Running a Marine Survey Company

Running a Marine Survey Company is essential reading for all marine surveyors who really want to know what it is like to start a business from scratch. For those who are already marine surveyors but who still wonder why the competition is doing better than they are, this book is also indispensable. For those who are already running a successful business, this guide provides a useful reality check.

Drawing on his extensive experience as a marine surveyor, Mike Wall navigates the reader through the processes involved in setting up a new company. Using a clear and effective step-by-step approach, he looks at all the key areas that should be addressed – and also flags up issues and potential problems that the owner of a start-up company may have overlooked.

The book covers areas such as company structure, financial management, and personnel management. It addresses in detail the role of the employer, the employee interview process, contracts of employment, and working practices.

A comprehensive section on operations looks at quality assurance, conformance, database management, filing and archiving systems. Issues such as marketing, branding, insurance provision, client relations, ethics, and codes of conduct are fully explained, and Mike Wall also outlines strategies a new company may consider in terms of building and developing its position in a highly competitive market place.

The book also includes information on training programmes and career development for marine surveyors, as well as a detailed analysis of the activities and advice provided by professional associations.

Setting up a new company can be a time-consuming, costly and often fraught process. Running a Marine Survey Company provides the would-be entrepreneur with an invaluable guide to the challenges and opportunities he will meet in establishing and growing his business.