Starting a Business
Starting an Architectural Service Bureau
Starting an architectural service bureau is a rewarding experience if you do it right. We provide tips and advice to improve your startup process.
Here are our practical information on how to open an architectural service bureau.
Writing Tips for an Architectural Service Bureau Business Plan
Like it or not, your new architectural service bureau is going nowhere fast without a business plan.
There is nothing magical about a first-rate architectural service bureau business plan. If you can get past the mystique, you'll see that a business plan just describes where your architectural service bureau is headed and how you intend to get there.
Although there are many uses for a business plan, it's most important function is to guide your decision making and strategic planning.
If you still aren't sure where to begin, consider taking a look at several sample business plans to get the creative juices flowing.
Check Out the Competition
Well in advance of opening an architectural service bureau within your community, it's a good idea to find out how strong the competition is. Try our link below to find competitors nearby. After following the link, enter your city, state and zip code to get a list of architectural services bureaus in your area.
Is the established competition doing a good job? It's important to understand their strengths and weaknesses and think through how you'll stake up against those established businesses.
Learn from Others Who Are Already In This Space
Once you've finished assessing the competion, it's a wise move to talk to somebody who is already in the business. It's very unlikely that the local competition will talk to you. What's in it for them?
Fortunately, somebody who runs an architectural service bureau in a location that is not competitive to you may be more than happy to give you a few tips, after they realize you reside far away from them and won't be stealing their local customers. In that case, the business owner may be more than happy to discuss the industry with you. In my experience, you may have to call ten business owners in order to find one who is willing to share his wisdom with you.
So, what can you do to find an owner of an architectural service bureau that lives outside of your area?
It's easy. Here's a link you can use to find a mentor outside of your area.
Purchasing an Architectural Service Bureau
Many experts advise against starting an architectural service bureau if you can buy an established operation. Yet the process of buying an architectural service bureau introduces a new set of challenges.
There are no reliable shortcuts in buying a business. For most prospective business buyers, the first step is to contact a business broker.
A good business broker serves a number of useful purposes. From locating available companies to helping seal the deal, your broker will have the experience and skills to help you successfully navigate the purchase process.
Don't Forget About Franchising As an Option
Your odds of avoiding failure in business are much better if you decide to franchise rather than going it alone.
Prior to starting an architectural service bureau, it's worthwhile to assess whether purchasing a franchise might be worth investigating.
The link below gives you access to our franchise directory so you can see if there's a franchise opportunity for you. You might even find something that points you in a completely different direction.
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