ForumsStarting a Business

Hellow EstimatorMan,

What exactly do you mean by making it happen? Do you have a direction as to how you intend to market your service need? Are you referring to
Heavy Construction, Light Commercial, or Residential?

Depending on what your objectives are, we may have common goals. I've just recently acquired a software company that will develop virtual estimating
applications for contractors whereby cutting their overheads damatically to be more competitive.

Regards,

Partnership

EstimatorMan,

First of all for the record, I am a civil engineer / construction manager by profession and have served in the capacity of Chief Estimator for over 27 years. When the downturn came about I began estimating from my home for multiple GC's and sub-contractors. Point is, you can accomplish this by yourself to start. The only issue would be - if in fact you're talking about competitive estimating in lieu of providing take-off services- GC's tend to bid the same projects that come out for letting, therefore to keep things ethical I found myself explaining that I could not bid a specific project because I was bidding it for another GC.

As you already know, make sure that the client pays for plans, specs and shipping. This would be the core of your overhead outside of your time to estimate, assess jobsites, and atten pre-bid meetings, etc. All of which would be covered in your cost structure.

Frankly, you can start your business today with minimal start-up cost.

Partnership