Where can I find clients???
Where can I find clients???
(OP)
Hello everyone
I lived in the east bay California, and I'm planning to start an engineering office (structural)
This year my plan is to develop a network and find some clients, but I do not know how to start.
If somebody can recommend me something it will be really helpful.
- Is there any web page, newspaper, forum, or something that can led me to a possible client
thank you very much
I lived in the east bay California, and I'm planning to start an engineering office (structural)
This year my plan is to develop a network and find some clients, but I do not know how to start.
If somebody can recommend me something it will be really helpful.
- Is there any web page, newspaper, forum, or something that can led me to a possible client
thank you very much





RE: Where can I find clients???
That leaves the other two groups. They are going to find SE's through word-of-mouth (not much use for a start up), personal contacts through industry societies, trade shows, and community involvement. You have to remember that these guys are getting hit by 20 hungry SE's a month and will mostly throw a cold call in the trash. Were I you, I'd:
- Become an officer in your local professional society
- Write a few papers for journals/conferences, there are a lot of both that are screaming for quality content
- Build a web page that has content of value (the pages that just say your name and e-mail don't get much traffic, you have to give people a reason to come back)
- Get active here at eng-tips.com (all of my current [industrial] clients found me through my activity here, followed the link in my signature, and asked themselves "if he's giving this much content away for free what do I get if I pay him?")
None of this pays the bills the first quarter, and maybe not the second or third quarter either. When I started my ME firm I had a year's operating and living expenses in the bank, not relying on having any billable hours for 12 months. It turned out that I did better than that, but so what? If you plan on no revenue for a quarter and it goes to two quarters then you are out of business and maybe in receivership. If you plan for no revenue for a year and break even in the first quarter then you are profitable with money in the bank which is never a bad thing.One other thing, diversity is key. For my first two quarters I had one client, they paid really well, but they were the only client. When that client decided to move the work I was doing in to company employees I was out in the cold with zero clients. Kind of scary after a gang-busters start. I still had my reserve to carry me until I found may second and third clients, but it was still scary. After that I have always had 2-3 active clients and 3-4 others that were either current with no active projects or prospective--I make it a point to keep in close touch with both of these groups.
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
Law is the common force organized to act as an obstacle of injustice Frédéric Bastiat
RE: Where can I find clients???
besides eng-tips.com would you recommend me to follow my possible clients with a different social media, like facebook or twitter
Thank you very much David
RE: Where can I find clients???
LinkedIn has a lot of business support, but I've not yet figured out how to capitalize on it, maybe others can give all of us that advice.
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
Law is the common force organized to act as an obstacle of injustice Frédéric Bastiat
RE: Where can I find clients???
LinkedIn is of some use, but you will also find several hundred guys like yourself on there.
Whatever you do , do not rob clients from your boss.
B.E.
You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.
RE: Where can I find clients???
I don't think its worth going into the yellow pages though. It does take some time to get things going.
B+W Engineering and Design
Los Angeles Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer
http://bwengr.com | http://bwstructuralengineer.com | http://bwcivilengineer.com
RE: Where can I find clients???
B.E.
You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.
RE: Where can I find clients???
You need a business relationship with potential clients to get started. If you're already working at a company, would some of their clients follow you? Can you add some value beyond what other established firms provide?
Basically, right at this moment, someone is doing all the structural engineering work there is to be done. There's not a backlog sitting around, waiting to be mined. Who will you take work from?
RE: Where can I find clients???
So far my goal this year is to start developing more connection among the industry, I don't plan to still any client from anyone but why not have them as reference.
It is a long path and I have to start doing something to reach my goal ....
thanks for all your comments
RE: Where can I find clients???
In the end, you need to be ready to do the things others won't. Being a structural engineer on the east coast connection design is something everyone hates to do, and is a good way to fill in the low spots. I'm not sure how that works out in CA though. I work a lot with contractors, fabricators and erectors.... I don't suggest working with these clients as payments are not prompt and you can end up with a lot of money "out there". Right now, I have 1/2 of my previously salary "out there". So far I only have one client who didn't pay his bill (I kind of figured this would happen with this client).
Good luck.
RE: Where can I find clients???
http://www.soilstructure.com/
RE: Where can I find clients???
Right now I'm working as a project engineer for structural engineering office,
I have been working for about 8 years now mainly mid and high rise buildings
I will take the SE exam this year, so far my experience with this career have been amazing I have learn a lot and I want to learn more
In the office we have a marketing guy who always coordinates proposals and fees with the principals, I haven't done anything on that.
thanks for your reply
RE: Where can I find clients???
Get the following books on Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Start-Quarter-Million-Dollar...
http://www.amazon.com/Value-Based-Fees-Charge-Your...
It takes about 5 - 7 years to establish a firm based on your netwroking skills, economy and demand for your services. Give us an update next year on your achievemnets. Good luck.
http://www.soilstructure.com/
RE: Where can I find clients???
RE: Where can I find clients???
PE, SE
Eastern United States
"If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death!"
~Code of Hammurabi
RE: Where can I find clients???
Check this out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCKtfcAGUTE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv_7Y7ygl4s&fea...