ArchPhase
Phase-based billable hour tracking and fee-burn reporting built specifically for architectural practices.
“This is an established vertical market where specialized competitors like Monograph and Projectworks already serve phase-based time tracking. A new entry cannot win on generic phase tracking alone; it must solve the high friction of manual timesheets, such as using automatic background capture mapped to AIA standard phases.”
ArchPhase positions as an automated, friction-free time capture engine built specifically for AEC standard contract phases (SD, DD, CD, Bidding, CA), eliminating manual timesheet entry while maintaining audit-ready billing for small-to-midsize architecture firms.
Established platforms like Monograph, Projectworks, and Milient already control the architecture PSA category, while general tools like Rize demonstrate automated time capture. The window to combine AI automated activity logging directly with architectural phase billing frameworks is actively narrowing.
What has to be true for this to work.
- 01Validated
Architecture firms will adopt dedicated tools over general PM software if standard contract phases are supported natively.
Research shows tools like Asana and Monday lack native understanding of fee phases, budget burn, and phase-level billing, forcing firms to turn to specialized tools like Monograph and Projectworks.
- 02Validated
Small-to-midsize practices are ready to migrate off manual timesheets and spreadsheets.
A 2024 RIBA survey cited in research showed 62% of architecture practices with fewer than 50 staff still rely on spreadsheets, suffering 15-20% lower billing accuracy.
- 03Uncertain
Firms will switch from existing platforms solely for automated background hour tracking.
While unlogged short tasks cause $50,000 to $100,000 in annual revenue leaks for 20-person firms, entrenched competitors offer full invoicing and practice management modules that raw time trackers lack.
The four feeds we keep watching.
Google Trends, 24 mo
“project management software”
Indexed to 100 at the start of the window.
Gaps
| Gap | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Over 60% of small architecture practices rely on manual spreadsheets or generic tools like Asana that do not understand architectural phase contracts. Existing AEC tools track phases but still require manual time entry, causing firms to lose tens of thousands of dollars annually in unbilled minor tasks like client emails, permit checks, and BIM revisions. |
Lane
| Player | Angle |
|---|---|
| Monograph | Architect-built project management and phase-based time tracking for small US studios, integrated with QuickBooks Online. |
| Projectworks | PSA software structuring projects around AEC phases with resource planning, invoicing, and utilization reporting. |
| Milient | AEC-focused project management and timekeeping platform connecting hours directly to phase budgets and expenses. |
| BigTime | Professional services automation providing deep phase budgeting, utilization reporting, and client billing. |
| Paymo | General time-tracking and one-click invoicing software used by smaller creative teams. |
Community quotes
- G2Source
“What Asana doesn't do is understand an architecture firm: there's no notion of fee phases, utilization, or budget burn, and no path from a logged hour to a client invoice.”
- G2Source
“62% of architecture practices with fewer than 50 staff still use spreadsheets as their primary time tracking method. Among those firms, average billing accuracy was 15-20% lower than firms using dedicated software.”
Four phases, each ending in a check.
- 01Wedge
Build an automated background time tracker that maps CAD/BIM window activity, emails, and meetings automatically to the 5 standard AIA phases (SD, DD, CD, Bidding, CA).
Validation
- 02Channel
Target small architectural firm principals (5-20 staff) via direct outreach on AEC podcasts, regional AIA chapter sponsorships, and QuickBooks integration marketplaces.
Validation
- 03Monetization
Charge $20-$30 per user per month on a SaaS model, tiered by advanced profitability dashboards and invoicing integrations.
Validation
- 04Decide
Evaluate user retention and unbilled hours recovery after 6 months; if automated mapping proves accurate without high user correction rates, expand into full practice management.
Validation
Your turn
See if this fits you.
Bring this shortcut into a co-founder session. We will tell you whether it lines up with what you can ship, who you can reach, and how patient your runway is.