Architects’ fees in Switzerland: how to calculate your bid

The fee is one of the trickiest points of an application for architecture practices: too low and you work below your worth, too high and you lose the award. Switzerland has established clear models and principles for this. This overview shows how an architect’s fee comes about and how to calculate a coherent bid.

The three fee models

1. Fee based on construction costs (SIA 102)

The SIA 102 regulations govern the services and fees of architects. The fee is derived from the fee-relevant construction costs and adjusted by several factors, such as the degree of difficulty or building category, the agreed scope of services (which partial services and project phases) and other adjustment factors. It is the most common basis for larger building projects.

2. Time-based fee

Here, invoicing is based on the actual time spent at an agreed hourly rate. This is particularly suitable for conversions, expert reports or commissions with an unclear scope. It is transparent but usually requires an agreed cost ceiling so that the client has planning certainty.

3. Lump-sum fee

A fixed amount for a clearly defined scope of services. For the client it offers maximum predictability, but the risk of additional work lies with the practice. That is why a precise definition of the services is essential.

What influences the fee

• —Building category and degree of difficulty of the project
• —Scope of services: which SIA partial services and project phases are commissioned
• —Project size and fee-relevant construction costs
• —Conversion or new build (an existing building usually increases the effort)
• —Deadlines, incidental costs and special requirements

Putting together a convincing fee bid

• —Define the scope of services clearly: what is included and what is not.
• —Choose the model that suits the task (construction costs, time or lump sum).
• —Break the fee down comprehensibly instead of stating a bare total.
• —Name assumptions and exclusions transparently.
• —Aim for the most coherent bid rather than the lowest; quality justifies the price.

Fee bids on Architektonik

On Architektonik, vetted practices submit their fee bid under seal: only the client sees the amounts, and competitors do not see one another. This protects against a race to the bottom, because the most coherent bid wins, not automatically the cheapest. It leaves room to price quality fairly. What clients should look for when comparing quotes is described in the article comparing architects’ fee quotes.

Note: the binding basis for calculating fees is always the current SIA 102 regulations or the contractual agreement. The models described are for orientation and are not a legally binding calculation.

Join the House and submit your first sealed fee bid.