An architectural bureau today is not only a prestigious, but also a highly profitable business that can bring good income and fame. Modern bureaus create grandiose projects that are implemented not only in Russia, but also abroad.
Despite fierce competition, the services of architects and designers are in demand, and it is growing every year, as the number of people who want to build high-quality modern cottages and create comfort in their apartments increases.
The architectural and design direction has many prospects, and you can take advantage of them when opening your own business.
How to open a design office
The easiest way to start developing a business such as an architectural design bureau is for professionals who are familiar with this type of activity first-hand. Experience and skills are also important, as well as a good reputation and the existence of an already established customer base.
An architectural and urban planning bureau must be registered as a legal entity. This must be done in order to obtain the appropriate license allowing you to carry out design, repair, as well as finishing or construction work.
Before opening a design organization from scratch, you need to draw up a business plan for an architectural office.
If the manager is a professional engineer and already has a license for individual activities, then it is not necessary to obtain another permit for the organization he created.
Selection of service areas
The experience of existing architectural companies deserves the attention of budding entrepreneurs. Obviously, before asking the question of how to open an architectural office, you should clearly imagine the priority areas of future work. According to statistics, they look like this: housing stock - 25%; innovative projects of new enterprises, public places - 2–5%; office real estate - 20%; restaurant business - 10%; service sector - 2–3%; retail real estate - 5–7%; universal approach, servicing all orders - 30%.
Business specifics
Basically, the architectural bureau offers its clients the following services:
• design project with accompanying documentation;
• development of a draft proposal, which includes the style concept of the interior;
• design documentation and engineering drawings;
• approval of redevelopments in the relevant authorities with subsequent changes in plans;
• major repairs and supervision of project implementation;
• furnishing the facility with furniture and various finishing materials.
As a rule, the majority of clients come to an architectural design bureau with an order to develop the interior design of their property, subsequently choosing services such as coordination, construction and architectural supervision.
The business plan of an architectural bureau assumes separate payment for each type of activity.
Today, standard prices have already been formed in companies that work with residential real estate. For example, the development of the entire interior of an apartment today costs about fifty conventional units for each square meter, a design project - about two hundred, and for designer supervision you will need to pay about a thousand. e. per month.
Price of space
The design business has long outlined clear prices for services. There can be four parties to a contract:
- A client who places an order for a service and pays for it.
- The designer himself carries out work on developing the future appearance of the room.
- The builder himself designs the premises in accordance with the layout created by the designer.
However, creative freedom remains. A good designer charges for work as much as he can sell his work for. For a percentage of the construction or for a high fee. “Name” and “brand” are important components of a business. An immaculate portfolio is a direct investment in future income.
There is also the concept of “rollback” in the design environment. The designer receives interest by collaborating with contractors of construction and finishing materials companies. Entrepreneurial designers create a network of such partners, from plumbing contractors to construction crews, earning modest commissions for referring their clients to specific material suppliers.
The price range is very wide. The volume of revenue depends on the volume and scale of executed orders and the complexity of the work. Experienced designers advise beginners not to take on more than three orders. And only if we are talking about standard “apartment” plans in panel houses. Decorating a cottage and monolithic “platforms” is very time-consuming and labor-intensive. Constant travel will also be required to monitor construction work and its compliance with your project.
Preparing a complete package of design plan documentation is quite tedious work. This cannot be done without patience, increased attention and professional skills. At the same time, it is allowed to look for subcontractors - a team of construction workers. The designer’s task is to introduce the style of work, favorite materials, and typical plans. Costs for a staff of 3 people (accountant, designer, draftsman) will be $1,500 in the capital and about $1,200 in the regions.
Add to this price the office rental ($100-200 per month), the cost of a license and office equipment. It is much easier to select builders for certain orders based on price level (the average level of one square meter of general construction work is from $350-450) and execution (about 3 months for a 150-meter apartment).
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On video: a seminar on legal business for designers
Income
Those who are interested in the question of how to open a design company are probably also concerned about the profitability of this business. It must be said that experts estimate the profitability of this type of activity, as a rule, at two hundred percent, and in some cases even several times more.
In this case, we are talking specifically about the work of architects and designers. In addition, additional income for those who know how to open a design office comes from working with building materials, which is generated through a thirty percent trade markup on the wholesale price or through intermediary profits received directly from sellers whose products the company recommends to its clients.
Carrying out repair work is also a fairly profitable area of this business. Most architectural and design bureaus have at their disposal several partner construction teams, from which they receive certain fees for intermediation.
An equally profitable aspect of this business is the full provision of the client with various exclusive items for design, which are purchased from famous artists or created by employees.
Market situation
Today, it is easy for a customer to find a designer, because the market is overflowing with various offers, ranging from public to private. Design activity creates a whole niche of freelancers who are ready to take on any job. In addition to free tablet pen artists, there are many private companies where the designer is employed on a permanent basis and receives a salary, but he is limited to the orders that his employer gives him.
But, nevertheless, it is possible to start a business in this area. Because most of the design services are not profiled and not qualified. Young artists offering their services are waiting for mana from heaven, not caring about their professional training and development. Private firms do not always provide an experienced designer and hire quantity rather than quality.
And besides, the sphere is growing not only in the number of proposals, but also in their diversity. The selection of specialized subcategories of work from categories begins. Therefore, the network of design orders and performers itself is extensive, which means that there will definitely be a place in it for someone who approaches the matter with quality and creativity .
Thus, one of the most widespread branches of the design field in terms of demand is the creation of models for the customer from any material - foam board, plastic, polystyrene foam, cardboard and any others.
Required documents
As a rule, the secrets of how to open a design organization from scratch are known primarily to professionals who already have a good reputation in this area of business and have gathered an impressive circle of regular customers. The federal law regulating architectural activities in the Russian Federation clearly regulates all issues related to the development of engineering projects.
It also determines the legal aspects for the work of architects. A legal organization carrying out such activities must have an appropriate license giving the right to carry out both design and repair and construction work.
The applicant for this permit must meet all criteria established by law. An important role in this is played by the qualifications of the staff of specialists, as well as their production experience. Each organization, in accordance with the provision for ongoing supervision during the validity period of the license, is repeatedly inspected by the relevant authority issuing this permit. This is the State Non-Departmental Expertise, the State Construction Supervision Authority and the State Housing Inspectorate.
Structure
Typically, each design firm consists of:
• Architectural department responsible for the quality and timing of orders received. Its employees must have very high professionalism, as well as a higher education in architecture, design or art.
• Customer service department. It usually includes several managers who will negotiate the services offered by the company and act as intermediaries during the implementation of the project.
• The approval department, which will be responsible for obtaining approvals or permits for the redevelopment of facilities operated by the company and coordinating work with subcontractors.
• The construction department, which carries out repair and construction work and is responsible for the quality and timing of the work.
• Accountant, secretary, programmer, etc.
General concept
Project work involves one-time or periodic implementation of developments in accordance with the customer’s technical specifications. The activities of the design organization are permanent in nature, since they act as a sovereign economic entity with all the ensuing consequences.
The subject of activity of a design firm or design bureau is the development of unique solutions in selected areas in accordance with customer requirements. The result of such development, as a rule, is embodied in an article or report on research, design or project documentation, a layout or technical sample, etc. The main costs when creating a design organization are the costs of paying specialists working in the company. This balance is one of the main features of building this business.
The considered business plan of the design bureau with calculations provides for precisely this approach in which the costs of equipment will be minimal.
Expenses
Before opening a design company, you need to calculate all the costs and evaluate your own capabilities. First, you need to decide on an office, the rental cost of which in residential areas is on average almost half that in the center. There is an option to rent premises in shopping centers at an average price of about twenty dollars per square meter.
The next cost will be the renovation of the office, which should become the calling card of the design office. Another important step is the purchase of office equipment - computers with a nineteen-inch monitor, a scaling copier, an A3 inkjet printer, a scanner. For designers, tables about two meters long are considered the most comfortable.
Advertising and Marketing
To attract customers, a company must have its own portfolio. But if there is none yet, then a start-up company can position the individual works of its employees - architects and designers. It will be very respectable if virtual projects executed as 3D models are offered as a portfolio. In addition, it is necessary to calculate in advance the amount that the company will spend on advertising, the effect of which is felt, as a rule, only after three months.
From scratch
It is quite difficult to create an architectural bureau, so to speak, “from scratch.” Firstly, you need to be prepared for red tape when applying for a license and obtaining certificates. In addition, entering the market itself, which is always highly competitive, will be difficult.
In addition, it is difficult for a young company to attract “strong” and famous architects, whose names are already known in certain circles.
In some cases, this problem is solved by transferring a certain share of the business to a specialist. It is very difficult to get the first order, since the lack of reputation also implies a lack of clients, which at the initial stage somewhat slows down development.
Problems of modern cities that will become the objects of work of the architectural workshop
These include streets that have lost the communication factor, or have ceased to meet the requirements of comfortable living for the population. These are squares that, after the transformation of the country, have become simple wastelands, because demonstrations are no longer held on them, and there is no need for so much empty space. This is an entirely architectural concept of city avenues. This is all that does not meet modern standards, which are aimed at achieving comfort, safety, a unified style, and social activity.
It may seem that such a scale is unrealistic for firms, because they have too long-term implementation schemes and are not considered urgent by municipal authorities. But the point is that architects are already beginning to openly talk about these problems, and, moreover, act as part of broad reorganizations. Therefore, the stage for demand for architectural changes is almost ready.
