A Path to Licensure and Owning Your Own Firm

A Path to Licensure and Owning Your Own Firm [1016] Architecture, Inc Josh Canale Andy Wilson ND B.Arch 2003

[1016] Architecture Who we are… What we did… What we do… What we want to do…

Overview: From here to there
Current Market
You are Here
Interviewing
Next Stop
Negotiating
The Real World
IDP/ARE
Planning for the jump…
… jumping

Current Market
It’s bad.
Leading Indicator: Architectural Billings Index (ABI) Source: AIA.org It’s not you. It’s me. Billings Inquiries

Why?
Unrealistic expectations
Loans fail
Asset Values uncertain
Present and Future
Debt and Capital re-price risk
Clients don’t want to risk capital
Clients can’t get new loans; current loans are frozen
Projects put on hold=
Design Industry

What can you do?
Work Full-time
Get the interview and nail it
Be flexible & acknowledge other potentials
Work Part-time
Establish a value to a potential employer
Use available time wisely
Pursue add’l accreditations
Expand network!

Career Fair
Job Fair
Have a hook or pitch
Know something
Use www.insidearch.org
Interviewing
Portfolio presentation
Know something else
Do ask questions
Don’t talk too much
“ I never learn anything talking. I only learn things when I ask questions.”

Negotiating
Negotiation is a lifelong skill.
Clichés to remember:
Concentrate on the why, not the what.
Build a win, win.
Everything’s negotiable.
It’s a fine line… don’t burn bridges

The Real World
Now what?…
Prove yourself
Craft your own track
Manage your role…this is constantly evolving
Be interested in the business of architecture
Find a feedback loop
Continue negotiating
Collaboration is key
Don’t let this be you.

IDP/ARE 4.0
NCARB
State Boards
Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Kentucky, Puerto Rico, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Source: NCARB.org
You’re the Captain

Licensure
Steps:
Get NCARB record started
Graduate
Log Hours IDP (some, not all!)
Register with a state board
Receive ATT
Complete ARE
Complete IDP
Get stamp

The Other 85%
Building Technology/CDs
Building Delivery
Players and roles
Contract structures
Firm Management
Billing and Efficiency
Marketing
ND = Top Ten School
Design Futures Council
More than just design.

Know what you’re getting into.
Service business: Selling time for money
Planning for the Jump
Upside
Not capital intensive at startup
Can be sole proprietor
Downside
Little long term assets
Historically thin profit margins
Highly cyclical

Building a Team
Accountant
Balance sheet, Profit/loss
Cash flow is King
Lawyer
Formation
Entity types
Consultants
Partner
Compatible vs. Same
Complementary is the key
Get married?
© Jerry Nelson/Illustration Works/Corbis

Raising capital
You might not have to do this
Bootstrap, get a client, and GO!
Minimize debt and liabilities
Cash flow is king
Avoid “do or die”

Getting a Client
Network
Cultivate constantly
Online, in person, on phone…
Need to know you exist
Give your pitch
Get on lists for RFPs
Proposal letter/ Contract
Have a template
Manage relationships!

…Making the Leap
Knowledge
Team
Cash Flow
Client

Resources
Web
www.aia.org
www.ncarb.org
www.usgbc.org
www.insidearch.org
www.areforum.org
www.1016architecture.com
Books
The Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice (AIA)
Architect’s Essentials of Starting a Design Firm (Piven, Perkins)
Professional Practice 101 , 2 nd Ed. (Pressman)
Creating Wealth (Flynn-Heapes)

If nothing else…
Do something small every single day.
“ When all is said and done, more is said than done.”

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A Path to Licensure and Owning Your Own Firm

by Andrew Wilson and [1016] Architecture on Mar 19, 2009

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A Path to Licensure and Owning Your Own Firm — Presentation Transcript