Architecture · 6 min read
How to price your first architecture project
Most young architects learn to design long before they learn to charge. The first fee proposal is often a guess, and a low guess. This guide explains the usual ways to price a project and what a clear fee proposal should contain.
Four common ways to charge
- Percentage of project cost: a share of the construction cost. Common for full architectural services.
- Per square foot or square metre: easy for clients to understand, common for homes and interiors.
- Lump sum: a fixed fee for a clearly defined scope. Good for small, well-defined jobs.
- Time based: an hourly or daily rate, useful for consultations, reports and site visits.
Start from your cost, not the competition
Before you quote, estimate the hours each stage will take: concept, design development, approvals, working drawings and site visits. Multiply by a fair hourly cost that covers your salary, rent, software and taxes. If the fee is lower than this number, you are paying to do the project.
The Council of Architecture publishes guidance on the conditions of engagement and scale of charges for architects. Read the current version on its website as a reference point.
What a fee proposal should include
- Scope: exactly which services are included, and which are not
- Stages and deliverables: what the client receives at each stage
- Fee and payment schedule: an advance, then payments linked to stages
- Number of revisions included, and how extra work is charged
- Site visits included, and travel costs
- Taxes, validity of the offer and who pays consultants
Protect yourself
Always take an advance before starting. Link every payment to a stage the client can see, such as approval drawings or working drawings. Put changes in writing. A short, clear proposal prevents most fee disputes.
Rules, fees and practices change. Always check the current official source for your city and project.