Vol. 18, Issue 02 2020
Young architect checklist for starting your own firm 1
Become a business
□□ Business Name, issue with your secretary of state or department of commerce □□ Incorporate, choose between an LLC, S-CORP, C-CORP, Sole Proprietor, or other with your state revenue department □□ State Tax ID for applicable service and payroll taxes □□ EIN, Employer Identification Number through the National Internal Revenue Service (IRS), also called FEIN
Network & get work
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□□ Treat EVERY job like it will lead to 10 more □□ Tell everyone you know that you are starting a business and what you do □□ Call contractors who do the type of work you want to do. Most clients reach out to them first. □□ Join local groups that have the clientele you wish to practice for
5 Create business systems
□□ Register your business and yourself to practice Architecture with your state licensure board or Secretary of State
□□ Write a business plan to consolidate your ideas, strategy, brand, and mission (Optional)
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□□ Plan a monthly routine for invoicing, seeking work, tracking taxes and payroll
Build professional references
□□ Accountant for questions on payroll, taxes, and bookkeeping or hire them to outsource these tasks so you have more time □□ Insurance Provider or Broker for professional liability insurance and managing risk from the very start of your firm
□□ Create templates or purchase from EntreArchitect or 30x40 Workshop (See list below)
6 Run the business □□ Get stuff done □□ Do it well
□□ Lawyer for questions or hire for incorporating your business or reviewing contracts, even with AIA contracts a lawyer can help
Business forms:
□□ Create a Bank Account to separate your business from your personal financial assets (Optional)
Marketing
Business plan
Templates •
Reports
□□ Financial Advisor for money management and planning for the future (Optional)
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Proposals
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Document Sets
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Project Intake Form
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Quality Control Checklists
3 Set up shop
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Contracts (AIA Supplied)
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Specifications
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Project Manuals
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BIM Models
□□ Create a Website (Squarespace, WIX, HostGator, Wordpress/Wordpress.org) □□ Infrastructure, keep it simple (desk, computer, chair, printer, drafting board, etc.) □□ Software (Email, Drafting, 3D Modeling, Rendering, Word Processing, etc.) □□ Research Savings, like the Autodesk Software donation for start-ups
Accounting •
Timesheet
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Invoicing
Questions? Start a discussion at: network.aia.org/yaf
Graphic by: Katie Kangas
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