REPORTED INCREASE IN GROSS REVENUE FOR 2017: Three in five businesses reported an increase in gross revenue in 2017 relative to 2016 (61 percent), with nearly half of those reporting that revenues increased by more than 10 percent (48 percent). Design build firms were most likely to have seen revenue gains relative to 2016 (72 percent), followed by Interior designers and architects (61 and 56 percent, respectively).
CONTINUED GROSS REVENUE GROWTH EXPECTED IN 2018: The majority of businesses are optimistic about continued gross revenue growth (89 percent). Design build firms and interior designers are most bullish in their expectations for increased gross revenue in 2018 (97 percent and 93 percent, respectively), followed by architects (86 percent). To support that growth, firms plan to invest in more marketing and bring in larger budget projects (each 58 percent).
INCREASE IN REVENUES IS NOT WITHOUT CHALLENGES: Nearly a fifth of businesses reported a surge in the cost of doing business in 2017 (19 percent), along with difficulty finding prospective customers and increased business competition (38 and 24 percent, respectively). While managing customer concern over cost continues to be a challenge (37 percent), the report shows a six percent point reduction from the previous year (43 percent). Additional costs of doing business were felt most significantly by interior designers (25 percent), whereas architects faced the most difficulty in finding prospective customers (42 percent).
Download the Full Report (2018)Download the Global ReportDownload the 2017 Report 
CONTINUED GROSS REVENUE GROWTH EXPECTED IN 2018: The majority of businesses are optimistic about continued gross revenue growth (89 percent). Design build firms and interior designers are most bullish in their expectations for increased gross revenue in 2018 (97 percent and 93 percent, respectively), followed by architects (86 percent). To support that growth, firms plan to invest in more marketing and bring in larger budget projects (each 58 percent).
INCREASE IN REVENUES IS NOT WITHOUT CHALLENGES: Nearly a fifth of businesses reported a surge in the cost of doing business in 2017 (19 percent), along with difficulty finding prospective customers and increased business competition (38 and 24 percent, respectively). While managing customer concern over cost continues to be a challenge (37 percent), the report shows a six percent point reduction from the previous year (43 percent). Additional costs of doing business were felt most significantly by interior designers (25 percent), whereas architects faced the most difficulty in finding prospective customers (42 percent).
Download the Full Report (2018)
Download the Global Report
Download the 2017 Report