How to Start a Land Surveying Business

Throughout history, people have always needed to know the precise measurement of a particular piece of land or the height of an object. Whether the information is necessary for the creation of a topographical map of an area or for determining the exact location of property lines prior to a sale, the field of land surveying is important. A land surveying company helps to increase economic growth by being an essential part of the land development industry.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.

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Start a land surveying business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Land Surveying Business
  2. Form your Land Surveying Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Land Surveying Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Land Surveying Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Land Surveying Business
  7. Get Land Surveying Business Insurance
  8. Define your Land Surveying Business Brand
  9. Create your Land Surveying Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your land surveying business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Land Surveying Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a land surveying business?

A land surveyor is a professional occupation and starting a business in the field is expensive. Besides the tens of thousands of dollars for training, there is the cost of surveying and computer equipment which can add tens of thousands of more dollars to the bill. Renting or buying a used surveying system can save a business a lot of money when it is getting started. In addition to the cost of the education and equipment, there is still the expense of renting an office, hiring staff, and marketing. Due to the nature of the business, most land surveying experts suggest companies purchase comprehensive liability insurance to protect them from lawsuits.

What are the ongoing expenses for a land surveying business?

Since the accuracy of surveying equipment is critical, it is important to maintain and routinely test all equipment. Any inaccurate or worn-out equipment needs replacing immediately. Then there is the labor cost, plus the expense of renting an office and marketing. 

Who is the target market?

The target markets for a land surveying business are homeowners, land developers and public organizations. When starting a land surveying business, finding clients is one of the most difficult parts. New businesses can’t afford to specialize in one particular area of the industry. 

How does a land surveying business make money?

Clients hire land surveying businesses to create precise measurements of a property. There are a wide range of potential clients including land developers, homeowners and public organizations.

How much can you charge customers?

Land surveyors can charge by the hour or by the job. The cost of surveying depends on a number of factors including the size, location and type of property, in addition to the type if report or map the client needs. The average cost for a land survey of a residential property on HomeAdvisor is $528.

How much profit can a land surveying business make?

According to the BLS, the median income for a land surveyor is $59,390 per year. The income can vary greatly depending on the type of land surveying. 

How can you make your business more profitable?

Increasing the type of land surveying services a business offers is a great way to secure more work and higher profits. Land surveying business owners may also consider earning a license to fly drones so they can offer their clients aerial photography to help market a property. 

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your land surveying business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your land surveying business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

Ready to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Reality?

Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a land surveyor business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Certificate of Occupancy

Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).  A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

  • If you plan to lease a location:
    • It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
    • Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a land surveyor business.
    • After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
  • If you plan to purchase or build a location:
    • You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
    • Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your land surveyor business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

Services Contract

Land surveying businesses should require clients to sign a services agreement before starting a new project. This agreement should clarify client expectations and minimize risk of legal disputes by setting out payment terms and conditions, service level expectations, and intellectual property ownership.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

Find out what types of insurance your Land Surveying Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Land Surveying Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a land surveying business

A good place to start looking for clients is by networking with local contractors and land developers. While some homeowners may look for land surveyor, and it is useful to have a website, acquiring larger clients usually means direct selling. Joining and being an active member of a national land surveying organization, like the National Society of Professional Surveyors, or a local association is a good way to locate opportunities in the industry. 

How to keep customers coming back

Providing stellar customer service and delivering on time, every time is the best way to make your clients happy and to develop a good name for your company. Remember that the surveying industry is small enough that people talk with each other. It is likely your business will quickly develop a reputation, so it is important to always do the best job possible. 

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

Owning a land surveying company is not a suitable part-time business for a person who is looking to earn a little extra money. The long road to becoming a licensed land surveyor demands someone who is dedicated and passionate about the field. Land surveyors need to have a high level of skill in mathematics and CAD. The job is very physical and requires the ability to spend long days outside in a variety of weather. Travel is an essential aspect of the job. What happens on a typical day at a  land surveying business? After a client hires a land surveying company, the job usually begins with research on the area where the land surveyor will measure. This can include searching for and examining old surveying reports, or looking at aerial photography of the land. Once preliminary research is done, a land surveyor needs to go into the field to take a new survey. After gathering all the information, the land surveyor uses a computer program to create a map and then writes a report of his findings. 

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

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What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful land surveying business?

People who want to own and operate a land surveying business need to obtain a license at the state level. Each individual state sets its own requirements for earning the license a land surveyor needs to practice. Most states require at least a bachelor’s degree in surveying, geomatics or mapping and the ability to pass an exam from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). In addition to gaining the license to practice, land surveying company owners need to have experience with running a professional business. 

What is the growth potential for a land surveying business?

The job outlook for land surveyors is mixed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that between 2014 and 2024, the total number of land surveyors will fall by around 2 percent. The cause of this decline is most likely the advancement in land surveying technology which allows surveyors to work quicker, and not less clients. On the upside, the average age of current land surveyors is 55 years old. In many areas of the country, around 10 percent of current surveyors are retiring each year. This means that people who start a new land surveying now will be facing much less competition in the future. 

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a land surveying business?

Potential owners of a land surveying business need to understand what they are getting into before spending their time and money entering the industry. It is a good idea to speak with current land surveyors to gain more knowledge about the field. Owners of new land surveying businesses continuously need to learn by maintaining strong relationships with others in their field. Land surveying companies can increase their number of client by offering diverse services.

How and when to build a team

Employees are critical for a land surveying company. Support individuals, like a secretary and office manager can help free up time for surveying. Companies which are just starting out may want to outsource to an answering service if they are operating from a home office. Hiring assistants  or interns to help with the physical aspects of the business makes surveying much easier and increases the number of jobs a business can accept. 

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading