Small Firm Forum | The “One Thing”: Part 1 – The Archi-preneur

Architecture is an industry dominated by small businesses: an estimated 60% of all AIA member-owned firms have less than five employees. 27% of firms are run by a single individual!

The AIA Pennsylvania Small Firm Exchange’s (SFxPA) 2nd-on-2nd Small Firm Forums aim to give small firm leaders – seasoned, aspiring, and everything-in-between-or-beyond – the platform to share and learn from the triumphs and setbacks of our archi-preneurial community.

For the upcoming 2-part small firm forum series, “The One Thing”, the exchange aims to crowdsource the collective knowledge of participants to reflect on and share their “one thing” – that gold nugget of insight into running a small firm that has been transformational to your practice or your life!

We ask ourselves and our larger AIA SFxPA community, “what one thing would you pass along to a younger you, to help expedite the learning curve in running a small architecture firm?” If you haven’t hit a place in your practice to offer “one thing” – what “one thing” would you ask for perspective on?

This workshop forum is divided into two parts. Part 1, set for August’s forum, is intended to offer guidance for the individual, the aspiring, “green”, or seasoned archi-preneur, while part 2, reserved for October, is intended to offer guidance operating a small architecture firm.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the individual skillsets and investments in personal and professional development that contribute to a firm’s success.
• Discuss the potential pitfalls, struggles, and realities of life as a firm owner.
• Recognize and apply peer practices and habits that contribute to operating a firm more efficiently.
• Highlight the lifestyle considerations – pros and cons – that come with running a business.

1 AIA LU credit pending