Hey everyone, Ive been reading the forums for about a year now and finally decided to create my own profile so I could contribute and ask questions. I am an LSIT and hopefully taking my PS exam in the next few months. I have been surveying for about 5 Years total so I know I don't know everything but was curious as to how old most people were when they decided to start their own Surveying Company. I am only 26 so I know I am not ready to go out on my own yet but I have downloaded the Management Handbook for Land Surveyors that someone shared a few weeks ago and am going to purchase a book on GPS to get more familiar with that. Thanks everyone for everything you post on here, It has taught me a lot so far.
I was nearly 32 years old when I started.?ÿ At that point I had 10 years of professional experience plus a university education in surveying and mapping and had been licensed for four years.?ÿ I was lucky enough to have worked for a large engineering firm for most of my career (I did a short stint working as and analyst / photogrammetrist for a small federal agency).?ÿ My bosses did at great job of giving me ever increase responsibilities.?ÿ By the time I took off on my own I was managing large infrastructure/transportation survey projects across the Pacific NW as running the GPS program, providing R&D and technical support for our six offices.?ÿ My original business model was to provide GPS services for firms across the region at a time when GPS was not common place.?ÿ I ended up expanded those services to include the pre-design projects I had done while an employee.?ÿ That was 22 years ago.
I would love to get some more GPS experience before starting out. I graduated with a Bachelors degree in Surveying and Mapping and currently work for a small surveying firm but we do mostly construction layout. I am in charge of pretty much all the as-builts, boundary Plats, and topos at our office so maybe thinking about looking for a bigger firm to gain more experience in the areas I am lacking in.
36
First time I was 29.?ÿ Second I was 40.?ÿ Last time (the one that stuck) I was 46.
42
Licensed Land Surveyor
Finger Lakes Region, Upstate New York
Hey everyone, Ive been reading the forums for about a year now and finally decided to create my own profile so I could contribute and ask questions. I am an LSIT and hopefully taking my PS exam in the next few months. I have been surveying for about 5 Years total so I know I don't know everything but was curious as to how old most people were when they decided to start their own Surveying Company. I am only 26 so I know I am not ready to go out on my own yet but I have downloaded the Management Handbook for Land Surveyors that someone shared a few weeks ago and am going to purchase a book on GPS to get more familiar with that. Thanks everyone for everything you post on here, It has taught me a lot so far.
I was 31 and had a fairly good time at it until early this year when I took a job with a larger firm -- so far I like that a lot but have no regrets about working on my own for 35 years. My advice would be to get properly capitalized so that you can start with the right equipment and some sort of office space so you're not working off the kitchen table. Your willingness to learn will stand you well in this venture. Good luck to you.
45
36
33 when I got serious about it.?ÿ Had done a little here and there prior to that on my own after leaving a consulting firm but while employed by a very different type of employer.
37, I had been 1st been licensed three years prior and had added two more states with around 12 years of experience total plus a two year surveying degree. Added two more states later on. First field job was in 1979 during summer break from college, there was a few years I went on a different career path in the intervening years BUT always returned to surveying.
SHG
34, just celebrated my company's 7th anniversary last night, filed our company with the Secretary of State on 12-12-12.
48?ÿ I win! Or do I lose?
I had never stayed at a job more than 3 years in my life. That was 21 years ago.
45, after 18 years at another firm "learning the ropes"?ÿ 🙂
?ÿ
?ÿ
30. After 7 years being the Forest Engineer for a paper company.
44.?ÿ on my 44th birthday, as a matter of fact.?ÿ i did it bass ackwards from what most here would suggest: with almost zero cash on hand and i went out and borrowed 75K for gear and a truck.?ÿ today i paid the balance of that off.?ÿ?ÿ
in may i turn 46.?ÿ not sure if i'd do it all over again right now- at least the way i did it.?ÿ timing counts for a lot.?ÿ?ÿ
?ÿ
oh, right- sitting here at the kitchen table typing this.?ÿ i, for one, prefer it this way.
38 (1988 - 12/31/2019) upcoming funeral. 😛 😛 😛 ?ÿ
I'm curious where you found ?ÿthe Management Handbook for Land Surveyors to download? I have been looking for a copy.
40.
Harvard Business Review last year reported that the average age of a successful startup founder is 45.
You're ready when you're ready - age shouldn't be the determining factor.
35 the first time and 55 the second time. Sold both profitably and now work for the largest local firm with no regrets whatsoever. I enjoy a handsome paycheck every two weeks and sleep soundly every night knowing that I will not have to pull money out of savings next week for payroll.
When you put together your business plan be absolutely sure that you have two things:
1. Plenty of capital.
2. A sound understanding of business.