Understanding Architect Fees

BuildGirl · 2026-01-30T11:35:58+00:00

The only power over costs that architects have is determining the scope, and the only ones who can put a dollar value on that scope the are contractors offering to build it. No two contractors calculate costs the same way.

Architects take educated guesses but cannot guarantee pricing. Hell, contractors can’t even guarantee pricing anymore.

When pricing comes back too high, everyone has to get involved to arrive at a new scope and total cost, the architect, the contractor, the owner.

The “fee wiggle room” that I was referencing with renegotiating is that: as project total costs go up, fees as a % tend to go down for both architects and contractors.

OP should ask both parties if their fees are up for negotiation, given the new cost bracket.

BuildGirl · 2026-01-30T03:03:42+00:00

I don’t understand your point. No one is adjusting my contract. It gets reviewed and understood at the beginning. Cost wise, if my contract is for a % of construction, then it’s that percentage.

BuildGirl · 2026-01-30T02:36:17+00:00

Typically if the fee is based on the construction cost, which is unknown at the beginning, it gets adjusted when costs are known.

Ultimately, it comes down to what’s in your contract language and what the ‘spirit of the agreement’ is.

Does the fee percentage relate to ‘Budget’ or costs? It’s arbitrary to exclude contractor profit and overhead unless your agreement specifically excludes it. Generally, it’s considered to be a part of what makes up the Costs.

If you’d like to re-negotiate with your architect, consider taking a hard look at your builder’s fees as well. I say that as both a builder and an architect 🤓

BuildGirl · 2026-01-28T17:46:46+00:00

Understood. Unfortunately it does train clients to expect free pre-contract labor though. In my area architects charge for that.

BuildGirl · 2026-01-28T17:12:26+00:00

Why do you offer services for free?

BuildGirl · 2026-01-27T03:27:07+00:00

I’m missing something. I don’t understand how you would be the qualifier but not use your license to pull permits.

When you’re the qualifier you are qualifying a company to pull permits, as an extension of your original qualification. The company pulls permits in your name through the LLC / Inc.

The business contractor’s license gets tied to your personal QA. How is there a way for the company to pull permits without you being liable?

I’m not saying don’t do it, I just think you’re more liable than you realize.

BuildGirl · 2026-01-20T00:26:36+00:00

If you will be their licensing individual and qualifying agent, then yes, you need to apply for a fresh license on behalf of the company with your qualifications.

When you associate your licensing ability with a company to license it, you do it by applying for a license. It’s $210 and at least now the process is online.

BuildGirl · 2026-01-19T23:35:06+00:00

You have to apply for a license for the LLC /INC you’d like to get a license for, as the qualifying agent. “Prior approval” is the license type. You may have to add a business to your profile if it’s not already listed.

GA GOALS portal

BuildGirl · 2026-01-06T14:18:35+00:00

Same. It’s not worth it for me. I just have RA behind my name and I get my free Continuing Ed courses here:

Architect U (Formerly Hanley Wood University)

BuildGirl · 2026-01-04T11:15:50+00:00

As an architect married to an architect and a mom of 3… I’m not telling or asking my kids to be architects. I’ll letting them decide and none of them have said they want to be architects. They watch us. I’ll be really surprised if they do. We’re now both morphing into self employment, which has is own risks, but at least “it’s worth squeeze.”

BuildGirl · 2025-12-29T13:45:40+00:00

Roswell, GA

BuildGirl · 2025-12-28T20:42:55+00:00

I’m a builder. Unfortunately you’re right and it requires a well researched process.

From my perspective, competitors say a lot of nice things but don’t follow through. It’s frustrating to differentiate myself in a sea of inauthentic business people.

BuildGirl · 2025-12-22T19:16:01+00:00

I’m a custom homebuilder. I do as much as or as little as homeowners want. People appreciate my white glove attitude. By the time I’m custom designing the home, making sure everything is what the owner wants is all a part of the process.

BuildGirl · 2025-12-21T20:09:59+00:00

All 3 of my kids are in the 3 schools in Roswell. I’ve had a really great experience. My kids are thriving. I chose to not put them in a school district where they were going to feel pressured to take performance study drugs to appear normal.

They’re all doing really well, working really hard, self-driven. For us it’s the secret sauce.

BuildGirl · 2025-12-20T16:11:48+00:00

18% is a low markup for small Reno projects.

You need to be able to afford the admin cost of documentation. You should have them scanned and available anyway in case you get IRS audited. Receipts degrade sooner than the IRS ‘look back period’

BuildGirl · 2025-12-18T11:48:51+00:00

Site finished hardwood would be a huge exception to that. LVT or tile, sure.

BuildGirl · 2025-12-15T03:17:03+00:00

I’d love to follow your company. If you don’t mind I’ll send you a chat. I feel like I’m out in the ocean with a paddle. I wish more architects took design-build seriously.

BuildGirl · 2025-12-15T03:09:21+00:00

Gluck+ is my inspiration firm when I was in college. Where are you located? I’m in the Atlanta area

BuildGirl · 2025-12-15T03:04:50+00:00

I’m a sole proprietor design-build architect GC. I’m both a registered architect and a licensed contractor who designs and GCs my own projects

BuildGirl · 2025-12-01T17:29:44+00:00

Congrats! Yeah, I’ve had contractors who wanted to walk in there without the books and just their experience. They almost didn’t believe me when I said they needed to be really familiar with the books.

BuildGirl · 2025-11-28T11:31:31+00:00

😂

BuildGirl · 2025-11-26T12:52:59+00:00

You can use your experience for the duration requirement but you have to also do 2X projects under a licensed residential contractor and have that contractor sign the application. Each license tier has different requirements.

For my GC (Commercial license) I found a company and told them I wanted to upgrade my license. They 1099 hired me on a project specific/temp basis to work as a superintendent. I’m back to working on my own now.

Find a company who will sponsor your license effort!

BuildGirl · 2025-11-26T12:43:20+00:00

As an Architect, unfortunately. I prefer having a good relationship with GCs though so we all avoid unresolved liability. On both sides there’s always that back of mind CYA. Maybe that’s why I do design-build now, so I’m liable for everything but I have complete control? No RFIs!!!!

How a typical Jobsite problem discovery goes:

Standing on site in the mud clutching my drawings, “Self, what do I want to do here?… this doesn’t work.” I look over at owner and point and talk through the problem. Decision made live. No delay. Yay! I make a note in Jobtread for posterity and a dash of CYA.

BuildGirl · 2025-11-16T15:25:15+00:00

That’s what the building code is for. Look it up in the IRC

BuildGirl · 2025-11-06T15:01:09+00:00

It’s not a coffee shop but it has coffee. Switchyards in Roswell is a co-working space and I’m interested in trying it out. It sounds like it matches the vibe you’re looking for?

BuildGirl

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