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Many architects dream of starting their own firm. Many will try. Many will fail. However, many will have failures, but keep working to achieve success and establish their own practice.

Rarely as pre-professionals, whether in school or in an office, are we exposed to the business side of architecture. This carries a host of problems for the dreamers – unrealistic expectations, minimal knowledge of architectural business development, and of course, mistakes.

Yet, like any creative field, your journey begins with the belief that this path will lead you to realizing your own architectural vision. Along the way, you begin to understand the pervasive necessity for collaboration in architecture and develop an awareness of your strengths – whether as a designer or a specialist in building technology, project management, and many others – leading to an evolution of your long-term desires.

For those that continue along the path of striking out on their own, we asked eight architects at seven local firms to reflect on starting their own practices. Together, these firms cover a broad spectrum from infancy to well-established, with over two decades of practice.

Each Architect was asked to answer these three questions about starting a firm.

1. What was your first project and how did you get it?
2. Is now the best or worst time to start a firm? Why?
3. What was your most important failure starting out?