Stop Managing Projects Like It’s 1999

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework 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host Enoch Sears sits down with Matt Cooper, CEO of BQE, to explore how firm leaders can finally break free from outdated tools and habits that hold them back.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