How to Start a Surveying Business: A Step-by-Step Guide to Success

So you want to start your own surveying business? As a land surveyor, you'll help determine property boundaries and provide measurements for construction projects. It can be a rewarding career, but getting a surveying business off the ground requires careful planning and hard work.

If you have the skills, ambition, and patience to build a surveying firm from scratch, the potential rewards are great. You'll be your own boss, set your own hours, and have the freedom to choose which projects you work on. However, the challenges are also significant. You'll need to invest in equipment, build a client base, hire and manage employees, and navigate legal requirements.

Starting any business is difficult, but with the right mindset and preparation, you can establish a successful surveying company. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to get your surveying business up and running. By the end, you'll have a roadmap to launch your company and start securing new projects. Let's get started!

The Surveying Business Market

The surveying industry provides an essential service to many sectors of the economy. Surveyors help determine property boundaries for landowners, provide site plans for construction projects, and gather geographical data for mapping and planning purposes. The target audience for a surveying business includes:

- Private landowners looking to build fences, buildings, or other structures on their property

- Construction companies planning residential, commercial, or industrial building projects

- Government agencies requiring geographical data and maps

- Utility companies installing underground pipes or overhead wires

The surveying business typically operates on a local level, serving clients in a specific city, county, or region. It is not usually considered a luxury service, but rather a practical necessity for many types of building and development projects. While technology has made some surveying tasks more efficient, much of the work still requires in-person site visits and manual data collection. So, the surveying business tends to be very "boots on the ground" and locally focused.

Your Surveying Services

As a surveying business, your core product is your professional surveying services. You will provide site surveys, boundary determinations, and geographical measurements for your clients. To stand out, focus on the following:

Specialization: Develop expertise in a particular area like residential, commercial, or topographic surveying. Become the go-to surveying firm for your specialty in your local market.

Quality and accuracy: Ensure high quality work by using advanced equipment, proper techniques, and double-checking all measurements and data.

Customer service: Provide an excellent customer experience by being responsive, keeping clients informed, meeting deadlines, and delivering a final product that meets their needs.

Your services will primarily be delivered in person at your clients' job sites. You will need to travel to locations to conduct site surveys, determine boundaries, and gather measurements and data. Some office work may also be required to analyze results, create reports and maps, and handle administrative tasks.

To develop your services, invest in high-quality surveying equipment like GPS devices, theodolites, and 3D laser scanners. Hire licensed surveyors and technicians and provide ongoing training. Build a portfolio of past projects and client testimonials. Meet all legal requirements to operate a surveying business in your area. And keep up with advances in surveying technology and methods to continually improve your services.

Economics and Finances of a Surveying Business

Launching a surveying business requires a significant initial investment in equipment, licensing, and operating costs. The major expenses include:

- Surveying equipment like GPS receivers, theodolites, total stations, 3D scanners, etc. This equipment can cost $50,000-$500,000 or more, depending on the types of services you want to provide.

- Licensing and certification for your surveyors. Requirements vary by state, but typically include a degree in surveying, experience, and passing an exam.

- Office space, software, vehicles, and general business expenses.

- Salaries for licensed surveyors, technicians, and administrative staff.

Your costs of goods sold will primarily consist of labor and travel costs for conducting site surveys and field work. Aim for a 50-60% gross margin to cover your other expenses and generate a profit.

For pricing, determine an hourly rate for your survey crews that covers costs and provides a profit. You can then estimate total project fees based on the estimated hours for the work. Some surveying firms charge by the project for smaller, standard jobs. You may be able to charge a premium for specialized services or for faster turnaround times.

It can take 6-18 months to become profitable as a new surveying business. Build up your client base, streamline your operations, and keep costs under control. With an experienced team providing high-quality work, a surveying firm can generate $200,000-$500,000 in annual revenue within a few years of launching. Stay up to date with technology and training to increase your productivity and open up new service offerings to keep your business growing strong.

Marketing Your Surveying Business

To build your surveying business, focus on the following marketing strategies:

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimize your website content for local search results related to surveying services in your area. Use your city name and terms like "land surveyor," "site survey," "property survey," etc. Local SEO will drive traffic from potential clients looking for a surveying firm.

Social Media: Create profiles for your business on sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Post updates about your latest projects, share industry news and tips, and promote your services. Engage with followers by replying to their comments and messages. Social media is an easy way to raise awareness of your new surveying company.

Direct Marketing: Send brochures, flyers, and letters to local real estate agents, construction firms, architects, and government agencies introducing your surveying services. Offer a discount or free initial consultation to secure your first meetings. Network at local industry events to meet potential clients and partners face to face.

Referral Program: Ask satisfied clients to refer your surveying business to others who need your services. Offer a discount or gift as a thank you for any referrals that turn into new projects. Referrals from existing clients are an excellent way to find new customers.

Online Listings: Ensure your surveying business appears on local directory websites like Yelp, Google My Business, Bing Places for Business, and YellowPages.com. These listings will increase your visibility and ranking in search engines. Keep your business information up to date across all sites.

Advertising: Consider running ads for your surveying services on social media, search engines, and local radio. Sponsor relevant local events or sports teams to raise brand awareness in your community. Place ads in industry publications that your potential clients may read. Targeted advertising can accelerate the growth of a new surveying business.

Sales Strategies for a Surveying Business

To sell your surveying services, focus on the following sales strategies:

Consultative Sales: Meet with potential clients to understand their needs and requirements for a surveying project. Ask questions to determine the scope of work, time constraints, budget, and other key factors. Then provide a customized proposal outlining how you will meet their needs. A consultative sales approach shows your expertise and care for each client.

Relationship Building: Work to build long-term relationships with key clients like construction companies, architecture firms, and property developers. Meet regularly with them to explore new project opportunities and ways you can support their businesses. Provide special discounts and priority service for your best clients. Relationships will lead to repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals.

Proposals and Estimates: Prepare detailed proposals for potential projects that outline your recommended services, timelines, and total fees. Provide multiple options at different price points if possible. Your proposals should be professional, customized to the client's needs, and competitively priced. Be willing to negotiate to win new business.

Follow Up: Don't stop contacting a potential client after sending an initial proposal or estimate. Make follow-up calls and schedule additional meetings to answer any questions, address concerns, and reaffirm why your surveying firm is the best choice for their project. Multiple contacts are often needed to close a sale, especially for large or complex jobs. Persistence and responsiveness pay off.

Special Offers: Run special limited-time offers and discounts to generate new sales during slow periods. For example, offer 10% off your standard rates for surveys booked within the next 30 days. You can also bundle multiple services at a lower package price. Special offers give potential clients an incentive to hire your firm and keep your team busy.

Operations and Execution

To execute surveying projects and operate your business efficiently, focus on the following:

Project Management: For each new surveying job, assign a project manager to oversee the work. The project manager will plan the necessary tasks, schedule survey crews, coordinate with the client, track progress, and ensure the project is completed on time and within budget. Good project management is essential to success and client satisfaction.

Field Work: Conduct site surveys, boundary determinations, and measurements manually using surveying equipment. Your survey crews will travel to job sites to gather the necessary data and information for each project. Field work needs to be performed carefully and methodically by properly trained staff to achieve accurate results.

Reporting: Analyze the data from field work and surveys to provide reports, site plans, maps, and other deliverables for your clients. Use surveying and design software to create professional final documents. Double check all reports and plans for errors before delivering to clients.

Billing and Invoicing: Track your hours and expenses for each client project. Bill clients according to the payment schedule outlined in your proposals. Send professional invoices detailing the work performed and total charges. Follow up with any clients who fall behind on payments. Accurate billing and collections are essential to the financial health of your surveying business.

Administration: Handle general office administration like scheduling, payroll, accounting, and purchasing supplies. Manage licensing and insurance requirements. Keep your office organized and efficient. While administration is not a revenue-generating activity, it is vital to running a successful business operation.

Continuous Improvement: Regularly evaluate your operations and procedures to identify areas for improvement. Get feedback from your team and clients. Upgrade to newer surveying technology and software as needed. Provide additional training for your staff. Continuous improvement will increase productivity, reduce costs, and result in higher quality work and client satisfaction.

Legal Requirements

This guide provides an overview of how to start a surveying business. However, it does not cover the specific legal and regulatory requirements to operate a surveying firm in your area. You will need to research the rules for your city, county, and state to ensure your business is properly licensed and compliant. The major legal considerations typically include:

- Business licenses and permits: Most locations require general business licenses and permits to operate. There may be additional licenses required for a surveying firm.

- Surveying licenses: Surveyors must be properly licensed or certified, which typically involves a certain level of education and experience and passing an exam. Requirements vary significantly between states. Ensure all your surveyors maintain the proper credentials.

- Insurance: You will need professional liability insurance, general business insurance, and potentially other coverage like workers' comp and auto insurance for your survey vehicles. Insurance protects your business in the event of accidents, errors, or other unforeseen circumstances.

- Contracts: Use written contracts or service agreements with all your clients that outline the scope of work, timeline, payment schedule, and other terms to avoid confusion or legal disputes. Have a lawyer review your contracts to ensure they comply with regulations.

- Safety standards: Follow all standards set by organizations like OSHA to properly equip and train your survey crews. Surveying can involve hazardous work, so safety should always come first.

- Zoning and permits: Some surveying work may require additional zoning permits or approvals from local authorities. Be aware of all regulations regarding where and how surveying activities can take place.

Failure to comply with legal and safety requirements could result in fines, loss of licensing, or civil lawsuits. So do extensive research upfront to establish lawful and compliant operations before promoting your new surveying business. It will give you peace of mind and set the right foundation for success.

Start Your Surveying Business Today

If you have the necessary skills and ambition, starting a surveying business can be a rewarding endeavor. You have the opportunity to build a successful company that provides an essential service to your local community. However, it requires diligent planning, hard work, and patience to get a new surveying firm off the ground.

This guide has outlined the major steps to launch your own surveying business. Develop your services, invest in high-quality equipment, and hire experienced surveyors. Build your client base through marketing and sales strategies like SEO, networking, and consultative selling. Operate efficiently by managing projects well, optimizing field work and reporting processes, and handling administration properly. And ensure you comply with all legal and safety requirements to avoid potential issues down the road.

Starting a business is challenging, but many independent surveying companies have thrived by providing specialized, high-quality work for their clients. If you go in with realistic expectations, a willingness to learn, and the drive to succeed, you can build a surveying firm that allows you to enjoy a rewarding career as your own boss for many years to come. So don't wait any longer - start planning your new surveying business today!