An incubator for architects

Building designs, interiors, 3D visualisations and BIM — without a sole proprietorship (JDG), without ZUS, with 6% PIT

How does it work? Savings calculator
Table of contents

How does the incubator for architects work?

As an architect operating within the FDK incubator, you work with clients — architectural practices, property developers or private investors — on a B2B basis, using the foundation's legal personality. This means that you can issue invoices, enter into contracts and deliver building designs, interior designs, 3D visualisations, BIM models or design supervision without having to register your own business activity.

FDK takes over all the formal handling: it issues invoices on your behalf, keeps records of revenue, settles income tax and transfers the funds to you after deducting the commission and the subscription. Everything is fully legal — a business incubator is a model that has been operating for years within the Polish legal system and is already used by several thousand specialists from various industries.

For an architect it is particularly important that the incubator does not replace your building qualifications or your membership of the chamber of architects — you retain these in your own name. FDK handles only the financial and formal side of the cooperation, which means that you can combine working within the incubator with holding an independent technical function.

Get in touch with us Compare with a sole proprietorship

Benefits of the incubator for architects

Why do hundreds of specialists choose FDK instead of their own sole proprietorship (JDG) or an employment contract?

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No ZUS and low tax

You do not pay ZUS contributions (a saving of ~1 825 zł/month). Your income tax is a mere 6% of revenue — many times less than the 14% lump-sum tax for PKWiU 71.1.

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Contract and long-term projects

You can settle projects lasting several months, delivered in stages or on a subscription basis. FDK handles both one-off commissions and ongoing contracts with architectural practices and property developers.

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Full accounting services within the subscription

Bookkeeping, invoicing, VAT records and monthly settlements are included in the subscription. You do not need a separate accounting office.

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Domestic and foreign clients

You issue invoices to Polish and foreign architectural practices, property developers and investors. FDK handles contracts in several languages and transactions in EUR/GBP/USD.

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Support with professional liability insurance

We will help you choose the right professional liability policy for an architect. You can maintain the insurance regardless of the form of your cooperation with FDK.

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Legal help included in the price

Legal advice regarding client contracts, copyright to designs and compliance with construction law is included in the FDK subscription.

The cooperation process — 4 steps

From the first contact to issuing your first invoice — the whole process usually takes 2–3 working days.

01

Consultation

You contact us by e-mail or telephone. We discuss your professional profile, the type of projects you carry out and your expected revenue.

02

Agreement with FDK

You sign a cooperation agreement with the foundation. You receive the invoicing details (NIP, REGON), templates of client contracts and access to the settlements panel.

03

Project delivery

You design — buildings, interiors, 3D visualisations, BIM documentation — and sign contracts with clients under the FDK banner or directly as an architect.

04

Payment of funds

FDK issues the invoice, collects the funds and transfers your remuneration to you after deducting 6% PIT and the subscription. Settlement takes no more than 3 working days from the payment arriving.

Comparison of business forms for an architect

We compare an employment contract (UoP), a sole proprietorship (JDG) with a 14% lump-sum tax (PKWiU 71.1 — architectural services), a sole proprietorship (JDG) on the 12% tax scale and the FDK incubator, for gross revenue of 12 000 zł/month.

Parameter UoP JDG lump sum 14%
(PKWiU 71.1)		 JDG scale 12% FDK incubator
ZUS contributions ~1 060 zł
(employee)		 ~1 825 zł ~1 825 zł 0 zł
Health contribution ~556 zł ~915 zł
(9% of income)		 ~915 zł
(9% of income)		 0 zł
Income tax ~1 032 zł
(12% PIT)		 ~1 680 zł
(14% lump sum)		 ~1 222 zł
(12% scale)		 720 zł
(6% PIT)
Accounting / subscription 0 zł ~400 zł ~400 zł 400 zł
Total costs / month ~2 648 zł ~4 820 zł ~4 362 zł 1 120 zł
Net amount at 12 000 zł ~9 352 zł
(after employee deductions)		 ~7 180 zł ~7 638 zł ~10 880 zł
Company registration No Yes — CEIDG Yes — CEIDG No
Chamber of architects / qualifications Yes (independently) Yes (independently) Yes (independently) Yes — unchanged
Handling of foreign clients Limited Yes Yes Yes

A sample calculation for monthly revenue of 12 000 zł

JDG lump sum 14%
7 180 zł
net
ZUS 1 825 + health 915
+ lump sum 1 680 + accounting 400
= 4 820 zł of costs
JDG scale 12%
7 638 zł
net
ZUS 1 825 + health 915
+ PIT 1 222 + accounting 400
= 4 362 zł of costs
FDK incubator
10 880 zł
net
PIT 720 (6%)
+ subscription 400
= 1 120 zł of costs
Your saving vs JDG lump sum
+3 700 zł
per month
+44 400 zł per year
Calculate your savings in the calculator

Calculator: JDG vs FDK for an architect

Check how much you will save with the FDK incubator (vs a JDG with 14% lump-sum tax on architectural services)

12 000 PLN

JDG lump sum 14%

ZUS (full rate)1 825 zł
Health contribution915 zł
Lump sum 14%1 680 zł
Accounting~400 zł
Total costs:4 820 zł
Net:7 180 zł

FDK incubator

ZUS0 zł
Tax (6%)720 zł
FDK subscription400 zł
Total costs:1 120 zł
Net:10 880 zł
Your monthly saving:
3 700 zł
per year: 44 400 zł

Why is FDK the best choice for an architect?

Architecture is a design profession — you work on short-term commissions (quick 3D visualisations, concept designs) and long-term ones (construction documentation, supervision, multi-stage BIM projects for property developers). The FDK incubator handles both models without any need to change your legal form.

  • ✓ Design work without a sole proprietorship (JDG) — you deliver building designs, design interiors, create 3D visualisations and BIM models through the incubator, without registering a company in CEIDG.
  • ✓ Long-term contracts with Clients — FDK handles commissions lasting several months and delivered in stages. You invoice each stage separately or all together.
  • ✓ Architects' professional liability insurance — a professional liability policy is required by law when holding an independent technical function. FDK will advise you on how to maintain the insurance regardless of the form of cooperation.
  • ✓ Chamber of architects — unchanged — membership of IARP and the building qualifications you hold are assigned to you personally. Operating through the incubator does not change your professional status and does not exclude you from the Chamber.
  • ✓ Cooperation with architectural practices — FDK issues invoices to any clients in Poland and abroad. You can work with several practices at the same time.
An architect at work — a building design

FAQ — architects' most frequent questions

Answers to the questions most often asked by architects considering joining the incubator.

Yes. The FDK incubator does not require you to hold building qualifications. Through it you can deliver concept designs, interior designs, 3D visualisations, BIM models, graphic designs or supervision work for which qualifications are not required. If you hold building qualifications and perform activities requiring a designer's signature, you sign the documentation personally — the incubator handles only the financial and formal side and does not replace your independent technical function.

FDK handles both one-off projects and long-term ones settled in stages. You can agree with your client on monthly invoicing (advance payments), stage-based invoicing (e.g. after delivering the concept, building and detailed designs) or a lump-sum settlement once everything is finished. In every case it is FDK that issues the invoice and accounts for the revenue — you receive your remuneration after the deduction of 6% PIT and the subscription.

No. The FDK incubator handles only the financial and legal side of your activity — invoicing, tax settlements and contract handling. If you hold building qualifications and are a member of the Chamber of Architects (IARP), your professional status does not change. You can still hold an independent technical function, sign designs and bear professional responsibility. FDK does not interfere with the substantive side of an architect's work.

The process is simple: once the service has been performed, you issue a VAT invoice for the client in our system, acting on behalf of the Foundation, and then send it to the client. Once the payment has been booked in the bank sub-account assigned to you, you sign the relevant documents required for the payment of your remuneration, together with the document that forms the basis for settling the contract. The Foundation then transfers your remuneration to you within 2–3 working days. The remuneration is calculated on the basis of the revenue, after deducting 6% PIT and the subscription fee. You can issue invoices to many practices at the same time — there is no limit on the number of clients.

Compulsory professional liability insurance applies to architects holding an independent technical function in construction (i.e. designers with building qualifications). If you hold such qualifications and sign designs, the obligation to carry professional liability insurance follows from the regulations — regardless of whether you operate through a sole proprietorship (JDG), an employment contract (UoP) or the incubator. FDK helps you choose the right policy and makes sure that your insurance is up to date. Architects without building qualifications (e.g. interior designers, 3D graphic artists) are not subject to the compulsory professional liability insurance requirement, although it is worth having it voluntarily.

Start designing without the formalities

Join the architects who deliver building designs, interiors, 3D visualisations and BIM models through the FDK incubator. Without a sole proprietorship (JDG), without ZUS, with 6% PIT.

Get in touch with us 📞 +48 575 594 500
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Get in touch with us

Contact details

📞 +48 575 594 500 (PL)

🎧 +48 794 731 000 (EN/UA/RU)

✉️ kontakt@firmadlakazdego.pl

✉️ administracja@firmadlakazdego.pl

Address

Fundacja Firma Dla Każdego
ul. Lwowska 17/4
00-660 Warszawa

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