Years ago I dreamed of assembling a commercial building housing a collection of firms and consultants who all specialized in services directly connected to land. Thought of naming it "The Land Office". Occupants might include a surveyor, an engineer, a planner, an attorney, a title company, a lender specializing in real estate, a real estate firm, an agronomist and other specialists.
Stacy Carroll, post: 334093, member: 150 wrote: I have always thought it should be illegal (maybe even a felony) for a Surveyor to work FOR an engineer or the other way around..
I'll second that thought....reminds of a story:
I'll leave it to the reader as to which professional is the serpent...
No good deed goes unpunished. -Oscar Wilde
ÛÏAfter talking about it for decades, an old friend/engineer finally walks into my survey office, hangs his license on the wall, and sits at a desk.Û
Is he expecting to utilize your organizations letterhead for project solicitation and response?
If, so have you taken under consideration insurance/liability issues associated therewith?
ÛÏWhat to do with all the money to be made from engineering design work is my question for those of us offering professional services besides surveying?Û
No clue on this one, ask SWMBO!
ÛÏI have relationships with other engineers that will surely be stressed by this new arrangement.Û
Are placing those relationships in jeopardy financially beneficial to you based on future expectations?
Good luck, I would suggest you encourage him to form his own corporation, LLC or whatever seems appropriate, and lease an office to him.
B-)
Stacy Carroll, post: 334093, member: 150 wrote: I have always thought it should be illegal (maybe even a felony) for a Surveyor to work FOR an engineer or the other way around. But after the crash, I guess I'm fortunate to now have a job at an Engineering firm. I get salary and a percentage of all work that comes in through me or my former company.
If by work for you mean the employer makes the Professional decisions its already against the law. If you mean providing Professional services as an employee I'm not following you.
thebionicman, post: 334265, member: 8136 wrote: If by work for you mean the employer makes the Professional decisions its already against the law. If you mean providing Professional services as an employee I'm not following you.
Employer has no part of the surveying decisions. No one will ever pressure me into signing something I'm not comfortable with. He's heard "NO" quite a few times.
George Matica, post: 333933, member: 6663 wrote: How would you go about the haggling?
First I would take the attitude that "friends are friends, but business is money." You have to be prepared for one of two outcomes: You quit or he quits and someone is left holding the proverbial bag. I've seen it happen more than once with surveyors I know. Each of you need to have a common goal and be honest about that goal.
Each of you gets an equal share. Perhaps not 50/50, but equal. You could each take 40% and stoke the firm with 20%. I would imagine, though, that the firm would need more than 20% to cover overhead: secretary, rent, utilities, supplies, accountant, etc.
I'm not the best guy for advice on business decisions, but I'd start with something low like 30% each and then you have room for a raise. That leaves 40% for expenses and growth. Write this all in the minutes of your corporate meeting and then, technically, no one gets burned.
Then there's the option of basing your percentage on the amount you contribute. You need to have a year's worth of records to get a good feel for the stats, though.
