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Running an architecture firm today means more than great design — it means mastering the business side. In this episode of Business of Architecture, host Enoch Sears sits down with Matt Cooper, CEO of BQE, to explore how firm leaders can finally break free from outdated tools and habits that hold them back.
You’ll hear why so many architects unknowingly run their practice like it’s still the 1990s, and what shifts the most successful firms are making right now. Matt also shares lessons from scaling businesses in other industries, and why those insights matter more than ever for architects who want both profit and freedom.
Most importantly, this conversation reveals how to stop flying blind and start leading with clarity.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
The hidden trap that keeps most firms stuck in survival mode.
A surprising insight Matt brought from hotels and restaurants into architecture.
Why one simple change can empower your entire team overnight.
To learn more about Matthew, visit his website: https://www.bqe.com/
00:00 Intro
01:45 Why Architecture Firms Are Still Running on Excel and QuickBooks
04:20 The CEO Who Read Every Customer Email — All Thousands of Them
07:10 From Hotels to Lawn Care: The Business Lesson Architects Need to Hear
10:35 Why 4 Out of 5 Small Firms Are Flying Blind Financially
13:50 The 40-Year-Old Software Still Running Your Competitors’ Firms
17:15 The F1 Dashboard Problem Killing Your Firm’s Profitability
20:00 How BQE Went From 60 to 150 Developers in 2 Years
22:40 “I Don’t Trust the Data I’m Seeing” — Sound Familiar?
25:10 Why Adding Features Isn’t Always the Answer
27:30 The Hiring Practice That Turns 3-Out-of-10 Into 9-Out-of-10
30:15 Payroll Inside Your PM Software — Finally Happening in 2024
32:00 Why Your Firm Needs Process First, Software Second
34:20 The One Thing Matt Does When He Feels Lost as a Leader
36:00 Stop Guessing: How the Best Firms See Their Numbers Clearly
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