Structural Engineering Start-Up Cost

The information you seek is generally realized as you do your own research while in the process of authoring your own Business Plan.

If you don't want to do this work yourself, then you need to hire someone that is familiar with the cost of doing business, and obtaining permits/licenses, in your regional location.

Thank you for your quick response! That is exactly what I'm doing, and this survey is part of it, but it is turning out quite difficult and that's why I wanted to hear from other people's experience.

Thanks anyway!

Structural engineering project startup costs are dependent on many components and significantly vary from project to project.

In a well planned and executed project the bulk of structural engineering cost is not present during startup and instead is presented during design and procurement.

The actual cost is dictated by the type of project construction, the location of the project, the size of the project, project legal specifications, and the owner's stipulations.

Some of the many questions that must be answered are:

1. What type of project is it? Addition to an existing structure or new construction?

2. Where is the project located? Remote location with difficult access and limited personnel accommodations? Or within a populated area with unlimited accommodations for personnel?

3. What are the specific codes, and regulations that must be complied with?

4. Does the owner have a fully staffed engineering group and to what degree will that group be involved in the project execution and startup?

5. What method of project execution will be used? Standard up front engineering completion prior to the project starting? "Fast track"? "Engineering on the fly."?

6. What is the structural engineering cost format? "Cost-Plus"? "Percentage of Total"? or "Flat-rate Fee Based on Project Size or Budget"? or?

These are a but few of the questions that must be answered before attempting an estimated cost for any facet of a project.

Hello,

Thanks a lot for your interest, however my question is regarding a consulting firm and not a specific project for now. So I really can't answer those questions. Thanks anyway, have a great day!

Your use of jargon has obfuscated what you desire to know from us. What are you trying to start up; a structural engineering project, a structural engineering consulting firm, a structural engineering design and contracting firm or something else I haven't guessed? You also do not seem to grasp that CR4 is an international (yet USA centered) forum. If 60k is supposed to mean $60k in US currency then this is not enough to pay for the annual salary of one Professional Engineer, let alone the added expenses of office space, liability insurance, legal costs (business taxes) and any staff.

Sometimes the CR4 automatic quote program comes up with a perfect quote for a thread. This is what came up when I sent my previous reply.

"If you don't know where you're going, then any direction will do." -- Lewis Carroll

This is entirely dependent on scale of startup, geographic location and many other variables...here is planning structure, plug in your own numbers....

http://www.bplans.com/engineering_consulting_business_plan/financial_plan_fc.php

Take your projected cost and multiply it by 2.

the key is....slash costs as much as possible by having members of an internet forum do as much of your legwork for you without compensation.

What is the start-up cost of starting a structural engineering service business for real estate?

What is the start-up cost of starting a structural engineering service business for real estate?

No charge for the editing advice.

I gave both 9&10 my vote for good answers.

Albana,

I weep for your future.

I took the radical, and obviously unknown to most students, step of searching the internet.

How to Start a Structural Engineering Business | Chron.com may not do much for you. I did not open it. If you need help with that, ask the forum.

It depends on how bohemian or palatial your garret is, how many people are in it, and a few software choices. In the spirit of galactic hitchhiking, 42k, with a nonstandard deviation of 12k downward and 36k upward.

You start with a reputation.

To start the company is zero. Everything else is just a cost.

Once you have a project then you can work out what it will cost.

If you don't have a project in hand then all you need is a PC and some ability.

You don't buy plant and a yard speculatively, you normally buy it or lease it when you need it and then flick it when the job is done.

Unless you want to start a fabrication plant for structural elements....again reputation and a first job to seed the business.

If you outsourced or subcontracted everything then you just need a smart phone.

You start with nothing. It will cost once you have it running. To get it there you might have to invest in a few things. Computer, software, home office needs, communication.

How much does your time cost now to create surveys that nobody even seems to bother looking at? I did not.

Generally costs for consulting are low but will get higher when you have to cater for a project and special needs. Much higher if you employ a specialist.

Try to source a project and work through it.

You will manage.

There were only two questions on the survey and I felt like there just wasn't enough information provided to offer any meaningful input.

What will your consultancy company actually do?

Where are you?

Do you have any suitable experience relating to the new company?

How large a company (staff, etc)?

Do you know your competition?

Do you have a target market for your services?

How do you expect to raise the capital necessary to fund the start up company AND (don't forget the vital AND) say 5 years or more running at a LOSS (a realistic value for start up businesses of this type in my opinion).

Given previous questions on CR4 by others I would say all it costs is a computer and access to CR4.

Just to be clear, don't expect to rely on CR4 for free consultancy advice.

Hi Jack,

No worries, with all the rude comments in here, we're not counting on any kind of advice!

Thank you all for the opinions, everything will be taken into account!

Thank you all for the opinions, everything will be taken into account!

For that detailed business plan you are in the process of preparing right?