Thinking about starting your own architecture firm?  It’s a daunting proposition, fraught with doubts and uncertainty.  Where do you start?  How can you succeed?  What challenges will you run up against and how can you avoid the pitfalls.

I know this well – because I went through the process myself when I started my design firm in 1999.

Through a process of trial and error I built my practice into a successful 6-person firm that left a legacy of successful projects across the city of Chicago.  It was great fun, but it was challenging work.  And in retrospect I find myself thinking of all the things I learned along the way that I wish I’d known from the outset.

So, in the interest of paying it forward, here are the top 10 things I wish I’d known when I went out on my own!