Self employed...questions....

[Jambruins]

I just got my civil engineering license. I currently work for a company without a licensed engineer so we have been subbing out work that needs to be stamped. Now that I have my license I am hoping to do the stamping myself. I would also like to do some work by myself on the side.

What kind of insurance do I need? Liability, E&O, etc.?

How do I go about getting insurance?

If I do end up stamping the plans for my current company would it be reasonable for them to pay for my insurance?

Thanks.

 

[rbulsara]

For professional liability insurance, visit

http://www.plan.org

and go from there to find an agent for your state.

Unless you want to do this as your primary source of income, do not moonlight. The risk far outweighs the benefits in moonlighting.

If you are serious, then you need to register your business in the state. Talk to a good accountant and understand tax implications, differences between say an LLC and corporation etc. If you are willing to shell out about $1000 talk to a good business attorney too. I would rather say find an experienced business owner friend or acquaintance who is willing to share is experience over a lunch or so to understand what it takes to be on your own.




Rafiq Bulsara

http://www.srengineersct.com

 

[Jambruins]

My current company produces stone, concrete and asphalt. The only engineering we do is for our own mining permits. Every 5 years we have to update our mine plans and renew our permits. The stuff I would like to do on the side is perc/deep hole tests and small residential projects. It would not be a conflict of interest with my current compnay at all.

 

[rbulsara]

Conflict with your employer is least of your issues. The issues I mentioned are independent of that.

I presume you are in the USA, where the litigation is the biggest risk. Residential customers are even more prone to sue than commercial ones.

Rafiq Bulsara

http://www.srengineersct.com

 

[KENAT]

forum784 may have relevant info.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

What is Engineering anyway: faq1088-1484