Setting up as a self-employed engineer

Civil Eng

All,

Looking for advice on setting up as a self-employed engineer?
Anyone here done it before?

Specifically this will be in the fields of civil/environmental/structural engineering.

I understand it's hardly the climate to be undertaking such a "project" but I'm up for the challenge.

Any advice much appreciated.

mlmcelligott

try contacting Engineers Ireland for some help if your a member.

Tefral

Are you a Chartered Engineer? If so, you'll need to abide by their bye laws, in the minimum amount of PI cover you will need to take out etc.

Divorce Referendum

I was set up as a self-employed site engineer in London last year if you are thinking about site work?. Got a about 9 months work and then it completely dried up. Being self-employed may be an attraction for a contractor as they wont have to take you on direct and will be less hassle for them. They wont keep you too long though and you will be looking for work a fair amount of the time. Also you would have to factor in costs for an EDM/total station, dumpy level and chainman. Robotic EDM would be handy if you are just doing setting out and doesnt require a chainman, these can be in excess of 15,000 euro though:eek:

Civil Eng

Divorce Referendum wrote: »

I was set up as a self-employed site engineer in London last year if you are thinking about site work?. Got a about 9 months work and then it completely dried up. Being self-employed may be an attraction for a contractor as they wont have to take you on direct and will be less hassle for them. They wont keep you too long though and you will be looking for work a fair amount of the time. Also you would have to factor in costs for an EDM/total station, dumpy level and chainman. Robotic EDM would be handy if you are just doing setting out and doesnt require a chainman, these can be in excess of 15,000 euro though:eek:

Thanks DR. I think I'm more inclined to consultancy/general practice engineering. Hadn't considered the role you described above.

Civil Eng

cronin_j wrote: »

Are you a Chartered Engineer? If so, you'll need to abide by their bye laws, in the minimum amount of PI cover you will need to take out etc.

I'm not yet chartered but hope to be by the end of the year. I had considered PI and have quotations for up to €1 million in cover.

Any other points?

Divorce Referendum

Civil Eng wrote: »

Thanks DR. I think I'm more inclined to consultancy/general practice engineering. Hadn't considered the role you described above.

No probs mate. I dont think that there is much work in either code at the moment in Ireland. If you are going that route I would definitely consider London if you can at all? Plenty of that kind of work for the Olympics. Have you any experience or are you just out of college?

Civil Eng

Divorce Referendum wrote: »

No probs mate. I dont think that there is much work in either code at the moment in Ireland. If you are going that route I would definitely consider London if you can at all? Plenty of that kind of work for the Olympics. Have you any experience or are you just out of college?

Hi,

I have c. 5 years experience to date and educated up to master's level. I spent my first 2.5 years as the client to contractors/designers and subsequent to that I became the contractor.

Divorce Referendum

Civil Eng wrote: »

Hi,

I have c. 5 years experience to date and educated up to master's level. I spent my first 2.5 years as the client to contractors/designers and subsequent to that I became the contractor.

That pretty decent experience and would definitely suit some of the companies in London. That would be your best bet in my opinion. I think its just very quiet here at the moment, with little or no money for any project. My brother is a self employed Quantity Surveyor and his main work is small extensions and a few schools, thats all thats really happening at the moment.

123easy

Choose your Clients well! This sector is notorious for people who dont pay on time or pay you at all.

OCD

Civil Eng wrote: »

Hi,

I have c. 5 years experience to date and educated up to master's level. I spent my first 2.5 years as the client to contractors/designers and subsequent to that I became the contractor.

Hi OP,

In my opinion, you will get swallowed up in the consultancy market at the moment. I would eat you in terms of quality and service if I was bidding against you for example. I have almost 15 years experience and started my own company 5 years ago, have lots of architects that I deal with, lost of repeat clients and lots of goodwill and I am still finding it challenging.

Starting from scratch in a market like this, you wouldn't be able to gather enough momentum to earn that "trust" factor that comes with being in business for years. Normally I would encourage everyone to start their own business but I think it would be rough going for at least this year.

Think of the following costs:
1. PI for 7 years (if you started trading today and finished tomorrow, you need a 7 year run off period on your PI - works out at around 4 full years of PI payments)
2. Office. You might work from home but think of the intrusion into your family life and the distractions - always good to have a place to walk away from at 5 or 6pm
3. Software - you'll need to factor in a cost for this or be prepared to spend lots of time calculating mundane things!
4. Stationery, pcs, safety equipment, travel expenses to site, etc. - they all add up.
5. Accountancy bill (anywhere from 500 to 2500 depending on how much work you put in)
6. Time! (when you are self-employed you are the IT manager, the cleaner, the bookkeeper, the engineer, the technician, the manager, the admin, etc... you are THE man (or woman) and there might not be anyone else. You have to be there when the phone rings, no excuses).
7. As 123easy says, factor in not getting paid for some projects!

In my experience, even a home office for an engineer will cost 10k upwards per year to run. Think how many jobs you need to cover those fees and then add on your salary expectations.

Go for it someday, but just not right now, right here IMO. OR, set up a small practice and grow it very gradually but have something else that pays the bill in the meantime.

Best of luck!

Civil Eng

OCD wrote: »

Hi OP,

In my opinion, you will get swallowed up in the consultancy market at the moment. I would eat you in terms of quality and service if I was bidding against you for example. I have almost 15 years experience and started my own company 5 years ago, have lots of architects that I deal with, lost of repeat clients and lots of goodwill and I am still finding it challenging.

Starting from scratch in a market like this, you wouldn't be able to gather enough momentum to earn that "trust" factor that comes with being in business for years. Normally I would encourage everyone to start their own business but I think it would be rough going for at least this year.

Think of the following costs:
1. PI for 7 years (if you started trading today and finished tomorrow, you need a 7 year run off period on your PI - works out at around 4 full years of PI payments)
2. Office. You might work from home but think of the intrusion into your family life and the distractions - always good to have a place to walk away from at 5 or 6pm
3. Software - you'll need to factor in a cost for this or be prepared to spend lots of time calculating mundane things!
4. Stationery, pcs, safety equipment, travel expenses to site, etc. - they all add up.
5. Accountancy bill (anywhere from 500 to 2500 depending on how much work you put in)
6. Time! (when you are self-employed you are the IT manager, the cleaner, the bookkeeper, the engineer, the technician, the manager, the admin, etc... you are THE man (or woman) and there might not be anyone else. You have to be there when the phone rings, no excuses).
7. As 123easy says, factor in not getting paid for some projects!

In my experience, even a home office for an engineer will cost 10k upwards per year to run. Think how many jobs you need to cover those fees and then add on your salary expectations.

Go for it someday, but just not right now, right here IMO. OR, set up a small practice and grow it very gradually but have something else that pays the bill in the meantime.

Best of luck!

Cheers for the advise above. That's exactly the type of info I'm looking for. Very interesting.

What type of work do you do specifically? PM me if you wish

OCD

Civil Eng wrote: »

Cheers for the advise above. That's exactly the type of info I'm looking for. Very interesting.

What type of work do you do specifically? PM me if you wish

No probs. Ask any questions. I was in your shoes once and I hate to see what is happening at the moment to young engineers.

PM'd you a web link to our site.