Business of Architecture Podcast How to Track Time, Set Profitable Fees, and Grow with Confidence | EP647
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Aug 11, 2025 Mike Linn, a licensed CPA with over two decades of experience, discusses how architects can reclaim their financial health and confidence. He identifies hidden profit leaks affecting many firms and shares strategies for effective time tracking and hiring, even during tight cash flow. Linn emphasizes treating projects as mini businesses and offers insights on managing invoicing chaos. He also highlights how innovations like AI can streamline financial processes, empowering architects to focus on creativity while maintaining strong business practices.
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Who Handles Your Books?
- Many small firms put a spouse or office admin in charge of bookkeeping out of trust rather than expertise. Mike Linn warns this can hide errors or worse and recommends verified professionals.
Track Every Hour
- Do track time consistently so you know where hours go and which tasks cost you profit. Mike Linn says time data unlocks better fees, forecasting, and project decisions.
Aim For 20–30% Profit
- Aim to price projects so the firm nets roughly 20–30% profit and monitor utilization and realization. Use revenue-per-employee benchmarks (e.g., $250k+) to guide hiring and growth.