Build a Business
That Works Without You
(Even if you’re not planning to leave anytime soon)
For business owners of engineering, architecture,
and design services firms.
As Featured On
You didn’t start your business
to become its bottleneck.
But here you are, responding to RFPs at 10pm, reviewing every proposal before it goes out, and jumping in to fix problems no one else can. Projects stall without you. Clients ask for you by name. Your team depends on you to make every decision.
You’ve built something valuable,
but it runs on your back.
And the freedom you imagined when you launched? It keeps getting pushed to “someday.”
It’s time to shift from hands-on
operator to strategic owner.
Through systems, leadership strategy, and smart planning, we turn over-dependence into independence so you can scale with confidence and build a business that doesn’t just grow, but gives back your life.
Your next chapter should be a choice.
Whether that’s:
Stepping back from day-to-day while your team leads with confidence
Grooming a second-in-command and creating a clear succession plan
Preparing your firm for a strategic sale that reflects its real value
Taking that sabbatical you’ve been putting off
Spending less time in operations and more time mentoring, designing, and breathing easier
Let’s build what’s next on your terms.
Build a business that doesn’t need you 24/7.
Insights, tools, and bold moves for owners ready to scale, step back, or sell.
Real Results
from Owners
Like You
Like most things in business, planning is #1 priority. It’s important to also map out exit strategy, consider impact on personal values, and work towards these goals.
Christian CarrFSG
I believe succession planning is important and it’s never too soon to start.
Andrew HessProduction Products Inc.
This is information that all business owners need early in the life of the company.
ANTON BIZZELLThe Bizzell Group
Meet Laurie
Barkman
Meet
Laurie Barkman
Hi, I’m Laurie Barkman, founder of The Business Transition Sherpa® and strategic advisor for AEC firm owners who want to grow their businesses without being tied to them.
I work with architecture, engineering, design, and construction leaders who are stuck in the day-to-day and ready for a smarter way to scale. Whether you want more time back, a stronger team, or a future exit that doesn’t leave money—or your legacy—on the table, I help you make bold, strategic moves.
Through my B.U.I.L.T. Method™, I guide you in reducing owner dependency, strengthening operations, and growing enterprise value, so your business can run and thrive without needing you in every decision.
Because building something that lasts shouldn’t cost you your freedom.
The Business
Transition Handbook:
How to Avoid Succession Pitfalls
and Create Valuable Exit Options
This handbook is your go-to guide for building a business that’s ready for tomorrow, starting today. Whether you're years from selling or just starting to think about it, Laurie Barkman delivers straight-talk strategies, real-world examples, and practical tools to help you plan ahead, maximize value, and exit on your terms.
Media Spotlight
As Featured On
Book Me to Speak
Whether it’s a national stage or a closed-door boardroom, I address the real challenges AEC firm owners face, from growth plateaus and leadership gaps to the difficulty of stepping away from being too essential.
With candor, strategic insight, and a touch of humor, I help owners rethink what it means to lead a firm that doesn’t rely on them for everything. My talks equip audiences to shift from a reactive to a strategic mindset, embrace systems that scale, and build firms that are both successful and self-reliant.
Because when the owner gets unstuck, the whole business moves forward.
Podcast:
Listen and
Lead Smarter
Succession Stories
Top 2% globally. Honest conversations with founders and experts on growth, succession, and exit strategy.
The B.U.I.L.T.™ Method
Engineer your firm for freedom, growth, and what’s next.
The B.U.I.L.T.™ Method is a proven framework for architecture, engineering, design, and construction firm owners who are tired of doing it all themselves, and ready to build a business that can thrive without you at the center.
It mirrors how you approach your own projects:
Plan with precision. Solve for friction. Build to last.
B
lueprint your vision and firm model
U
nlock operational and leadership bottlenecks
I
ntegrate systems, structure, and team
L
ead with clarity—not chaos
T
ransition with confidence and control
Whether you want to scale sustainably, create succession options, or exit on your terms,
this method meets you where you are… and gets you where you want to go.
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Laurie Barkman
You don’t have to choose between growing your business and getting your life back.
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