Architect and Entrepreneur

A Field Guide: Building, Branding, and Marketing Your Startup Design Business

By: Eric W Reinholdt

Narrated by: Eric W Reinholdt

Part narrative, part business book, Architect and Entrepreneur is filled with contemporary, relevant, fresh tips and advice from a seasoned professional architect building a new business. The guide advocates novel strategies and tools that merge entrepreneurship with the practices of architecture and interior design.

The problem:

Embarking on a new business venture is intimidating. You have questions, but many of the resources available to help entrepreneur architects and interior designers start their design businesses lack timeliness and relevance. Most are geared toward building colossal firms like SOM and Gensler using outdated methods and old business models.

If you're an individual or small team contemplating starting a design business, this is your field guide, crafted to inspire action.

The solution:

Using the lean start-up methodology to create a minimum viable product, the handbook encourages successive small wins that support a broader vision, enabling one to think big, start small, and learn fast.

It's a unique take on design practice viewed through the lens of entrepreneurship and is designed to answer the questions all new business owners face, from the rote to the existential.

Questions about:

• Start-up costs
• Business models (old and new)
• Marriage of business and design
• Mind-set
• Branding and naming (exercises and ideas)
• Internet marketing strategies
• Passive income ideas
• Setting your fee
• Taxes
• Standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Securing the work
• Client relations
• Software
• Billing rates
• Contracts

Building a business isn't a singular act; it's a series of small steps. Using the outline found in Architect and Entrepreneur, you can start today. The chapters are organized to guide you from idea to action. Rather than write a business plan, you'll be challenged to craft a brand, and you'll sell it using new technologies.

©2015 Eric W Reinholdt (P)2016 Eric W Reinholdt

Great balance of logic and inspiration.

Would you listen to Architect and Entrepreneur again? Why?

Yes, many chapters contained real-world examples and information which might be wise to take another listen to the specific details.

What other book might you compare Architect and Entrepreneur to and why?

Other books consisting of self-motivation and business related genres.

Which character – as performed by Eric W Reinholdt – was your favorite?

N/A. (Only narration)

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

N/A

Any additional comments?

As a current architect student about ready to enter the field, aspirations are high. This book puts into perspective a great intro/taste of what opening up your own firm will take along with a lot of helpful tips. Looking forward to another volume to come out soon! Narration was great, easy to listen to.

A modern template to start an architecture firm

If you could sum up Architect and Entrepreneur in three words, what would they be?

Practical, Thorugh, and Experienced

What other book might you compare Architect and Entrepreneur to and why?

There is nothing else as contemporary as Architect and Entrepreneur. Eric Ries book The Lean Startup has a similar methodology

Have you listened to any of Eric W Reinholdt’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. On par. He typically brings something worthwhile to the table.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

In architectural (solo) practice, no one can hear you scream (in your home office). Alien 1979

Any additional comments?

Eric's book rocks. I listened to it while working in my home office and it has practical advice, things I had never thought about and things I know I need to do. It is practical, scary (In a good way) and motivating. all things you need to make it work as an Entrepreneur and Architect.

Great motivator!

This is great for anyone who feels like this would be impossible. The more you read, the more you feel like you can feasibly take on the challenge.

Architects must read

Would you consider the audio edition of Architect and Entrepreneur to be better than the print version?

It is a good addition to my printed version. A reminder.

What did you like best about this story?

Openminded and well described story for your enthusiasts who want to become self branded.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Most parts give you optimism throughout well written instructions and guides.

If you're a designer who's thought of flying solo, buy this now!

I have thoroughly enjoyed Eric Reinholdt's field guide to starting a design business. It is the most comprehensive, current, relatable and common sense approach that I've heard. He lays it out there in manageable steps and provides you with an overview of key considerations and sources of further info as you go. He understands the mind of a designer and works with it!

Starting my own design and product firm, I've begun to tackle many of the same issues, but always feel like I'm moving through it blind. Regular business books have not fully encapsulated my particular challenges as a design professional. This is a great reference and offers the big picture- from professional licensing to photographing projects and website design. Now I can see I've actually made good progress and know what I need to take on next.

If you're on the fence about finally flying solo- Eric knows what it feels like. He speaks with the mind of a designer, knows what we're trying to achieve, what we're up against and what our hesitations are. He gets it! and after hearing him speak, he may just prod you to finally make the move!

Great information. Here I go!