small firm TIPS for SUCCESS WORKSHOP
Best Practices for Smaller-scale Practitioners in Metropolitan Los Angeles

This workshop is strictly limited to 40 people only -- Register Today!

Today's business climate makes competing for and producing excellent work at the smaller scale of practice exceedingly challenging. Upholding professional standards, complying with regulatory requirements, and protecting one's exposure must be balanced with desires to practice at a high level of design, production and representation of the client. This workshop will highlight essential small firm "tips for success" and exchange best practices. Ideally suited for small firm principals or managers, those aspiring to start their own firm, and emerging professionals, the presentations will focus on how to strengthen your approach to getting the work, producing the work, protecting yourself as an architect, and avoiding common mistakes.

As part of a quick hitting "tips-based" approach, representatives from small architectural practices and the legal and insurance professions will lead "Do's and Don'ts," in a panel format in order to focus on the architect's roles and responsibilities, basic standards for professionalism, and necessary protections to put into place at the small firm scale. This panel will be followed by a a participatory discussion, "How Not to Give it Away", that will emphasize best practices for scoping and structuring services, structuring compensation, protecting your work, invoicing and collections, and considering organizational structures.

DATE: Tuesday, October 9, 2012 / 8:00AM to 1:00PM

PRICING: $50 AIA members + reg fees / $110 Non members + reg fees

CEU CREDITS: 4.0 Learning Units

WORKSHOP PROGRAM

8:30am-8:40am
I. Welcome and Introduction of the Small Firm Series:

8:40am to 10:15am
II. Panel Presentation "Small Firm Do's and Don'ts"
* Introduction: Best Practices for the Small Firm
* Risk Management for the Small Firm
* Essential Tips to Protect You and Your Small Firm
* I Got It Covered, or Do I?
* Respondents: Reconciling Disparate Points of View
* Attendees Q + A

10:45am to 11:00am
BREAK

11:00am to 12:10pm
III. Discussion "Don't Give It Away"
* Structuring a Small Scale Practice
* Contract Fee Structures for Professional Services
* Tips to Protect YOUR WORK

12:10pm to 12:55pm
IV. Best Practices Roundtable: "Tips for Success" Participatory Discussion

12:55pm to 1:00pm
V. Next Steps: Small Firm Series

SMALL FIRM Series Topics

a. GETTING THE WORK + GETTING PAID
b. WRITING CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS FOR SMALL PROJECTS
c. BEST PRACTICES FOR SMALL FIRM RISK MANAGEMENT
d. MARKETING THE SMALL FIRM
e. MANAGING THE SMALL FIRM
f. BREAKING CONVENTION: ALTERNATIVE MODELS FOR OPERATING A SMALL FIRM
g. PROTECTING YOURSELF, YOUR FIRM, AND YOUR WORK
h. BASICS OF STARTING AN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM FOR EMERGING PROFESSIONALS
i. PROJECT DELIVERY OPTIONS FOR SMALL FIRMS
j. SMALL ARCHITECT AS DEVELOPER