They can ask for a percent of their FEE or they can ask for a much smaller percent of the TOTAL PROJECT FEE (ie. $1.5Mill home =10% architectural design fee = $150K fee) or s/he can ask for a percentage of their fee if you are shopping around for your own builder (ie. you pay for their knowledge no matter what).

I don't know what the going rate is for architect only fees (no building involved...just the architectural drawings)...but I would guess there are others who will know more than I.

New build or challenging remodel? How well are your ideas coalesced? Are you a flibertygibbet on to the next great Houzz picture, ''Look there's a squirrel, wouldn't that be great!" How open are you to ideas? Is there a lot of red tape to be navigated with environmental studies, historical committes, or just neighborhood litigious types?

The more trouble that a project will be, the more money that he will want, and more up front as well. Analyze where or who is creating the difficulties for your project and address them and your fee structure may change.

If they are a reputable firm what difference does it make in the deposit? Eventually they will want 100%. Your going to pay this anyways. The more you pay now the less you pay later. I ask for a similar percentage when we supply,install,sand and finish. I'd be worried when they ask for too little IMHO