Each year PSMJ asks the AE industry to answer this question in our annual PSMJ Fees & Pricing Survey. The answers may surprise you!Mid-size firms of 101 -200 people spend nearly 48% of their BD time on RFPs. This is nearly twice the amount of time spent by smaller and larger firms.
AE firms report spending 11% of their time on Presentations. This is nearly twice the time spent by firms in other practice areas, except Architecture with Interiors.
Mid-size firms of 101-200 people spend the least amount of time on Proposal Negotiations, possibly because they are spending their time on RFPs?
Architecture with Interiors firms report spending the least amount of time on Client Maintenance, 5%. Yet these firms are on par with other firm types with nearly 80% repeat work.
Each firm’s client type, market sector, and BD processes determine how to use the limited BD time to the best of their advantage. Compare your firm to the table of the top four below – maybe it’s time to challenge your current strategy.

Stop trying to protect jobs and start automating the work that everyone hates. Proactively use AI to eliminate the mind-numbing, low-value work your people would gladly give up..
Read More2026 AEC Circle of Excellence: The Industry's Best Managed Firms PSMJ Resources, Inc., the world’s leading authority on architecture and engineering and construction firm..
Read MoreWhy Business Development Knowledge Often Stays With Senior Leaders A client calls your firm looking for the principal they've worked with for the past twenty years. They don't ask..
Read More