Informal Structural Engineering Business Survey

Question

Informal Structural Engineering Business Survey

StructBiz (Structural)

(OP)

1 Aug 10 18:30

Hi,

I own a successful Structural Engineering Consultancy and want to get an insight into my fellow practise owners and offer my own experiences where I can.

I would appreciate you helping me understand you better.

Just a few simple questions:

1. What Frustrates you the most about your business? And Why?

2. What are you trying to Accomplish this year?

3. What do you think you would need to Double your business this year?

4. What strategies have you tried to improve your business that Worked and Didn't Work?

I look forward to hearing from you!

Regards,

D

Ron (Structural) · Answer 1 · 2010-08-01 19:33:37

1.  Clients who think they get a better deal from lower fees.
2.  Keeping my group busy and profitable.
3.  Unrealistic...doubling one's business in a single year can be devastating.  Quality will suffer and cash flow will suffer.  Concentrate on consistent improvement and reasonable growth, say 10 to 15%.
4.  Quality performance works. Selling does not work for the long term.  Website has been disappointing in terms of results and interaction.  Most just use it for contact info, which is OK, but had hoped for more interaction.

rowingengineer (Structural) · Answer 2 · 2010-08-01 23:33:18

1.  Everything and nothing, depends on the day and mood.
2.  Improvement in delivery time and quality. As they say you can only do 2 out of 3 would like to say profitability as well, but that would be too much.
3. Agree with Ron, I would prefer 10-15%.
4.  Agree with Ron again regards website, am thinking that maybe the website is too simple, so is only used in a simple way, ie contact info. Am thinking of adding a bit about local issues for builders and developers, ie don't build a house in **some place** on a slope of more than 15% or you will have to do an MCU at a cost of $4000 or more.

I have been using up free time of employee's providing service above and beyond, this has had some good rewards thus far.

An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made in a very narrow field

msquared48 (Structural) · Answer 3 · 2010-08-02 03:01:21

After an 85% downturn two years ago, I would not mind doubling my business, but that would not be near enough.  It's all relative.

Personally, after having 95% structural projects for the last 25 years, I am finding that now I am seeing 1/3 Structural and 2/3 Civil.  Business in the past month is up, but not where I want it to be, and I am afraid it is only seasonal.

Market, Market, Market like H^**!

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

kalens99 (Mechanical) · Answer 4 · 2010-08-05 23:17:47

1.  What frustrates me the most is that I am just getting started with my business so I don't know what it is in the plans at this point, all I can do is follow the plans I have made on my own.
2.  I would like to have my business be fully sustainable and provide a reasonable income within the next three months.  I am much more ambitious than that with the rest of my life, but one thing at a time.
3.  Since I am just getting started not much.  But I will need to do a lot more than that to reach my goals.
4.  Writing press releases for other companies, guest blogging , participating in the right networking groups.  Most importantly, being more organized with how I manage my strategy and also continually improving my strategy.  My underlying mission has never faltered, which is just as important.

Kalen Smith
Engineer-a-Business
http://www.engineer-a-business.com

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Informal Structural Engineering Business Survey