Software for architects who run the business side of a small firm

Short answer: Alori is the all-in-one app for small architecture firms that want leads, fee proposals, projects, client meetings, site visits and invoices in one place. It works as software for architects on the business side of the practice: an inquiry becomes a deal, the fee proposal is signed online, the project follows its phases, and each phase is billed when it is done. You set it up by describing your firm, then change it by asking in plain words.

A week in a small architecture firm

A couple emails about a house extension. A developer calls about a small multi unit building. Someone writes the details in a notebook, then a proposal starts in Word from last year's template. Two weeks later, nobody remembers if it was sent. Client meetings happen in the office, on video and on site, and the decisions stay in one person's notes. The site visit for the framing review is in one architect's phone calendar.

Most firms of 1 to 20 people juggle the same stack:

• An inbox and a phone where leads get lost between projects
• Word or a PDF tool for fee proposals, and email to chase signatures
• A spreadsheet that tracks which project is in which phase
• Personal calendars for client meetings and site visits
• A separate app for invoices, and another spreadsheet to know what is left to bill

The drawings live in your design software, and that part works. The cost is everything around it: retyping the same client five times, and the phase that was finished but never billed.

What Alori gives an architecture firm

Leads into a pipeline. Inquiries from your Alori website land as new contacts on their own, and forms on another site can send leads in through a lead link or a lead email. Track each one as a deal on a board with your own stages, like Inquiry, Proposal sent and Signed. A phone call takes a few seconds: tell Ask Alori "new deal for the Moreau extension, about $28,000 in fees". See deals.

Fee proposals signed online. Send your fee proposal as a quote, with one line per phase: schematic design, design development, permit set, construction administration. The client opens the link, types their name, signs and clicks Accept and sign. You get an email, and a note lands on the client's file. Quotes that sit unanswered can get follow ups on their own. See quotes.

Projects with phases. Start a project for the client, with a lead and a target date. Alori suggests tasks to start with, and you add one task per phase or deliverable, with subtasks for the steps. Progress shows how many are done, and the task board shows what is late. Link the signed quote and its invoices to the project so the money sits next to the work. See tasks.

Client meetings recorded. Hold a video meeting in Alori with Record on, record a Google Meet or Zoom call, or record an in person meeting on your phone. When it ends, Alori writes the transcript and a short summary with next steps. Click a next step to make it a task. Weeks later, ask "what did the Moreaus decide about the skylight?" and get the answer. See meetings.

Site visits on the schedule. Plan each site visit on the shared calendar with the client, the address and who is going. Each teammate shows as free, busy or on leave. Calendars sync with Google or Outlook. See schedule.

Invoices by phase. When a phase is done, create an invoice for it from Invoices, with its lines. Every emailed invoice has a link to pay by card, and it turns Paid by itself. Unpaid invoice reminders go out on the schedule you pick, and invoices can sync to QuickBooks Online. See invoices.

Every email and call on the client's file. Emails, texts and website chats land in one shared inbox, with one thread per client. Calls made from the app are logged on the client's file with the recording when there is one. Every plan includes unlimited users, so drafters and interns get their own login. See pricing.

What Alori is not

Alori runs the business side of your firm. It does not replace your design tools:

• No CAD or BIM. Keep drawing and modeling in your design software.
• No drawing management. Sheet sets, revisions and markups stay in your current tool.
• No billable hours to invoice yet. Time tracking to invoice is coming soon. See time and billing. Today, bill fixed fees per phase.

How to start

1. Describe your firm. Type a few words, like "residential architecture firm, 6 people, custom homes and renovations, fees by phase". Alori builds your app with the tools that fit.
2. Import your clients. Paste a client list from a spreadsheet or an email into Ask Alori and it adds them. Tasks come in from an Excel or CSV file. If you use HubSpot, you can move your records over.
3. Invite your team. Each person gets an invitation email and their own login.

Running a larger consulting practice? See the consulting and accounting industry page and our page for engineering firms.