The mission of the AIA Small Firm Exchange (SFx) is to advance the mutual interests of architects practicing in small firms. The objectives of the AIA SFx are three-fold:
1. Advocate the value of small firms, the national SFx, and local SFx groups, both within the AIA and to the public.
2. Curate and disseminate the most pertinent resources and information, from the AIA & elsewhere, that benefit small firms.
3. Inform the AIA of current issues facing small firms and areas in which current resources/information are lacking.
Approximately 75% of all firms within the AIA are small firms (less than 10 employees), which equates to 14,459 small firms within the organization.
~26.8% = sole practitioners = 5,173
~33.5% = 1-5 employees = 6,459
~14.7% = 5-10 employees = 2,827
For context, small firms share of staff is 16.0% and share of billings is 12.0%
We need to find ways to leverage that size for collaboration and influence, just like the individual large firms do.
SFx has been exploring which business models are most appropriate to sustain the practice of architecture for small firms. Specifically modified for small architecture firms, SFx developed a beta version business plan template and a small firm business model dashboard to assist small firms in creating and evaluating sustainable business practices.Additional business plan templates and tips are available in Practice FAQ: How do I create a business plan to start an architecture firm?