reputation, executed a flawless sales process, and have received your prospective client’s eager authorization to proceed with a new project. You’ve done everything right up to this point, but to make this new relationship official, you need to complete one final important step. […]

Advantages of Remote Hiring and Onboarding for Architects

Our first experience with remote hiring was March 18, 2020 – the first day the firm started working from home. CO Architects is fortunate that our workload increased throughout 2020, so we had to adapt quickly to recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and integrating new staff virtually. We’ve hired and onboarded 25 new employees since March 2020, […]

A Case for the Sole Practitioner Architect Business Model

There has never been a better time for architects to practice independently.  Computers, the Internet, and cell phones all foster an easier way of practicing remotely.  Yet to many architects, the thought of working alone, doing most (if not all) of the tasks on a project seems daunting, unprofitable, menial. However, the Sole Practice business […]

Is It Ethical to Sell in These Times?

The following is a guest post written by Blair Enns, founder and CEO of Win Without Pitching. The content for this article, published here with permission, was first published on April 6, 2020, on the Win Without Pitching blog here. Learn more about Blair Enns, his fantastic books, The Win Without Pitching Manifesto and Pricing […]

Collecting, Communicating and Closing in a Time of Crisis

The following is a guest post written by Blair Enns, founder and CEO of Win Without Pitching. The content for this article, published here with permission, was first published on March 25, 2020, on the Win Without Pitching blog here. Learn more about Blair Enns, his fantastic books, The Win Without Pitching Manifesto and Pricing […]

Three Steps to Surviving and Thriving in a Crisis

The following is a guest post written by Blair Enns, founder and CEO of Win Without Pitching. The content for this article, published here with permission, was first published on March 17, 2020, on the Win Without Pitching blog here. Learn more about Blair Enns, his fantastic books, The Win Without Pitching Manifesto and Pricing […]

Is your architecture website hurting your firm?

Imagine you’ll get hungry tomorrow while you’re out and you decide to pick up some quick lunch. What would happen as you drove down the road if you didn’t see signs for McDonald’s or Chipotle—but instead only “Fast Food” or “Eat My Lunch?” Or let’s say you needed a new pair of shoes. What would […]

The Order of Operations

The Critical Differences Among Mission, Vision, Purpose, Strategy and Goals Are you confused about the difference between mission and vision? Or, between purpose and mission? You’re not alone. I am frequently asked about the differences among mission, vision, purpose, strategy and goals… and where do values fit in? Many people don’t care about definitions. That’s […]