Architecture &
Engineering Firms
Financial Foundations for A/E Excellence
You spend your days designing the structures that shape our world—from resilient infrastructure to AI-driven data centers. But while you’re calculating load-bearing capacities and optimizing BIM workflows, who’s ensuring your financial foundation is just as earthquake-proof?
At Brady Ware, we don’t just “do taxes.” We speak the language of utilization rates, FAR overhead, and project-based accounting. We’re a CPA firm built for the architects and engineers who are building the future. We handle the complex math of the IRS so you can focus on the complex math that actually keeps buildings standing.
Navigating the 2026 Landscape
The Architecture and Engineering sector is currently in a state of high-stakes transformation. As we move through 2026, the sector is grappling with a “tale of two markets”: while traditional private office and retail design have cooled, we are seeing an unprecedented boom in AI-driven data centers and renewable energy infrastructure.
Financially, the biggest news is the full implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which has finally restored immediate expensing for domestic R&D costs under Section 174. This is a massive win for your cash flow, but it comes with a ticking clock—small firms only have until July 4, 2026, to claim retroactive relief for the “amortization years” of 2022–2024. Simultaneously, the rise of “Agentic AI” in design is shifting the labor model, forcing firms to reconsider how they value and bill for “human-in-the-loop” expertise versus automated output. In an era of 50% steel tariffs and a persistent shortage of mid-career talent, your margins have never been under more pressure.
How We Support Your Architecture / Engineering Firm
We provide a full suite of services designed to protect your margins and fuel your growth.
FAR Part 31 Compliance & AASHTO Certification
If you’re pursuing state or federal infrastructure work, you need a compliant overhead rate. We provide the rigorous overhead audits required to keep you eligible for lucrative public contracts.
Tax Strategy & R&D Credits
We specialize in identifying “qualified research” within your design process. With the restoration of immediate R&D expensing, we’ll help you maximize your deductions and capture retroactive refunds before the July deadline.
Strategic Advisory & M&A
Whether you’re looking to acquire a regional competitor to gain scale or you’re ready to transition to an ESOP, we provide the valuation and transition strategy to make it seamless.
Consulting Services
Why Work With Us?
Most accountants think a ‘blueprinted’ plan is just a PDF. We know it’s a living document of risk, labor, and ingenuity. We don’t just balance your books; we help you scale your legacy.
We’re not the firm that checks in once a year to ask for your receipts. We’re your year-round strategic partners, helping you navigate the shift toward sustainable design and the financial implications of a digital-first workforce.
Ready to strengthen your firm’s financial structure?
