Building a practice from the ground up in France.

On December 12th, 2024, I shared my journey of opening a practice in France. While the process itself felt like a never-ending back-and-forth race, I never imagined how challenging the next step would be.

Today, I want to share the steps I've taken to build and grow my practice, along with the tools that have helped me save time and money.

I still remember the day I received my VAT number. It was just a piece of paper filled with numbers and letters, but to me, it meant something much bigger, I was officially in business.

Although my ultimate goal has always been to create architecture, all my energy and focus initially went into building a business.

Now, back to the story. I got my VAT number, placed it neatly on top of the growing pile of documents… and then………nothing. I had imagined a dramatic moment, maybe even a cinematic scene where tumbleweeds roll across an empty field.

Reality check: I had a business on paper, but without clients, there were no projects to develop.

The French market is known to be one of the toughest to break into. French clients have exceptionally high standards and tend to trust only French products, French quality, and, of course, French professionals.

To be honest, I struggled a lot to land my first client. Nothing worked the way it did in my home country. And despite having lived in France for over seven years, I had never truly mastered the art of networking.

Step No. 1: ASK FOR HELP!

If there's one thing I know about myself, it’s that I recognize when I need help, and I never stop until I find the right people to guide me.

I called former colleagues for advice. I wanted to get into public bidding, so I reached out to experts who could explain how that world worked.

I reconnected with people I had collaborated with in the past, and surprisingly, that brought positive results.

At the end of the day, everything was about asking for help to get the information I needed.

Step No. 2: MEMBERSHIPS

Years ago, an architect told me that joining clubs and associations was the best way to meet people and grow his network. And at the end of the day, an architectural business is still a business, it needs connections.

So, I followed his advice. I joined associations that support entrepreneurs. I also became part of groups focused on my architectural niche.

But not everything is about work, I also joined clubs where I could meet people with completely different interests. Expanding my network in unexpected ways has been just as valuable.

Step No. 3: AI IS MY FRIEND

I can’t hide it—I love artificial intelligence.

I use it to find bids, create content, enhance emails, and even generate videos. The amount of time saved by embracing technology (responsibly) is truly impressive.

Step No. 4: DON’T FEAR THE WORD “NO”

I’m not someone who enjoys insisting too much. But in business, if you don’t ask, you don’t get. And if the answer is no—whether directly or indirectly—that’s okay.

Life is a rollercoaster. If you help others, at some point, they will help you back. And when people help you, you’ll eventually have the chance to do the same. Business is about relationships, and generosity always finds its way back.

Step No. 5: NEGOCIATE REFERENCES

Entering the market as a new company can feel like stepping in as a young, inexperienced, and unknown architect. To overcome this, one valuable advice I received was to negotiate the right to showcase past projects I worked on as an employee. This can help establish credibility and build trust with potential clients.

Step No. 6: BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

This is the hardest one to write.

When you’re building something new, nobody truly believes in you. Even those who have seen your journey may support you, but they won’t necessarily expect much.

Believe in yourself anyway. That’s what matters most.

My company is now officially up and running, and I had the incredible opportunity to work for myself by renovating my own home. Networking is starting to pay off, I’ve landed my first clients, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Now, I’m fully focused on breaking into the world of public bidding.