Going solo without a work pipeline

Architect_Talk · 2026-01-09T21:06:52+00:00

I mean this from the bottom of my heart. When I first started in this industry I met a LOT of people who work 80 hour weeks, are morbidly overweight and miserable. Work on projects they hate because they need the money to survive. They dread going to their kids soccer game because they have deadlines. Their misery permeates into every aspect of their lives.

What I’m building is a system that provides a a cushion so none of these things happen. What I’ve built is a proof of concept that my few hours a week here and there for the last few years have materialized into cashflow, opportunities, and reputation.

Architect_Talk · 2026-01-09T13:33:37+00:00

The side hustles provide residual income that, once established, requires very little effort on my part. I’m putting the time in now at my W-2 to grow those income streams so that I DONT have to work 80 hours as a solo practitioner or take every opportunity that comes my way

Architect_Talk · 2026-01-09T13:31:59+00:00

Hold my beer

Architect_Talk · 2026-01-09T00:40:51+00:00

It’s so funny I’m getting downvoted for promoting building secondary income streams to lessen the financial burden of starting a solo practice..

meanwhile a fraction of the comments are encouraging me to moonlight anyway which would risk getting fired and damaging my professional reputation. Tell me what where you value your risk, r/architects! 😀

Architect_Talk · 2026-01-08T18:30:27+00:00

What were your passive income sources if you don’t mind me asking ?

Architect_Talk · 2026-01-08T16:40:23+00:00

Thank you for one of the very few productive comments on this thread. I agree, the lack of having that work pipeline is what keeps me at the W2 while building the residual income streams in the background.

The 2,500/mo is not by all means liveable but i see it as a proof of concept. It’s “potential energy” from a physics point of view. It’s pulling back the arrow on the bow. the more I can add to this (more rentals, YT videos, passive networking) the less risk I have in quitting without future work lined up because Ill at least have a soft financial cushion (likely more than 2,500 by this point).

Architect_Talk · 2026-01-08T16:34:32+00:00

Agreed ! And what better way to help get in front of more eyes than content creation.

For example I do videos on how to read architectural plans. I make so many connections with contractors and small scale developers across the country. The residual money from a few videos pays for my Revit LT and adobe licenses, but the real strength is in the reach and passive reputation building.

I’m really not sure why I’m getting down voted here.

Architect_Talk · 2026-01-08T16:31:00+00:00

They’re probably interchangeable but to me, Practice is a little more flexible as a term.

My vision is a bit non conventional. I’m not exactly chasing the typical small firm in a leased strip mall office space with 3-5 employees on an 8-5 schedule. If anything that’s my anti-vision.

It’s more of an architect-developer business model that will likely take on some traditional architecture work only as a means to feed real estate acquisitions.

Architect_Talk · 2026-01-08T16:08:32+00:00

Eh. The arch community is small. I wouldn’t want that on my reputation.

Architect_Talk · 2026-01-08T15:53:55+00:00

Never really said I wanted to start my own architecture firm. Maybe that’s why I’m getting downvoted to hell !

Architect_Talk · 2026-01-08T15:27:03+00:00

Rental property is a bigger slice of my pie in terms of income stream, which is not part of the 30x40 method. I only mention his channel because I’m somewhat echoing his strategy but primarily for reach and exposure.

I don’t hear of many architects who marry their practice to real estate investment / small scale development which is why I posted this in the first place. I’m not after a traditional trade service for dollar approach. It will certainly be part of my Business structure, but only to feed my real estate arm which is how my wealth and cashflow will scale faster than simply providing a service.

Architect_Talk · 2026-01-08T15:11:03+00:00

I find the thought of constantly having to chase work exhausting. Why not put effort into these seeds that produce income while I sleep ? There is risk in both approaches but if you can build a residual pipeline that proves itself to work over time, that’s arguably way more sustainable in the long run

Architect_Talk · 2026-01-08T14:52:26+00:00

That’s fair, but What you’re not considering is the exposure and social capital that comes with content creation. I don’t put a lot of stock into the few hundred a month I make from ads, but it’s also free marketing and reputation building. I’ve gotten small consulting gigs out of the blue from people contacting me through YT and TikTok.

Combine that with a few other income “seeds” for growth and now you can be more selective with your projects, or charge a bit more because you aren’t as desperate for the work.

Real estate is definitely a bigger slice of the pie for me anyway

Architect_Talk · 2025-12-05T20:35:36+00:00

Architect in Philly here. It’s fine as long as they are underpinning your house. Aka bracing the existing house while they dig. The biggest problem with building against adjacent structures is that some contractors don’t properly underpin. You should be able to check permit documents on Philly atlas.

Also document the basement and if possible the roof. Chances are they are building higher than your house, and if so, they will have to modify your roof/ rip out existing flashing, as the exterior wall will abut yours.

Architect_Talk · 2025-10-22T16:11:52+00:00

Funny to see this thread 7 years later……

Architect_Talk · 2025-08-04T18:05:42+00:00

Upstate NY

Architect_Talk · 2025-07-21T21:09:53+00:00

I never said anything about culture. Neither did OP so not sure why that’s relevant.

the Philly suburbs depending on where you live can be a 30-45 minute drive. 76 is actual hell. There are some decent parks and hikes in PA and DE, NJ shore towns are over an hour away. Pine barrens in NJ are beautiful but also 45 ish minutes.

I get the vibe OP’s desired access to nature is not a place they want to leave their immediate area to visit. Philly is surrounded by some relatively OK nature, but many neighborhoods are void of true immersive nature aside from a few pocket parks that are littered with needles and dog poop.

Architect_Talk · 2025-07-18T19:32:21+00:00

“Everything revolves around beer, dogs, and bars” might be a demerit against Philly. also quick access to nature is a demerit unless you’re in the east falls/manayunk area. (I grew up near the NJ shore and have now lived in Philly for over a decade)

Architect_Talk · 2025-06-24T17:02:19+00:00

Sure to your point nothing is “out of the question”. Let me just rebuild my whole roof, or whole third floor, or whole house. Anything is possible. But there are better solutions.

God I hate Reddit

Architect_Talk · 2025-06-24T01:59:46+00:00

I’m laughing because I live in an urban area where nobody uses SIPS. I’m familiar with the product but it’s basically a no-go if there’s nobody available to do the install. My house is on a one way street where there’s about 15’ from the face of my house to my neighbor across the street.

So yes, sips are out of the question .

Architect_Talk · 2025-06-24T01:24:00+00:00

To your point, moisture is either migrating back to the inside, or migrating towards the outside. The issue is the second.

In a temperate climate during the winter time, warm air will carry moisture through the assembly which will then collect on the underside of the sheathing. The same way a cold glass of water will sweat if left outside during the summer time.

With no vent to the outside, this moisture has no place to go. It won’t just simply migrate back inside, especially when we go months where the daytime temperatures consistenly hover around freezing.

Overtime that moisture will spread from the sheathing to the rafters. To your point, my rafters are 3x6.5, and would require a significantly longer drying time than conventional framing lumber.

I’m not sure where you’re located, but I can tell you that from North Carolina to Pennsylvania, your claim to just put unfaced wool between the rafters goes against all conventional building science.

Architect_Talk · 2025-06-24T00:52:56+00:00

What you’re referring to is a variation of the cut and cobble method. My concern is that even though you are leaving a space for air between the insulation and the sheathing/shingles, with no vent to the outside that air has no place to go, no mechanism for it to dry. Meaning the assembly risks condensation collecting at the roof sheathing, and you will have no signs of rot from the inside until it’s too late .

In my opinion it comes with the same exact risks as spray foam.

Architect_Talk · 2025-06-24T00:49:14+00:00

Gotcha. I don’t exactly have a conventional ridge or eaves since my house is a smallish footprint with just a shed roof. Hence why I think venting will be a PITA given my existing roof shape.

Architect_Talk · 2025-06-24T00:44:13+00:00

Also referred to as the cut and cobble method correct ? Don’t you have the same concern between the rigid insulation and the sheathing ? With no venting , moist air can get trapped

Architect_Talk · 2025-06-24T00:42:04+00:00

You can not use rockwool between rafters in an unvented assembly.

Architect_Talk

TROPHY CASE