The 2011-2012 Operating Expenses Survey will show you how to: - Set your firm’s 2012 budgets based on accurate industry benchmarks
- Identify excessive overhead expenses
- Justify budget cuts or increases
- Learn how much money to spend on marketing
- See how much other firms are spending on bonuses, 401(k) plans, and other benefits
- Get a handle on rent & utility costs for firms of your size and region
In today’s economy, it’s more important than ever for firm leaders and financial managers to keep overhead costs in check. And every design and environmental firm has costs that can be cut in one area or another. Where does the fat reside in your firm? Where can you minimize spending to maximize profits? Get the answers to these questions and many more with ZweigWhite’s 2011-2012 Operating Expenses Survey of Architecture, Engineering, Planning & Environmental Consulting Firms. Newly updated for 2012, this survey has the latest, most detailed statistics available on operating expenses for firms just like yours. Get data on everything from how much the average firm spends on professional liability insurance to how much it spends on hardware and software. We’ve covered every area of concern to leaders of design and environmental consulting firms—from marketing to human resources to information technology and more. We packed this report with tables, and broke the data out by firm type, region of headquarters, staff size, growth rate, and client base so you can make apples-to-apples comparisons between the survey statistics and your own firm. We also included trend data so you can compare your firm’s spending history to the industry norm. Whether it’s time to set budgets in your firm or just time for a check-up on expenses, don’t get into this important process without first getting a copy of this book. Hundreds of firms have not only used this annual report to tackle their toughest budgeting issues and predictions, but they’ve also used it to ferret out and eliminate wasteful spending— and to boost profitability. Use the report to find the elusive line between making a profit and losing your shirt. Topics covered in this report include: Human resources: Does your firm have a recruiting or HR budget? Do you ever use employment agencies or search firms? People are an integral part of the growth of any firm. If you want your firm to be successful in 2012, one of your first steps should be to find out what you need to invest in recruiting to make sure you’re getting the right people in the door. Paid time off, 401(k) plans & other benefits: How much is enough vacation, and how much is too much? What kind of benefits are other firms just like yours offering? Part of attracting and retaining good employees is making sure you’re offering better benefits than your competition. Benefits such as vacation, holiday, and sick leave time are an important part of the job package for many employees, but you also have to make sure you’re keeping these costs under control. Information technology: IT can be a costly expense for many firms. But how much is really necessary to invest? Where’s the boundary between investments that will improve productivity down the line and those that just break the bank? Find out how much other firms typically spend on hardware, software, IT staff, and other areas. And make sure you’re spending enough to keep up, but not more than is typical for a firm of your size and type. Office costs: What are normal rent and utility costs for a firm of your size and region? How much are other firms paying per square foot of their office space? Get the details to these questions and make sure you’re not paying excessively high rent and utilities for your office space. Marketing: How much are other firms like yours spending on marketing? Before you start your strategic and marketing planning for 2012, make sure you’ve seen these numbers! Don’t go blindly into the new year—get the hard data and find out what the typical marketing investment is for the industry. |
