Each year PSMJ asks the A/E 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.

• A/E 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.