I use OneDrive for Business and have no complaints. I have not had the issue of it trying to save my desktop files like someone mentioned, but I purposely don't sign into the personal OneDrive for this reason.
It works great for version history and collaboration especially if you have 2 people...
I am on the wait list for Work Beaver, which is an AI Agent of sorts and supposed to do tasks on your desktop using any application you tell it to. This is where I see the big time saver and benefit in AI tools. If we can eliminate all the non engineering stuff (creating folders, uploading...
Shouldn't the business owner's expenses and fee he is collecting from the client be irrelevant in the discussion?
If you as the 1099 contractor are doing fixed fee instead of hourly, why not just present your fixed fee and defined scope to the business owner after reviewing the project, and you...
Insurance = can be up to 10% of gross receipts for a small outfit just starting out
Payment processing = up to 3% of gross receipts
Business licenses with SoS, Business license with engineering board, PE license, registered agent = up to a couple grand a year
Lawyer fees to review contracts =...
I have a couple 1099 contractors. One is a junior level and one is a senior level. I would never do a fee split as you described, regardless of their amount of involvement on the project. I would only do hourly for them (and none of my projects are based on hourly fee, they are all $/quantity...
The one thing I want to point out is an MSE wall is a flexible system, and the parameters for the geogrid are based on 3/4" deflection in the face before the geogrid is fully engaged. You may consider a compressible material between the concrete wall and MSE to combat this, or find the geogrid...
I have been approached (ok, begged) by one of my bigger clients to start designing pervious pavers for their customers. My business is mainly setup to do segmental retaining walls, but a lot of my clients are in the hardscape space so there would be a lot of crossover.
What I envision is the...
The National Greenhouse Manufacturers Association has a design manual that goes through the full design considerations specific to greenhouses:
https://ngma.com/industry-information/#1520270666699-a54e9c68-29eb
I have had success sending a personalized email (or LinkedIn message) to a targeted company. In my case, reaching out to precasters and manufactures in my industry with a cold email and explaining how my services can benefit them has had good success. However, I am in a very small niche (mainly...
They need to be under responsible charge of a PE. Generally the PE firm should hire the 1099 contractor (not the other way around), and the PE should have full ability to comment, revise and direct the 1099 contractor as if they were working as a junior staff under the PE. As long as that is the...
Since opening my practice, I have been niching down and being hyper focused on my niche. I have found trying to become one of the most knowledgeable people in my niche has both helped me grow as an engineer and helped my business become more profitable.
Getting involved on committees (like TRB...
"employed by the same company" is typically not a requirement, at least in the states I operate. I hire a lot of 1099 contractors, and this still falls under the direct supervision and control without them being a rank and file employee.
I have a client that is requesting to see my full professional liability policy, not just a COI. Has anyone had this request before? I have clients request COI all the time, but never to see the full policy documents.
My policy documents have some personal company information that I don't care...
@BridgeEngineer21 Yes, I review the audio quite in depth (the graphics are not AI generated) and edit out some things. With the NotebookLM, I haven't found too many errors, more like when a lawyer tries to explain an engineering topic and mispronounces it or spells out an acronym or over/under...
I would not a language model to perform math, nor is that what it is meant for. I know AI tools are coming out that can do math functions
I use chatgbt to help me draft response letters to field issues. I feed it the general things I want to convey and the tone I want, and it creates the letter...
I cross through stuff all the time when I have a client written contract. Rarely has anyone come back to me and said they can't accept my markups.
I would cross through everything you are remotely concerned about (minus the strictly NDA parts) and send back to them with an explanation that you...
Not sure what you mean?
I still reported to an engineering manager (or VP), who was also the one reviewing and sealing my work.
That is why I say the engineering manager needs to be a PE, but not necessarily to begin managing projects and staff (1-2 years out of school engineers, CAD techs...
You should definitely be licensed before becoming an engineering manager, but I think "senior PM" as you call it can be someone unlicensed.
I quickly jumped the ladder at a young age and was managing staff and projects prior to getting my license. However, it was clear to my employer that I...
