# Gross/Net Annual Profits for Independant Specifiers **URL:** \ **Category:** Archive - Specifications Discussions #3\ **Created:** [February 4, 2007, 8:12am UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692 "2007-02-04T08:12:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Anonymous](https://forum.4specs.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 8:12am UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/1 "2007-02-04T08:12:20Z")
Let’s hear from the independent specifiers about their time and money. Would others be willing to share, anonymously, their: Annual gross/net profits. General experience (including whether CCS, registered architect or not) and years of experience. CSI Region. # hours work week 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Anonymous](https://forum.4specs.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2007, 3:53pm UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/2 "2007-02-04T15:53:41Z")
2006 Gross: $500,000 Take Home Profit: $300,000 15 years, CCS, not registered 40-50 hours/week ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Anonymous](https://forum.4specs.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 2:45pm UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/3 "2007-02-05T14:45:36Z")
WOW. $300K. Is that just for one specifier? ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Anonymous](https://forum.4specs.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 3:04pm UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/4 "2007-02-05T15:04:34Z")
WOW. $300K. Is that just for one specifier? ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Anonymous](https://forum.4specs.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 4:21pm UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/5 "2007-02-05T16:21:35Z")
yes. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Anonymous](https://forum.4specs.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 4:52pm UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/6 "2007-02-05T16:52:05Z")
2006 Gross: $300,000 Net Estimate: $250,000 12 yrs CCS, 20 yrs Licensed AR SE US 72 hrs/week 1 man firm ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Anonymous](https://forum.4specs.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 7:33pm UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/7 "2007-02-05T19:33:06Z")
Pretty sad, there are only two independent specifiers so far willing to share their numbers…come on now, lets hear from all the rest of you lurking around… ---
**Author:** ![wpegues](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.4specs.com/wpegues/32/122_2.png) [@wpegues](https://forum.4specs.com/u/wpegues)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/8 "2007-02-05T19:45:07Z")
They are all way to busy to respond -grin! ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Anonymous](https://forum.4specs.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/9 "2007-02-05T19:51:05Z")
Busy, yes, but there’s always time for 4specs forum…or is that time for a Bud Lite…I forget the game was so bad yesterday and the commercials were even worse…creativity took a back seat this year… ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Anonymous](https://forum.4specs.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 9:30pm UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/10 "2007-02-05T21:30:07Z")
Gross: $100K Take Home: $80K Experience: 25 years West Region 20-25 hours/week ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Anonymous](https://forum.4specs.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 10:40pm UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/11 "2007-02-05T22:40:04Z")
so what do you independents do for health care insurance? Is that included in your “Expenses?” Also what about any liability insurance? ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Anonymous](https://forum.4specs.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 10:47pm UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/12 "2007-02-05T22:47:42Z")
Wife works for the health insurance. No liability, ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Anonymous](https://forum.4specs.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 12:15am UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/13 "2007-02-06T00:15:44Z")
I pay for my own health insurance, very low liability insurance. Comes out of expenses, along w/ rent, professional memberships, travel expenses for conferences, publications, sponsorships, marketing, letterhead, office supplies, computers etc. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Anonymous](https://forum.4specs.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 1:28am UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/14 "2007-02-06T01:28:12Z")
Is a wife a liability or asset? ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Anonymous](https://forum.4specs.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 1:29am UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/15 "2007-02-06T01:29:15Z")
2006 Gross: $312K (one specifier) Owner’s Comp: $225K 24 yrs experience; 9 yrs F/T specifier CCS, not registered Mid-Atlantic region 8 days/wk (64 hrs avg) Health, disability, life, prof liability covered as business overhead ---
**Author:** ![nwoods](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex047/user_avatar/forum.4specs.com/nwoods/32/215_2.png) [@nwoods](https://forum.4specs.com/u/nwoods)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 1:37am UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/16 "2007-02-06T01:37:49Z")
8 days a week. Wow! You work more than me! ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Anonymous](https://forum.4specs.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 3:12am UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/17 "2007-02-06T03:12:17Z")
“Is a wife a liability or asset?” What a stupid question…if your wife/husband is thoughtful enough to let you work as a independent specifier, than of course she/he is an asset! Long crazy hours doing what you like to do and be your own boss at the same time. Anonymous who came up with this question must be an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Anonymous](https://forum.4specs.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 3:46am UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/18 "2007-02-06T03:46:26Z")
wow - i guess what they say about spec writer’s not having a sense of humor is true… ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Anonymous](https://forum.4specs.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 2:32pm UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/19 "2007-02-06T14:32:38Z")
I have been considering taking the step into the world of indenpendant specifiers. And with the numbers being tossed around in this thread, may have made my decision. Any insight into that world would be helpful. Maybe in another thread that you could direct me to. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Anonymous](https://forum.4specs.com/u/Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 3:34pm UTC](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692/20 "2007-02-06T15:34:19Z")
Step 1 - JOIN SCIP Step 2 - make sure your spouse is securely employed and has health insurance provided. You are going to need that salary initially until you have built up your clientel. (I’ve been at it 4 years as an independant and my numbers are no where close to the the big guys) Step 3 - Join a business networking group in your area in addition to CSI, to learn marketing skills you may not have needed when employed by a firm. ie BNI, Chamber of Commerce, etc. Step 4 - Start setting up your office right away with the equipment and your working software that you will need, especially a good accounting program. That will be your biggest expense right out the box. Step 5 - Give them your resignation but work out a deal to continue doing projects with your old firm as an independent. You will soon spread out, but that will be your best bet to keep bread on the table when starting. Good Luck [Next page](https://forum.4specs.com/t/gross-net-annual-profits-for-independant-specifiers/692.md?page=2)