well one more thing you will need to do is employ some good, hard working, and knowledgeable field archaeologists. . .in particular myself. :lol:

I will definitely keep you in mind, if it happens. This is just an idea a friend of mine is talking about with me. Just want to make certain I understand what all goes into it.

I know I will need a Geo person, a GIS person, a PI, FD and at least 2 techs to start with.

I know I will have to worry about Workmans comp and probably pay out of pocket for salaries until contracts come in.

You know as much as I rag on ACRA, they are pretty good about helping new and small firms with getting started and learning the ropes. They also have a members only email list, separate from the general ACRA-L, which has a lot of folks sharing stuff. ACRA also used to run a workshop at the SAAs which was pretty much how to run a CRM business that was pretty useful. I think they run a similar workshop at their own conference. All in all, I wouldn't be so worried about equipment as staff right now, so much as getting a lawyer to set up the company and getting the requisite insurance. Then it is off to getting a vehicle, computers, software licenses, GPS, etc. There are probably some cheap ways to get into the biz and then build from there, but you are still probably looking at at least a few thousand dollars to get up and running. I started a company way back when, not CRM mind you, and it was just over $1000 to get the lawyer to write up the papers and he was a friend that cut us a deal.

The other thing to consider is your market. Who is competing in your market and how are you going to compete. Are there even jobs in your market? This is info you will need for your business plan, which you will need if you want to get any loans. I would probably not worry about staffing so much as just trying to get some jobs for you and your friend. Small time "mom and pop" firms compete for different jobs than big firms, so don't be discouraged by that.

In terms of start up costs, I just did a quote for a survey grade gps, final bill ~$8200 (Magellan ProMark 3). A Trimble GeoExplorer Unit (XH) is around $5000. A version of ESRI ArcGIS (ArcMap with Spatial Analyst) should run about $4000. Let me know if you have any other GIS questions.

Unless I skimmed over it, everyone is missing the most important thing you need to be a CRM firm -

You need to know all the legistlation that applies, how your work might fit into it, how to advise your clients about what they will need to do, etc.
Rember there are Local, Sate and Federal regs you have know. Know what laws will apply to what types of projects (what is the hook).

know that in addition to NHPA (106) (110) there are other Fed laws as well. A listing of them can be found at http://www.nps.gov/history/laws.htm and more info on some of the major ones through http://www.nps.gov/archeology/tools/laws/index.htm .

Be prepared to provide your clients with good, thorough guidance on how to navigate through these (and state and local regs) and be ready to tell them to take a hike if they do not want to listen to good advice (lest you find yourself embroiled in a nasty lawsuit).

Have connections that will allow you to subcontract with specialists as need for specific project needs and know how to work their costs into a budget.

Know what it takes to consult with Tribes in your area, and be developing relationships with them as soon as possible. Many will have issues with you simply for being an archaeologist, but show them respect and a caring and understanding of their beliefs, and you can develop a good working relationship.

understand how to run a business, have an accountant and make sure you understand insurance issues involved.

As I posted recently in another thread ( http://www.archaeologyfieldwork.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=16231&highlight=#16231 - portion copied below) there is a lot more to running a company than being a good field archaeologist. I have re-posted that info here (yes another shameless plug for the upcoming book as well). I hope you find it helpful.

Good Luck



Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:03 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Quote:
"I found that in many cases the bad apples were quite often small .... outfits run by good archaeologists who are otherwise terrible businessmen/women. "


Jennifer -

That is exactly a major point in my chapter coming out in a new book (expected for Spring 2010 from SAR Press) that Lynne Sebastion and Bill Lipe are editing. Archaeology & Cultural Resource Management:Visions for the Future. Among other things that hurt the image and success of CRM firms, I spend some time trying to raise awarenss about the need for CRM archaeologists to realize that they need to be business people as well, to insure that they are planning for all those non-archaeological related details that impact your ability to do good work (insurance, book keeping, etc.).

Hopefully the book will be a success and provide food for thought on a number of issues that face CRM archaeos today,- some of which were around since the beginning and others which are relatively new. Lynne Sebastion pulled us together to write it and her vision was that since it had been over 30 years - to redo the process that led to the Airlie House Report (something everyone in CRM should have at least heard of - is it still required reading in intro courses?) in light of CRM today. This is not an official notice - we are still waiting for publicity material to be developed - but here is a sneak peek for the archaeologyfieldwork.com community on what will be in the book. Hopefully it will prove to be a useful tool for up and coming students as well as folks that have been in the field for years.

Archaeology & Cultural Resource Management:Visions for the Future - Expected Spring 2010 from SAR Press - edited by Lynne Sebastion and William Lipe.

Foreword, by Charles R. McGimsey

1. The Future of CRM Archaeology - Lynne Sebastian

2. Archaeologists Looked to the Future in the Past - Hester A. Davis

3. Archaeological Values and Resource Management - William D. Lipe

4. The Process Made Me Do It: Or, Would a Reasonably Intelligent Person Agree that CRM Is Reasonably Intelligent? - Pat Barker

5. Deciding What Matters: Archaeology, Eligibility, and Significance - Lynne Sebastian

6. Innovative Approaches to Mitigation - Susan M. Chandler

7. The Challenges of Dissemination: Accessing Archaeological Data and Interpretations - Julia A. King

8. Improving the Quality of Archaeology in the United States through Consultation and Collaboration with Native Americans and Descendant Communities - T. J. Ferguson

9. Is the Same Old Thing Enough for Twenty-first Century CRM? Keeping CRM Archaeology Relevant in a New Millennium - Douglas P. Mackey

10. Archaeology and Ethics: Is There a Shared Vision for the Future? - Sarah T. Bridges

11. The Crisis in Communication: Still with Us? - David Colin Crass

12. Perspectives from the Seminar - William D. Lipe and Lynne Sebastian

Thanks CMark and Dmack!

Dmack,

thanks for pointing out the fed and state regulations. I had those in mind but it had not registered with me that those are probably the single most important thing in CRM. I understand that one also has to be SOI and RPA qualified to apply for a vendors license as well. I have a year left before I get my Masters but know people who are qualified and experience with the regs. I also have some experience with them, having contracted with FEMA in Louisiana.