A guy i am dating (mid to senior level) wants to start his own architecture firm. He is off work and wants to start. Anyone in a similar position right now, is this a good idea at this time, how is industry doing? I am not in the field.
reallynotmyname
Nov 13, 21 11:02 am
Does your guy have a) a minimum of two legit clients with projects and funding ready to go? and b) enough cash to live off of and pay the firm's expenses for 3-6 months while you do the work and wait to get paid?
proto
Nov 13, 21 11:43 am
He is off work — seems like no down side as long as he has funds to survive until a billable project starts up…
sarasen
Nov 13, 21 5:19 pm
no client yet, but enough money to saved for a year
sarasen
Nov 13, 21 5:20 pm
my question is really, is it a good time in terms of economy to do this? Like is there tons of work out there?
reallynotmyname
Nov 13, 21 7:39 pm
Yes, demand for architectural work in the USA seems pretty good right now.
quizzical
Nov 13, 21 8:50 pm
There’s a lot of work to be had right now … but, the bigger question might be “does your boyfriend have the relationships, experience and skill necessary to convert that potential into signed, paying contracts?”
quizzical
Nov 13, 21 9:20 pm
Also, architecture is inherently cyclical … it’s just a matter of time before there’s a recession in our profession. Recommend you make sure your boyfriend understands that and prepares for that.
proto
Nov 13, 21 7:13 pm
my office is a 2 person place (both registered architects)
we are booked out months at the moment from starting new projects
i'm not going to pretend that anyone can just do that, but there certainly seems to be no slowdown yet
randomised
Nov 14, 21 4:16 pm
he's just trying to impress you...that's what anyone says that's "off work" ;-)
joseffischer
Nov 15, 21 9:50 am
sorry, what's off work mean?
randomised
Nov 15, 21 5:07 pm
self-employed with nothing to do...
shellarchitect
Nov 15, 21 8:49 pm
everyone I know is drowning in work!
x-jla
Nov 16, 21 12:43 pm
booked solid…if not for the supply issues that would be great. Jumping between projects because of material delays is super inefficient and costly for me. My crews are at 1/2 normal speed, which means that my labor costs are 2x as high. On top of that, we have to look forward to trucking strikes, or sick outs in the new year due to mandates if the courts lift their stay order. Rumors have it that National strikes are being planned. I’ve been adapting by encouraging use of locally sourced materials which are more readily available. One the brights side, it’s a way to design with the things I’ve been wanting to design with…clients may not care about sustainability, but they sure do care about 6 month delays…
smaarch
Mar 18, 23 9:38 pm
Such a strange question. Either you support each other or you don't. I was here 30 years ago and we parted ways - thank God
A guy i am dating (mid to senior level) wants to start his own architecture firm. He is off work and wants to start. Anyone in a similar position right now, is this a good idea at this time, how is industry doing? I am not in the field.
Does your guy have a) a minimum of two legit clients with projects and funding ready to go? and b) enough cash to live off of and pay the firm's expenses for 3-6 months while you do the work and wait to get paid?
He is off work — seems like no down side as long as he has funds to survive until a billable project starts up…
no client yet, but enough money to saved for a year
my question is really, is it a good time in terms of economy to do this? Like is there tons of work out there?
Yes, demand for architectural work in the USA seems pretty good right now.
There’s a lot of work to be had right now … but, the bigger question might be “does your boyfriend have the relationships, experience and skill necessary to convert that potential into signed, paying contracts?”
Also, architecture is inherently cyclical … it’s just a matter of time before there’s a recession in our profession. Recommend you make sure your boyfriend understands that and prepares for that.
my office is a 2 person place (both registered architects)
we are booked out months at the moment from starting new projects
i'm not going to pretend that anyone can just do that, but there certainly seems to be no slowdown yet
he's just trying to impress you...that's what anyone says that's "off work" ;-)
sorry, what's off work mean?
self-employed with nothing to do...
everyone I know is drowning in work!
booked solid…if not for the supply issues that would be great. Jumping between projects because of material delays is super inefficient and costly for me. My crews are at 1/2 normal speed, which means that my labor costs are 2x as high. On top of that, we have to look forward to trucking strikes, or sick outs in the new year due to mandates if the courts lift their stay order. Rumors have it that National strikes are being planned. I’ve been adapting by encouraging use of locally sourced materials which are more readily available. One the brights side, it’s a way to design with the things I’ve been wanting to design with…clients may not care about sustainability, but they sure do care about 6 month delays…
Such a strange question.
Either you support each other or you don't.
I was here 30 years ago and we parted ways - thank God