WIP Accounting for Architects: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Track It Properly
TL;DR: WIP accounting is how architecture practices recognise fees earned but not yet invoiced. In a stage-fee model, time and costs build up against each RIBA stage before the milestone invoice goes out. That gap between work done and work billed is work in progress. Get it right and your balance sheet, P&L, and cash […]
Why You Shouldn’t Use Spreadsheets for Project Management
TL;DR: Spreadsheets work for one or two projects, but they break in predictable ways once a business runs more than a handful at once. No real version control, no native link to your accounting platform, and silent errors that don’t surface until the invoice goes out. 94% of business spreadsheets used in decision-making contain errors. […]
How to Manage Scope Creep in an Architecture Practice
TL;DR: Scope creep in architecture is almost always a systems failure before it’s a contract failure. Most practices don’t spot it until the invoice is being drafted. This guide covers how to prevent scope creep from the fee proposal stage, how to handle mid-project changes without damaging client relationships, and how time tracking and WIP […]
Accounting Software for Architects: Why the Tool Is Only Half the Decision
TL;DR: Most UK architecture practices searching for accounting software are asking the wrong question. The right question is: which accounting platform connects cleanly to the project management tools your practice actually needs? For most UK firms, that answer is Xero, not because it’s the cheapest or most familiar, but because its integrations and the depth […]
Resource Planning for Architecture Practices: The Fee Budget Problem Nobody Talks About
TL;DR: Resource planning for a UK architecture practice means working out who does what, across which projects, before you commit to a commission. Done well, it protects fee budgets per RIBA stage, catches variations before they’re written off, and gives Directors a view of margin while there’s still time to act. Most practices are running […]
What Practices That Stay Profitable Do Differently
TL;DR: Profitable architecture practices don’t manage projects differently on the design side. They manage them differently commercially. That means fee proposals built from real stage-level delivery data; time tracked by RIBA stage so overruns are visible early; a process for capturing and billing variations before they become write-offs; and live WIP visibility so the practice […]
Time Tracking Software for Architects: What to Look for Before You Buy
TL;DR: Most time tracking tools were built for agencies and freelancers, not architecture practices. For UK firms, the requirements are different: you need time logged by RIBA stage, not just by project; you need that data to flow into your accounting platform without manual rekeying; and you need WIP and project profitability visible before a […]
Capacity Planning for Architecture Practices: The Utilisation Rate Trap
TL;DR: Capacity planning is how a practice works out how much client work its team can realistically take on, and who should do it. Most practices plan against 7–8 billable hours per person per day. The RIBA’s own benchmarking shows partners and directors spend less than half their time on billable work. Get that number […]
The Best Software Stack for Architecture Practices in 2026
TL;DR: The most effective software for architects isn’t a single platform. It’s a connected stack: a project management tool as your operational hub, Xero as the financial backbone, and a layer of specialist apps handling debtor management, reporting, supplier bills, and document storage. This post breaks down each layer, which tools to consider, and how […]
Project Management in the Xero Ecosystem: What to Look For
Choosing the right Xero project management app isn’t just about features; it’s about how it can fit into your business. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what to look for, the most popular options, and how to make the best choice for your business. At Hyphen Digital, we write about Xero-connected apps to help […]