Starting Out

I'm 23 years into it, so some things have changed, but:

1. I didn't have any clients. I bought a suit and started making cold calls on contacts I'd made at my former employer. I did that for maybe 2 weeks. It's not my strong suit (so to speak), and was probably the least enjoyable aspect of starting up.

2. I was single at the time, with no dependents, and I had a pretty decent nest egg saved up. I allocated $40k to the effort, and that carried me through Year 1.

3. I used (and still use) a single workstation. My current one is almost 4 years old now, but it still has enough horsepower to run the software I need. My status as a dinosaur shows up in many ways, one of which is my reluctance to rely on a laptop. I have one -- and ancient one -- but I rarely use it, preferring to do all my calcs and drafting at my desk anyway.

4. Good luck with the venture!

The titular party to an outfit in Oklahoma that I worked for was fond of telling the story of how, one night, at home, he took a call from an engineer who he knew. The engineer had just landed a big new project and offered the surveying to him if he would form his own company. That's how he got started.

A friend who started a survey business went the route Jim did. Spent the first while going around to various old clients and acquaintances. His wife was gainfullly employed and so he he had a little cushion. He picked up a few things early but it was probably a year before he was able to give himself a regular paycheck.

The bank won't loan you any money without SBA backing. There isn't enough money in surveying to interest venture capitalists. So SBA.

No need for a server until you have multiple users. An external hard drive or cloud storage to back up your work would be wise.

Most folks hate AutoCAD's new pay as you go pricing system, but it will limit the capital investment you need to make in software for a startup.

WC I started out by winging it and still are winging today, but it was worth the jump. In 2011 when the engineering firm I had worked for and got licensed under, said they was signing me up for unemployment I said nope, I'm going to work. Now I do a lot of work for them and they are one of my best clients. Here we are, and times are good compared to the first 2 years. I took every bit of money I made the first two years and invested it in equipment. At the beginning of the 4th year I was able to hire a guy with old school experience and teach him to use robotics and gps. This was scary to hire someone when I hadnt paid myself much at all, but it has paid off in a big way this year. A lotta try will get a feller where he's a goin. Good luck

WCSurvey, post: 341492, member: 10349 wrote:

1. Did you have clients ready to go when you started out or did you have to spend the first weeks of your operation building this list?

Started out pretty cold, no real clients, but built them up fairly "quickly" over these past 18 years.

2. How did you finance your startup? Did you have your own resources or did you receive outside financing (SBA, bank loans, venture cap, etc).

I borrowed way too much money (like $250k total), it was much easier to come by in 1998, especially with a couple angel investors. I was able to get that paid off in nearly 5 years. The years really do fly by.

3. For those of you that operate solo, what computer hardware to you use? I will be using multiple softwares including GIS, AutoCAD, Microstation, TBC, etc. Do you need a small server system to operate these bulky systems?

I've got some sort of desktop Dell based on recommendations here at beer leg dot com. AutoCAD 2007 running embedded in Carlson 2011. I have no plans to upgrade wither the PC or the software for at least a few more years, running well for now. No server system, just a home network so SWMBO laptop can talk to my PC and the printer etc.

Go for it! The sooner you jump, the sooner you have begun.

Get an objective CPA in the mix early. She'll keep you honest with yourself about profit or lack thereof. Remember that your wife, while she may have a business background, will perhaps be wearing a pair of rose-colored glasses the same shade as yours.

Remember that all those things you get to "write-off," like your truck, home office, some utilities, etc., really are a business expense. The bottom line at the end of the year is the truth. I know a number of fellows who (in a variety of businesses), continue their poverty-level performance, but rationalize it by saying things like "Yeah, but I get to write off my garage/truck/cell phone/ATV." Just don't fall for this silly reasoning yourself :-). The bottom line really is the bottom line.

Thank you for the input. I still have quite a bit of planning a preparation to go before I dive off, want to make sure I cover as many angles as possible to better set myself up for success. Hopefully my rose-colored glasses don't blind me too much! The closer I get and more planning I do it seems that the gut-check and the gravity set in. I'd be lying if I said that the thought of keeping my earnings isn't a motivator, but it's certainly not the only one. I'll be leaving a comfortable 40 hr/week job to do this, I don't make six figures right now but I'm up there close. Like I said, I truly have fun with all aspects of the business and have never liked being confined to one portion of the work. What other business can you go dig a hole one hour, research old records the next, use high level computer and field equipment after that? Sometimes even having the sweet satisfaction of proving to an engineer that they really don't know everything.....

Been on my own pretty much since 1993. In some ways still starting up. Had some years better than others, had some bad years. Never got rich. Just wasn't suited to working for the man, so probably did the right thing even though not as well off as I would have been as a retired fed engineer, but at least I'm still alive and sort of sane!

There is some very good advice above.

I started my solo business in August 2007. I planned the financial side of it for about 8 months before I closed on my first business loan, and then I was off and running. I did not have any clients lined up, but once some of my friends heard I was out on my own, I started getting referrals on smaller jobs, and was blessed with a large construction project 4 months after opening up. That job lasted 3 years.

I work out of a small building that I finished out behind my house. I bought a good used robot and base/rover setup, and was able to take on larger jobs right off the bat. Get a good accountant from day 1, and stay on top of the book keeping. That is/was the hardest part for me. My wife wasn't able to help as much as she wanted because out kids were still pretty young when I started up.

I built a successful business with many blessings, and help from my friends and fellow professionals. There were a few hard/lean years where I had to diversify because of the downturn, but I was able to survive.

I am now in the process of closing down my business, but it is not because of had times. A very good friend of mine is nearing retirement, and I took a position with his firm to run the surveying department. I am hoping that many of my larger clients will follow me over to my new firm.

I loved working for myself, and will have the opportunity to become an associate/partnership position with the new firm sooner than later.

I did not have any clients ready to go, but several major clients from the big firm followed me as soon as I opened up, and they referred more clients to me, so it snowballed quickly.

I had enough saved to start. The tough part was persuading myself that this was going to work and it was okay to send off the check for a GPS base and rover. To this day I remember looking at that check for the last time before I put it in the FedEx envelope. Oh, that was scary. I should have had more faith, but who knew it would be that easy.

I use my own COGO and F2F software, both of which were a large part of my success because I'm geared for maximum efficiency.

Only regret was not opening my own shop years before. Should have had more faith, but then hindsight is remarkably clear, is it not.

I've been a long time lurker and recently started my own solo business, so I understand the questions and concerns.

To be honest the hardest part was actually convincing myself that I would be able to provide for my family(the way I have been) and have the courage to go out on my own. Once I finally faced my fears and made the choice to leave everything else fell into place like it was supposed to.

I am fortunate to not have any debt besides a mortgage, so a line of credit was very easy to get. That is what I used to purchase equipment and computers. Leasing the equipment sounds good up front but is very expensive and most supply company's will not lease to a business that is not 3 years or older.

As far as clients go, I was lucky enough to know enough clients that actually wanted ME to be doing the work and start my own business they practically said here it is, please come do it( this made the choice of leaving a lot easier) Now I have to schedule a week of office work to just get caught up on everything I have done in the past 2 weeks. And still have more calls coming in daily.

Computers- I just called dell up and said this is what I will be doing, what do you suggest. I went with a desktop, just because I hate laptops with a passion. I am running the Carlson Survey and like it. I also purchased a new Topcon PS robot with a Carlson Surveyor+ data collector. That robot is awesome and as long as you can see the instrument it will find you rather fast, 5 seconds or less. The other day I was in a briar thicket and through the woods, about 400 feet from the instrument. I knew there was no way it would find me but I said lets just try it, Literally in 5 seconds it beeped and I got my shot.. I love it and am so glad I did not buy old out dated equipment.

The way I justified it is...........time is money.. if I am having to walk back and forth to cut line because of a leaf or because the robot will not find me I am not being productive. The faster I can move ahead the more money I can make.. I did 80 acres in the woods in 2 days...

Jimmy, keep us posted with your new adventure. Best of luck to you man.