ZweigWhite - Small Firms Survey, 2010-2011

312 pages
Pub: November 13, 2010
SKU: sv-sma10

Small Firms Survey, 2010-2011

Are you a leader of an architecture, engineering, or environmental firm with fewer than 50 employees? Or are you responsible for a business area in a firm of this size and type? If you answered "yes" to either of these questions, ZweigWhite's Small Firm Survey of Architecture, Engineering, Planning & Environmental Consulting Firms is an indispensable tool you can use to benchmark your firms’ business practices and performance with peers at other small firms nationwide.

Exclusively for firms with fewer than 50 employees, the Small Firm Survey is devoted to leaders and managers just like you who have responsibilities in everything from finance to marketing to human resources and information technology. And, because we know that you're often forced to keep your firm's research budget to a minimum, we've combined data on nine different major business areas into one report.

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Format	Price
Electronic Copy ( Single User)	$295.00
Electronic Copy (Site License)	$895.00

Full Description

Use the Small Firm Survey to...

Benchmark your firm against other small firms in the design and environmental industry
See what kind of financial performance and growth is possible for a firm of your size so you can set goals for 2011 and beyond
Find out how much firms are spending on marketing, information technology, human resources, and more
Learn how your peers operate in every area of firm management— from project management to ownership to compensation

ZweigWhite's Small Firm Survey of Architecture, Engineering, Planning & Environmental Consulting Firms covers every area of business you're responsible for, and more! Exclusively for firms with fewer than 50 employees, the Small Firm Survey is devoted to leaders and managers just like you who have responsibilities in everything from finance to marketing to human resources and information technology.

And, because we know that you're often forced to keep your firm's research budget to a minimum, we've combined data on nine different major business areas (financial performance; billing practices; project management; marketing; information technology; principals, partners & owners; policies, procedures & benefits; incentive compensation; and management compensation) into one report.

Furthermore, data are broken out by firms with 1 to 24 employees and those with 25 to 49 employees, so you can get the specific details on firms that really are just like yours.

Topics covered include:

Financial performance: How does your firm stand up to your peers? Get hard data on revenue per employee, profit margins, multipliers, average collection period, and more. You'll find out where you're ahead, and where you're behind. Small firms constantly face issues of growth versus profitability— these survey results will tell you if it's really possible to have both.

Marketing: How much do small firms spend on marketing? What kind of hit rates do they get on their proposals? How do they use web sites, press releases, and other marketing tools? Find out how small firms manage the marketing process, and see what's possible for your firm.

Billing practices: How much should you be charging for your employees' time? Compare billing rates for every level of employee— from clerks and design/technical staff to project managers, associates, and principals— to your firm's rates. Should you be charging more?

Information technology: IT can be a costly expense for any firm, but can take an especially large bite out of the bottom line for small firms. How much of an investment is really necessary? Where's the boundary between investments that will improve productivity down the line and those that just break the bank? See how much firms of your size are spending on every area of IT— from hardware and software to data telecommunications costs and Internet access.

Management compensation: Are you paying your top managers enough? Too much? Find out how much small firm financial managers, IT managers, marketing directors, project managers, and principals are earning. Make sure you're paying enough to attract the best people— people that will help your firm reach its goals!

Incentive compensation: How does your bonus and incentive compensation plan compare to your peers'? What's the most effective way to spend your incentive compensation dollars? From performance bonuses to profit sharing, find out what small firms like yours are doing regarding incentive compensation.

Financial performance, ownership, marketing, information technology, human resources, project management, billing practices, compensation— it's all here! Finally, all the data you need is available in one place, and at one low, affordable price. You won't find another book that covers every area of design and environmental firm management exclusively for small firms like yours. If you're on a tight research budget, get the one book that has it all!

Contents

Contents:

Chapter 1— About the Survey
Introduction • Data collection • Definitions • Data sources

Chapter 2— Financial Performance
Profit/loss • Net service revenue per employee • Contribution rate (gross profit margin) • Overhead rates • Multipliers, chargeability, and revenue factor • Returns on equity and assets • Debt to equity ratios • Current and quick ratios • Average collection and average payment periods • Staff ratio and turnover rate • Operating expenses • Financial statements • Growth trends

Chapter 3— Billing Practices
Hourly billing rates • Updating billing rates • Setting fees • Contracts and retainers • Policies on subconsultants • Reimbursable expenses • Charging for CADD use • Invoices • Collection procedures

Chapter 4— Project Management
Project team organization • Principal-in-charge • Budgeting for project management • Project delivery methods • Issuing job numbers • Project management software • Project manager training • Project manager work habits

Chapter 5— Marketing
Marketing staff • Proposals • Tracking new and repeat business • CRM databases • Direct marketing materials • Web sites • Press releases • Marketing budgets and spending

Chapter 6— Information Technology
Online disk storage space • Wireless connectivity • Remote network access • IT management and training • Software licensing • IT staff • IT spending

Chapter 7— Principals, Partners & Owners
Ownership • Buy-sell agreements • Non-compete agreements • Board of directors • Eligibility requirements • Company cars and auto allowances • Perks • Work habits • Background • Age, race & gender • Outlook

Chapter 8— Policies, Procedures & Benefits
Time sheet collection and pay schedules • Human resources staff • Human resources budgets and spending • Performance reviews • Compensation policies • Overtime pay • 401(k) plans • Group health insurance • Group dental insurance • Vacation • Sick leave • Tuition/fee reimbursement • Professional registration

Chapter 9— Incentive Compensation
Incentive compensation spending • Profit sharing • Referral compensation & signing bonuses • Performance bonuses & spot bonuses • Holiday bonuses

Chapter 10— Management Compensation
Project managers • Financial directors • Information technology managers • Marketing directors • Principals

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