I’ve wanted to be an architect since I was about ten years old. Somewhere between navigating architecture school, working at multiple internships, finishing my AREs, and working full time, I also decided I wanted to have my own architecture firm. But the question was always: how and when?
As life often teaches us, things rarely go as planned, and my entrepreneurship journey was no exception. For context, I’m a huge planner—think color-coded schedules with months of plans mapped out in advance. I love to plan!
In my first month on my own, I landed my first project—a deck repair.
Shortly after obtaining my California architecture license in the Fall of 2022, I sat down with my husband to discuss my next goal: starting an architecture firm. At the time, I was working at a small residential firm and had been open with my boss about my desire to eventually branch out on my own. After a few discussions with my husband, boss, and mentor, I took the first step: setting up my business as an S-corp. I then opened a business bank account, designed a website, and created business cards.
The next question was: when would I take the leap? As it turned out, my leap became more of a shove into entrepreneurship. Without much warning, I was given two weeks' notice and suddenly, I found myself working for myself—much sooner than I had anticipated. As I mentioned earlier, things don’t always go as planned. My original vision was to transition slowly by working part-time before fully going off on my own. But that’s not how it happened, and for that, I’m grateful because everything turned out better than I could have expected. In my first month on my own, I landed my first project—a deck repair. It wasn’t the multi-million-dollar homes I had worked on before, but it was my project under my company, and I was thrilled! From there I was able to get a few smaller projects until I finally landed my first big residential project.
Here's my advice: First, sit down with yourself and make a plan.
Looking back on my first year of entrepreneurship, I’m proud of the projects I’ve taken on, the clients who have trusted me with their dream homes, and the personal growth I’ve experienced. This has been an exciting new chapter in my career, and I’ve loved every moment. Yes, there have been moments of doubt—“Can I really do this?”—but those have become fewer as I’ve gained confidence as a female entrepreneur in the field of architecture.
My success is also thanks to my incredibly supportive husband and the community of architects and entrepreneurs who have helped me in the early stages of starting my firm. That’s why I wrote The Mindful Blueprint to Launching Your Architecture Firm, to give back and help others start their own firms—just as I had help starting mine.
If you’re considering starting your own architecture firm, here’s my advice: First, sit down with yourself and make a plan. Write out your goals for the next year, three years, and five years. This plan will serve as the foundation for your business. And remember, plans will change, but you’ll learn to pivot with the ebbs and flows of business. This planning process will also help guide important discussions with your support network—whether that’s a spouse, partner, friends, or family. While entrepreneurship can feel isolating, the truth is, it takes a village to run a business.
Lastly, make sure you have a contract. Trust me—in our industry, it’s essential to protect both yourself and your business.
Katerina Burianova is the owner of Katerina Burianova Architecture Inc and the host of the From the Honeycomb podcast, a weekly podcast where she explores design and entrepreneurship.)