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Business Consulting for Architecture and Engineering Firms
Business consulting for architecture and engineering firms is all Next Phase A&E does. We work with owner-led firms across the United States with a core team of 3 to 20 full-time equivalents, counting owners, employees and recurring contractors.
Next Phase A&E is a good fit if:
You still control most pricing and approvals
Project status and cash outlook are hard to see
Billing handoffs change from one project manager to the next
Recurring processes stop when you are away
You plan to sell or hand off the firm within 10 years
Request a meeting. In one free call, we'll show you where your firm still depends on you and where to start.
Owner-Led Architecture Firms
Architecture firm owners come to us about fee proposals, billing milestones tied to project phases, and utilization numbers nobody agrees on. See how an architecture firm business consultant works with your practice.
Owner-Led Engineering Firms
We work with owners of civil, structural, MEP, environmental and other engineering firms. Their usual problems: task budgets nobody checks, late change approvals and capacity spread across spreadsheets. See how an engineering firm business consultant works with your firm.
Commercial Interior Design Firms
Workplace, healthcare, hospitality and retail interior firms share the same fee and billing problems, plus open-ended FF&E rounds. See how a commercial interior design business consultant works with your firm.
Specialty Design Consultants
Lighting, acoustics, AV, foodservice, wayfinding, specification and code consultants work as sub-consultants to architects and engineers. They tend to price from the prime's fee and wait for the prime to get paid. See how we work with each specialty design consultant.
Most firms in both professions are small. The AIA 2024 Firm Survey counts more than 19,000 U.S. architecture firms, and 60% of them have four or fewer employees. On the engineering side, the ACEC Small Firm Coalition serves the same group.
Growth causes most of these problems. At his own firm, Rodney McNabb once had about 900 projects a year on his desk, and quality slipped until he handed production management to his team.
What We Need From Your Firm
Accessible records
A decision-maker who can approve changes
A named process owner
Enough staff time to test and run each change
Smaller and Larger Firms
Under 3 full-time equivalents? Start with the 7-Minute Firm Health Check to see where your firm depends on you.
Above 20? We accept a bounded assignment when workload and capability fit. We refer enterprise transformation, transactions and large organizational work to larger A&E consulting firms.
Who We Do Not Serve
We serve architecture, engineering, commercial interior design and specialty design consulting firms only. We do not serve general contractors or specialty trades, and we do not provide licensed design, audit or assurance, legal, tax or valuation services.
How We Work
Next Phase A&E works 100% remotely from Bluffton, SC, with firms nationwide. Every engagement runs on fixed-fee A&E consulting terms, with scope and fee in writing before work begins. Most engagements start with the A&E firm diagnostic.
Before every engagement, we screen for conflicts of interest. We decline or refer the work when a conflict does not clear.
Start Here
Take the 7-Minute Firm Health Check or request a meeting. See our A&E consulting services, or learn more about Next Phase A&E. Planning a transition? See A&E firm succession planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which firms hire Next Phase A&E?
Owners and managing principals of architecture, engineering, commercial interior design and specialty design consulting firms with a core team of 3 to 20 full-time equivalents, including owners, employees and recurring contractors.
Which engineering disciplines do you serve?
Civil, structural, MEP, environmental, geotechnical, fire protection, and transportation and traffic engineering. See the full list on our engineering business consultant page.
Do you work with lighting, acoustics or AV consultants?
Yes. We serve owner-led specialty design consultants, including lighting, acoustical, AV, IT and security, foodservice, wayfinding, specification and code firms. See our specialty design consultants page.
Do you work with firms of more than 20 people?
In some cases. We accept a bounded assignment when workload and capability fit, and refer enterprise transformation, transaction and large organizational work to larger A&E consulting firms.
Do you work with firms of fewer than 3 people?
Our engagements fit firms with a core team of 3 or more. Smaller firms get the most from the 7-Minute Firm Health Check.
Do you work with contractors?
No. We serve architecture, engineering, commercial interior design and specialty design consulting firms only, not general contractors or specialty trades.
How do I know my firm is a fit?
You likely fit if you set most prices and approvals, project status and cash outlook are hard to see, and billing handoffs vary by project manager. Take the 7-Minute Firm Health Check or request a meeting to confirm.