Joining Architecture Business Club: Is It Right for You? | 070

I'll cut to the chase.

This episode is all about Architecture Business Clubs membership community.

I'll cover everything you need to know about it so you can decide if it's for you

in this episode of Architecture Business Club the weekly podcast for small firm

founders who want to build their dream business in architecture and enjoy more

freedom flexibility and fulfillment in what they do I'm John Clayton, your host.

I know that building an architecture business can feel hard, especially

if you're a sole practitioner.

Good news is that you don't have to do it alone.

Last year, we launched our membership community to a small

group of founding members, including architects, architectural

technologists, and interior designers.

We meet online each week, and occasionally in person, to support

each other in building our businesses, and to have some fun along the way.

On the 1st of March 2025, we are opening the doors to a

limited number of new members.

If you'd like to join this supportive group of like minded

professionals, now's your chance.

Just go to architecturebusinessclub.

com forward slash waitlist or click the link in the show notes and enter

your details so we can let you know how you can join this incredible group.

And if you have any questions, just email john, that's j o n

at architecturebusinessclub.

com.

So let's find out how being part of this amazing community

can help you and your business.

Hey everyone, thanks for joining me today.

I've talked a little bit already about the Architecture Business

Club community in episode 66.

That was called Building Your Architecture Business with the Power of Community.

And in that episode you can also hear from some of our founding members

sharing their experiences so far.

If you haven't heard it yet, I do suggest that you go and listen to that episode.

But in this episode, I'm going to dig a little bit deeper into what you can

expect from the community to really help you decide if this is something for you.

So, what is the Architecture Business Club community?

It is a group of small business owners who are working in and around the world

of architecture, coming together, sharing knowledge and supporting each other

in building their businesses together.

And our aim is to help you build your dream business and

enjoy freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment in what you do.

So, I want to ask a few common questions that have cropped up about the community.

Do you have to be an architect to join?

No, you don't need to be an architect.

This community isn't just for architects.

So you might be an architect, you may be an architectural technologist,

interior designer, you might be the founder of a small practice,

maybe you're a planning consultant.

Even a structural engineer.

You really don't care about your professional title.

The important thing is that you're working in and around the world of architecture

and you're running a business, whether that's you on your own or you've got

some team members working with you.

So that's who the community is really for in terms of what you get.

We have a weekly group session which we hold online on Zoom.

The sessions are varied throughout the month and we've done a variety

of different sessions so far.

We've had business planning sessions, networking sessions, group

discussions, reviews and audits.

We've also had some mastermind sessions too.

And we'll be bringing in some guest experts in the coming months as

well to deliver some trainings.

We'll be making other improvements to those sessions based on your feedback.

We also have a chat group, which we currently host on WhatsApp.

Keep the tech very simple at the moment.

So it's just a way for all of the members to stay connected with each

other, to continue the conversation after those group sessions, to ask

questions, to get feedback on ideas, or support when you're feeling stuck

at any point throughout the week.

I do believe that once we eventually outgrow WhatsApp.

We will move to a different platform for the chat group, but for now,

we like to keep things simple.

And the WhatsApp chat group is doing just that.

You also have access to a member directory so that you can connect directly with

other members and connect with people that have got shared interests, collaborate on

projects, or just talk to somebody that's at a similar stage of business that you.

We also have a shared resources library.

We've set up a shared drive online for members to share

resources with each other.

And also where you can access any resources that I create for those

group sessions and trainings.

We usually record the meetings and provide meeting summaries.

So if you can't make one of those group sessions, It's not an issue.

Those sessions are usually recorded, stored in the cloud.

You can just catch up on those any time if you're fortunate you're not able

to make one of those sessions live.

Particularly useful when some of the sessions we've covered

a lot of information, they definitely warrant a re watch.

And also in person meetups.

So we actually have our next meet up planned already.

We're going to be meeting in a pub in London in the UK on

Thursday, the 6th of March after the Future Build 2025 conference.

Actually, this particular in person meet up is open to anybody.

You don't actually need to be.

Paying member of the community.

If you are attending future build, then you're very welcome

to come along and attend.

It's free to all.

You just need to buy your own food and drinks.

I'll put a link to register your spot in the show notes.

Um, it's very important that you do still register, even though

this isn't a chargeable event.

We do need to have an idea of numbers.

And we have created a pop up Whatsapp group specifically for that event to

just keep you in the loop about the venue, which we are finalizing shortly

based on the number of attendees.

So.

How much does it cost to join the community?

Well, as of right now, this episode is being recorded in February 2025,

it costs just 180 per quarter.

So that's three months access for 180.

We've intentionally kept the price low so that this community

is accessible for almost all business owners and freelancers.

In terms of how much of your time it will take up, it really depends.

Our weekly meetings are held on Zoom and last approximately one hour each week.

And it's not mandatory to attend every week.

If there's certain sessions that you just feel aren't relevant for you, then,

you know, you don't have to attend.

That's entirely up to you.

I would encourage you to try and attend all of the sessions if you can.

to get the most out of your membership.

And this is also going to help you to build stronger relationships

with the other members much quicker.

If you're attending those sessions every week, and we are aiming to have

in person meetups roughly every quarter and again, it's up to you if you attend.

And whilst we're still a small group, those meetups

generally very informal today.

We've just, um, we've picked a pub and we've tended to have meetups around

all the industry events where people are likely to be heading to anyway.

So, uh, the last one that we did was a really, a lot of fun.

We had a meetup at London Build and, um, it was, it was awesome to meet up

with some of the members in person.

Why isn't this all free?

Because you might be thinking, well, hang on, John, there's other

communities out there and Facebook groups and things that are free.

Why isn't this one free?

Well, I'll level with you.

It takes time to promote and run any sort of community group, to plan the

weekly sessions to make sure that they're valuable for you, to answer

questions in the chat group, to stimulate conversations amongst members.

to arrange and attend those in person meet ups.

So whilst I want to help as many small business owners as possible,

and for this community to be as accessible as possible for most

people, I am not running a charity.

Unfortunately, I just don't have the time and resources to

do all of that work for free.

So, just like you, I need to get paid for my time.

And besides that, the fact that you have to pay means that

you've got some skin in the game.

You're more likely to attend the sessions.

You're more likely to make the effort to take part and attend in person meetups

or engage in conversations in the group.

People generally don't value stuff that they get for free, so we made

a very conscious decision that this would be a paid community.

It would not be a free community.

After all, you're getting lots of free value from this podcast already.

So if you want the additional value that comes from the community,

there is a cost associated with it.

I would say I would look at it more as an investment than a cost.

How is this community different from other memberships, like

perhaps the RIBA or CIAT, RICS?

It's really very different to those.

Those are professional bodies that abide by a code of conduct and membership of

those groups usually requires you to hold certain professional qualifications, to

have a certain level of experience, to go through a lengthy application process,

perhaps attend a professional interview.

This community is intended to act as a bridge between different

professions working in and around the world of architecture.

We don't care about your professional title.

We are about supporting you with the business side of things.

So all the stuff that you don't get taught at architecture school or at

college, wherever you studied, all of the stuff that you When you decide to

run a business or become a freelancer in architecture or any other industry, there

is an awful lot of stuff that you very quickly realise that you do not know.

All of the stuff about running a business and this is the focus

of Architecture Business Club.

It's intended to help you with that.

What if you live outside the UK though?

Can you still join?

Absolutely.

I would say though that just bear in mind that the weekly

sessions are currently held at 1.

30pm.

GMT, so that's UK time, every Tuesday.

Currently, with kind of time differences across the globe, that would be 8.

30am Eastern Time, 7.

30am Central Standard Time in the US.

If you live on the West Coast in the US, it's going to be even earlier.

Which might be okay if you're a morning person, that wouldn't work for me,

I'm afraid, I'm really not a morning person, but it might work for you.

If you live in the Far East, or if you live in Australia, somewhere like

that, it's going to be a very late time slot, I think it's going to be

like after midnight or something.

So please do bear this in mind.

And also, currently any in person events are likely to be in the UK, unless I

happen to find myself attending an event or a conference overseas in the future.

Well, maybe we'll arrange an informal meetup around that.

But otherwise, you can expect those in person events to be in the UK.

What can you expect after joining?

Well, once you decide to join, you'll be invited to join our WhatsApp chat group.

So that is a private group just for the community members and given

access to a shared resources folder.

And at the first group session online, you can expect to get a

warm and friendly welcome from all of the other members of the group.

You really are a friendly bunch, so you're definitely going to be

welcome at those group meetings.

Is there a minimum age requirement for joining?

Well, no, not really, but as this community is for business owners, I

would reasonably expect you're probably going to be at least 18 years old,

and maybe a few years older than that.

But there isn't really any sort of minimum and maximum age requirements for joining.

We don't currently offer any discounts or team rates.

Um, I think that the, the rate that we're offering is very, very competitive,

very good value for what is included.

Are there any types of businesses that are prohibited or forbidden from joining?

No.

Not really, but if you don't work in and around the world of

architecture, then some of the sessions might be irrelevant for you.

Whilst I would say that a lot of what we talk about, what we discuss, what we teach

is relevant for many small businesses.

At the end of the day, this is aimed at people working in and around architecture.

So if that's not you, there might be a more, um, an alternative, more appropriate

community that you could consider joining.

Does it include any coaching or mentoring?

Yes, there are elements of coaching and mentoring in some of the group

sessions, but this doesn't include any one to one coaching or mentoring.

If that is something you need, then feel free to drop me a message,

and I will help you if I can.

And if I don't feel that I'm the best placed person to support you with that,

I can certainly Direct you to some other coaches and consultants that

would be a better fit to help you.

Can you promote your own products and services to other members?

Well, selling isn't allowed within the group, but if you wanted to share, say,

your website or your sales page or a brochure with other members to get some

feedback on it, that is absolutely fine.

You're absolutely free to share things like that within the WhatsApp chat group

and get feedback from other members.

And this is something that the founding members have been actively

doing over the past few months.

what are our community guidelines?

We do have some community guidelines and I'm just going to read those out for you.

They're quite simple really.

Uh, be respectful, so treat all members with kindness and respect.

We're here to support each other.

Stay positive, encourage and uplift others and share ideas

and solutions, not negativity.

Help each other, offer advice, tips and support.

We all grow together.

Keep it professional.

Stay focused on business and professional growth and avoid

any inappropriate content.

Ask questions.

There's no such thing as a bad question.

If you are unsure about anything, just ask.

We're all here to learn together.

Respect privacy.

What's shared in the community should stay in the community,

unless you get permission from other members of the group.

So don't share personal or business details outside of

the group without permission.

And share value.

If you have knowledge, resources or experiences that could help

others, then feel free to share them with the rest of the group.

And then lastly, no spam.

And I don't mean the, uh, canned meat products.

No self promotion or spam shared in the group, but please share helpful

content that benefits everybody.

You might be wondering if this is an inclusive community.

Absolutely, it is.

We welcome people from all ethnicities, religions, genders, abilities.

Really doesn't matter.

Everybody is welcome in this group.

And, can you get a refund if you change your mind?

Yeah.

If you decide within the first two weeks of, within 14 days of joining, if you

decide that it's just not for you, then I will happily give you a full refund

and revoke your access from the group.

So why join now?

Well, as a new community we have less members, so for now at least you're

going to get more access to me.

And as an early member, you get the chance to help shape what this community

becomes, so it best serves your needs.

And we've got some great sessions planned over the next few months.

So if you're thinking, John, this sounds fantastic, how do I go about joining?

We'll be opening the doors to a maximum of 10 new members on the 1st of March 2025.

Once those seats are filled, the doors will be closed again until further notice.

And that is to make sure that we can properly onboard and settle

in new members before opening the doors again in the future.

So to make sure you have a chance of bagging one of those 10 seats,

just go to architecturebusinessclub.

com forward slash waitlist or click the link in the show

notes and enter your details.

And if I think you're a good fit, I'll reach out to you personally

during the next few days.

and arrange a quick chat with you, we'll answer your questions and

provide those joining instructions.

So that's it for today.

Thanks for listening in and I hope to see you inside the Architecture

Business Club membership community or at our next in person meetup.

Next time I chat with Molly Scanlon about sustainable websites.

Thanks so much for listening to this episode of architecture business club.

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Remember.

Running your architecture business.

Doesn't have to be hard and you don't need to do it alone.

This is architecture business club.