Dave Industries International, Inc.
Geomatics and Mapping Division
We also have a cabinet and wood products manufacturing division.
Nice.
A guy I worked with in laboratory had TUF, totally unreliable framing.
He made picture frames on the side.
I have a couple:
SDS Serious Data Solutions (I think the copyright is owned by a big multi conglomerate)
And my registered LLC
Stabbing Westward Geospatial Services LLC.
or SWGS LLC for short and quick.
the band can go stick it.... (actually I like the band) they pulled it right from an Eisenhower speech, so did I.
Had a civil engineering professor who was a partner in a consutling firm that went by the name of Slipshod Engineering.
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(typically of a person or method of work) characterized by a lack of care, thought, or organization."he'd caused many problems with his slipshod management"
I’m in the process of preparing to open a small civil engineering and land surveying firm.
What is some advice you have? Is there anything that you wish you had done prior to opening shop? Do you regret any decisions you made in the first 3 months, 6 months, year?
Thanks in advance.
Unless you marry rich woman, don't do it!!!
One thing that helped me when I first started out, (other than my wife having a full-time job), was having survey friends/colleagues that I could do work for during any slow times or even on weekends. This helped in the first 6 months/year.
Dave Industries International, Inc.
Geomatics and Mapping Division
We also have a cabinet and wood products manufacturing division.
Not sure if this is totally tongue-in-cheek or if some truth to it, but I would again caution anyone to confirm what's allowed in your jurisdiction. Like with naming, my in my state, a PLLC providing land survey services can only provide survey and survey related services. You can not wrap up other non-survey related business activity under your survey firm PLLC.
in my opinion if you have a good name then that is your company name. Forget the Polaris or -North Star or Superior or Precision or ALTAs-R-Us.
Some caution to this, in my understanding, in North Carolina, should your registered firm name include your personal name, should you ever depart the firm, the firm must change names. You firm name can't represent an actual person who is no longer associated with the firm. This is cart before the horse to be sure, but don't build brand recognition around a name that at some point in the future you can't sell.
Not sure if this applies in other jurisdictions.
I'm in NC, and while that might be the case, I can guarantee you that there are firms operating under the original founder's name even though they're either long gone or dead. Learn something every day...
I think no matter what business the best advice i have seen here is have cash on hand. As a home budget it might be stated as a nest egg a emergency fund a keep the boat afloat fund. I am not against borrowing money and in business it is sometimes better to borrow and use your money in a way to make money. Lets say you can cash flow the survey equipment needed daily. Well now you can take what you were going to pay on a note and stick it to the side for the next crew or crews. A line of credit is not a bad idea either but your usually paying interest only for a while. I would set down and start grouping things like equipment software computers vehicles and wages and the walls roof. Also maintenance of equipment truck software etc. trust me the little things always add up. I farm so a $4 item x’s x amount of times its lost or broke and it holds up a 50k machine will drive you nuts. I would at bare minimum have enough cash set aside to pay wages for 6months period. Those that operate a surveying business might change that number of months based on cash flow and billing turn around time as i am not in business for myself on surveying. Holycow is right as well you don’t need a 80k truck to do a 800$ job. But buy smart low maintenance vehicles. Its probably the toughest thing right now is finding a good used vehicle because of covid. But tgey are out there. Watch yard sales flee markets and side road stands for things like hammers shovels etc. i stopped today and bought a spade that had hardly been used and a pitchfork which you don’t need but they were $4 each. Go to Home Depot or lowes and you can’t by a handle for that. They had some claw hammers sledgehammers all for a very good price. I have plenty so I didn’t buy that. Get what you need and be frugal. Pay yourself or pay interest. Good luck. Remember you can’t fail if you don’t try. I love seeing people start up their own business. Just makes me happy. Good ole usa . Don’t get frustrated if it gets tough. Sardines spam pork n beans crackers can sustain you for a while. Ramon noodles also. Make sure your people are taking care of and the customer/ client. You will get yours last but it will be worth the wait.
