Money-making Side Hustles for Architects

Architects and home designers can find various types of projects that they can work on to supplement their regular work. 

Such money-making side hustles for architects can include gigs like creating a design of a house, helping clients get their designs approved, renovating a space, and adding spaces to an existing building.

You can find these side gigs offline, through contacts and word-of-mouth, and online, on websites like Archicheq, where clients looking for architects post projects which architects can bid on.

Side Hustles for Architects

Here’re a few money-making good side job for architects and designers:

Draw Design Drafts

Some clients want to hire an architect to just create a design drawing that they can themselves develop or create with an independent contractor. As a designer, you can understand the client’s requirement of the space and their brief and create a drawing or design with instructions on material and execution for the client, which they can use to bring the structure to life. 

You can charge them a little extra if they want you to come in occasionally during the construction process to ensure that everything is in alignment with your design.

Get Designs Approved

Sometimes clients design a home, office, etc., and they need a professional to refine the design and give a stamp of approval to get it approved by the local authorities. These are great side jobs for architects as they are not time-consuming gigs and can help you make some extra cash.

To start with, you can check with the client if they want you to just make the design approval-worthy or if you have the liberty to suggest changes to the aesthetics. With such side job architects can make good money with little time commitment.

Electrical and Plumbing Blueprints

Various designers and clients need help from professionals who can create effective blueprints of the electricals and plumbing of a house. It is important to understand the functional need of the client for the space you’re designing for, so that you can create the right number and types of outlets.

You can price your service depending on the size and complication of the site and the supply lines. You can check with the client if they need your assistance in ensuring that the implementation of the blueprints is the right quality.

Renovating a Space

Renovations can be complicated or simple. As an architect looking for easy money-making projects, you can evaluate the amount of time you will need to spend on a project before committing to it.

Simple renovation projects can be very fulfilling, both creatively and monetarily. With side jobs for architects, you can even offer to consult just on the design, and let an independent contractor take up the construction part.

Remodelling and Additions

Similar to renovation, remodelling projects can range from easy to comprehensive. For a freelance project, you can review the requirement of the client and assess the time commitment it may require. 

For Addition projects, clients may need the help of an architect for just the design or both design and construction.

What to Charge for Side Jobs for Architects

For all kinds of architect side hustles, architects and designers can charge an hourly price or a lump sum. You can review this guide on the cost of hiring an architect to determine how you can charge your clients.