Small engineering firm in competition with big name firms 1

[Dado75]

We are a small structural firm with 3 structural engineers including 2 PEs that tried to go prime and submitted responses to RFPs for public projects but have not been successful. We have not even gone past the shortlist phase because of our size even though due to the slow economy our competition and quite possibly some of the big name firms have no bigger staff than us. The goal is to add more staff if needed once the contract is won. How does a small firm compete under these factors? In terms of experience, I believe we are competitive because we used to work for these big name and large firms.

 

[ThermoCivil]

I am planning to open a consulting business (not by choice)...

I put my MBA to good use and I studied the market in my geographical area. The top doggies are companies born in the 70's and 80's...

However, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at at time...

You have to remember, there are always pissed off customers out there, even in government. Target them.

Get help, there are plenty of resources like SCORES and entrepreneurship centers.

 

[lacajun]

As a woman owned, small business, I've been ridiculed and laughed at because I cannot possibly be the engineer. I've been criticized because my company will just be a "front" for another company doing the real work. Sometimes the resentment over that comes through loud and clear. I find those attitudes and comments interesting.

I teamed with another engineering firm last Summer to bid on a job. They wanted the engineering firm I teamed with but chose another engineer to move their processes across the country and optimize them. That's the way it goes sometimes.

I'm finding it even difficult to get through the door to talk with manufacturers, even small ones. No one wants to talk to a new company because they already have their established suppliers.

It's tough but something will happen one way or the other.

Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC

 

[jgailla]

I saw a proposal yesterday that had Bechtel as a small business concern. Apparently they figured out a way to spin off a part as a "small company" to get the set aside jobs. What a scam.

In my experience, the smaller companies (5 to 100 person) are the best. You can get a lot of variation with one-man shops and large companies alike.

The difference is that when you find a one-man shop that does good work, you can keep going back without worrying about the bait and switch that the large companies use.

 

[ThermoCivil]

That is disturbing but brilliant at the same time.

 

[brandonbw]

lacajun: That's just embarrassing to be treated that way. I bet eventually you having to work harder than others to gain business will really pay off.

I get something similar since I am young and look younger than my age, which always catch client's off guard when meeting in the field.

We are currently having some issues on larger jobs because we are a 2 man shop. We can handle a high work load and have come through and through meeting deadlines that no other company around will even bid on. Even meeting that with current clients they are still iffy on us for continuing to work with us. When I say I want to work 6 days a week 20 hour days to clients, I am serious. I find the work we do more fun than most anything.

So I could see being a small business trying to get govt. work being extremely hard to get started in.

B+W Engineering and Design
Los Angeles Civil and Structural Engineering

http://bwengr.com