Residential Solar Drawing Mill Looking for Prof. CE/SE & EE to Stamp their Drawings for $150.00/ 1

[structuralsteelhead]

Yes that's right,...step right up folks! You too can bask in the glory of being one of many engineers pumping out 20 or more projects a month for $150.00 a pop. Just place rubber stamp here! (price includes PE to print/stamp/mailing services)

Got this solicitation last night from what appears to be solar drawing production mill company looking for a couple more California PE's to add to their rubber stamping posse. My reply included terms like professional ethics, engineer in responsible charge, professional liability, due respect/reasonable compensation, and continued comments,....why no full time engineering staff for that kind of volume, business model works great for you-not the engineering community, and bargain basement engineering services shopping. My reply was not well received!

Please don't be that guy, who says yes to companies like this. Have a super day!!

 

[Terratek]

If we went off the logic that $25K liability was not worth 36K (240 times $150) a year in revenue none of us would be in business.

For that matter, geotech studies are often 1 tenth of one percent up to about 3 percent of the construction cost and total liability. Total design fees are classically 6 percent.

It is assumed that insurance would drop you for a claim. Why? There are tons of insured firms (probably most) that have have had claims, yet still maintain insurance. I'm not trying to make a case for this job, but lets not stretch to the far side of ridiculous in building a case against it.

 

[cvg]

If we went off the logic that $25K liability was not worth 36K (240 times $150) a year in revenue none of us would be in business.

I don't see much profit in this venture, so yes it is a bad business proposition. If you are desperate, than maybe take a risk

For that matter, geotech studies are often 1 tenth of one percent up to about 3 percent of the construction cost and total liability. Total design fees are classically 6 percent.

yes, geotech is risky. And the overhead of a lab and drilling equipment is high. that's why we hire subs to do most of our geotechical investigation work.

It is assumed that insurance would drop you for a claim. Why? There are tons of insured firms (probably most) that have have had claims, yet still maintain insurance.

ok, so maybe the insurance company doesn't drop you after the first claim, but they will probably raise your premiums. that cuts into profitability even more.

yes, I am illustrating the potential risk of this business. I recommend evaluating the risk vs reward in every proposal and make a well informed go / no go decision. Sometimes it is better to just say no.

 

[Terratek]

CVG,

What is your profit/risk threshold, then?

 

[Ron]

dik....depends on which lawyer you speak to....some think we're all whores...thus "the oldest profession"!

 

[structuralsteelhead]

No disrespect intended Ron!

 

[cvg]

I am not self employed, so my opinion on go/no go for projects is not the deciding factor. We rarely do any work for residential clients and prefer not to do work for contractors on smaller projects either. after working for a couple of very large solar developers on utility scale projects, I would advise not working for them again either. I also prefer not to work for attorneys, although the pay can be good with them.