ASLA Oregon

November 16, 2010 Edit

ASLA Survey Gives Latest News on the Profession

ASLA Business Indicator Survey Offers Snapshots of Profession, Downturn

ASLA has released the biannual Business Indicator Survey, and the findings document an industry struggling through a challenging business climate. Completed earlier this year, the survey details landscape architecture firm practices including average billing rates, fee structures, revenue, client types, staff benefits, and new business strategies, among others.

Some of the findings include:

• The average profit margin for firms dropped from 18 percent in 2008 to 13 percent in this current survey—a reflection of the tough economic conditions.
• The most active client types for firms were private home owners (61 percent), architects (60 percent), cities/municipalities (56 percent), and residential developers (50 percent).
• Landscape architecture fees make up an average of 9.3 percent of total project costs.
• Only 2 percent of the respondents worked exclusively in the public sector, and 22 percent of respondents derived more than 75 percent of their work from the public sector.
• On the private side, 26 percent reported that all their work came from the private sector, and 48 percent derived 75 percent or more of their work from the private sector.
• Two-thirds (65 percent) of respondents reported that repeat business from previous clients makes up at least half of their work.

Respondents received free access to the results. Full details of the Business Indicator Survey and the Salary Surveys for others are available at $150 for ASLA members and $300 for nonmembers. Click here to learn more.