Normally the building cost estimates only cover items to be included in the building contract. In preparing the building budget, however, several other items must be taken into account, e.g. cost of site surveying, soil testing costs, finance charges, architect's and consultant's fees, quantity surveyor's fees, and the costs of furniture, carpets, blinds, curtains, sculpture, murals etc... The architect can assist in preparing estimates for most of these items.

In project or site development it may be necessary to establish an economic relationship between such factors as site costs, building costs, operating costs and estimated return. The architect and his consultants can carry out such feasibility studies and financial analyses where required.