Are we pricing the work properly?
Compare how other owners think about estimating, scope creep and the jobs that look better on paper.
FOUNDING COUNCIL · NOW FORMING
You know
your land.
Know your business.
A private peer group for independent surveying firm owners. Open the books. Compare notes. Make your next big decision with better company.
For US surveying owners. Free to apply. No commitment.
FIELD NOTES / 001INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE
DIFFERENT MARKETS.COMMON GROUND.
+ THE FOUNDING COUNCIL
A small group.
A broader perspective.
OWNERS ONLYBY APPLICATION ↗
01 Same profession02 Separate markets03 Real business conversations04 Confidential by design
THE PART THEY DON’T TEACH YOU IN THE FIELD
Who do you talk to
about the business?
You can solve a complicated boundary. Running the company brings a different set of questions.
What should a crew produce? Is another hire the right move? Are growing revenues turning into better profits—or just longer days?
It helps to have other owners at the table.
Is the team as productive as it could be?
Get another perspective on field crews, office capacity, hiring and the handoff between them.
Where does the profit actually go?
Work through overhead, owner time, equipment and cash collection with people who understand the business.
A WORKING GROUP FOR WORKING OWNERS
Bring your numbers.
Leave with perspective.
The proposed founding format.
Small enough for everyone to be heard.
Specific enough to be useful.
10–12owners. One council.
Owners and operating partners, matched by business stage and service mix, with competitive overlap reviewed before a place is offered.
Step out. Work on the company.
Two intended in-person meetings each year, with time for financial reviews, owner conversations and the relationships between them.
Keep the conversation moving.
Six planned virtual working sessions, plus a private place to ask questions and follow through with your group.
01 / COMPARE
Financial clarity
A consistent way to look at revenue, labour, overhead and cash—so the discussion starts from common definitions.
02 / DISCUSS
Decisions with context
Bring a real question. Hear how owners in the same profession have approached it. Decide what fits your firm.
03 / FOLLOW THROUGH
A reason to act
Leave each session with a practical next step, and come back to people who will ask how it went.
The founding group is in formation. Facilitator, meeting dates and final membership terms will be confirmed before enrolment.
THE MEMBERSHIP
Build a better firm.
Keep your independence.
Your business stays yours. This is a place to think clearly about how you run it, with owners who understand what’s at stake.
- Independent US surveying owners and operating partners
- Particularly firms with multiple field crews
- A willingness to share, listen and follow through
We’re starting with established firms around $1m–$10m in annual revenue. Apply if the idea resonates; group fit matters more than a rigid cut-off.
PROPOSED FOUNDING MEMBERSHIP
US$4,500/ year
Your travel and accommodation are separate.
THE INTENDED MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES
Apply for a founding place - Two facilitated in-person meetings
- Six virtual working sessions
- Standardised financial comparisons
- Ongoing access to your private group
- Meeting rooms and meeting-day catering
No payment to apply. Review the full details before deciding.
SMALL CHANGES. REAL NUMBERS.
What is a better
decision worth?
A small change in operating margin can matter more than another busy month. Put your own numbers into perspective.
Illustration only. Membership does not guarantee a financial improvement.
$500k$10m
0.25 points2 points
ADDITIONAL ANNUAL OPERATING PROFIT$10,0000.5% × $2,000,000 annual revenue
Proposed annual membership US$4,500 + travel
A GOOD GROUP STARTS WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE
Find your common ground.
A conversation first.
A commitment only when it makes sense.
Tell us about your firm.
A short application covers your business, your market and the questions you want to work on.
Let’s explore the fit.
We review applications and contact potential members to discuss goals, group compatibility and expectations.
Choose your council.
If there’s a suitable match, you receive the group details, meeting plans and terms before deciding whether to join.
A FEW GOOD QUESTIONS
Before you
pull up a chair.
We’re building the first group carefully.
Here’s what to know.
Is this a surveying association?
Field Council is a new, independent business peer group for surveying firm owners. The focus is running the company: financial performance, people, operations and the decisions on your desk. It is not affiliated with NSPS, ACEC or another professional association.
Who is a good fit?
We are looking for owners and operating partners of established US land-surveying firms, particularly businesses with several field crews and approximately $1m–$10m in annual revenue. Those are starting guidelines. The application helps us understand your service mix, stage and goals.
Will my local competitors be in the room?
We review service areas and business overlap before matching a group. Geographic separation alone may not be enough: we also consider the clients and projects you compete for. You can discuss a potential conflict before accepting a place.
What information would I share?
The intended format uses a standardised financial summary and operating measures, shared privately under a confidentiality agreement. We agree the scope with members before the first meeting. Your application asks for broad business information only; please do not submit accounts or client information.
How much will membership cost?
The proposed founding membership is US$4,500 per year, plus your travel and accommodation. The intended format includes two in-person meetings, six virtual working sessions, financial preparation and ongoing group access. Final dates, facilitator, venue details and terms will be confirmed before you decide or pay.
What happens after I apply?
Your application joins our founding-member review list. We review your business and potential group fit, then contact suitable applicants about a conversation. If there is a compatible group, you receive the details and can decide whether to join. Applying is free and does not commit you to membership.
When does the first group start?
We are forming the first group now. A launch date depends on finding compatible members and confirming the facilitator and meeting plans. There is no announced start date yet. We will keep applicants informed as the group takes shape.
Are the meetings recorded or used for content?
Financial discussions are intended to stay private. Any public interview, podcast or case study would require a separate, optional agreement. Applying or joining would not give us permission to publish your business information.
YOUR NEXT CHAPTER DESERVES GOOD COMPANY
Survey the possibilities.
Take a seat at the table.
Help shape the founding council for independent surveying owners.
Apply for the founding group A short application. A real conversation. No obligation.