Starting A Tractor Work Side Business with Ford 8N or 9N

[GeneV]

Put me in the camp of nothing ventured, nothing gained. Even if the gain is justifying buying a tractor to play with, so what's wrong with that?

Those old Fords are fairly cheap, and you could definitely do something with them. Just be wise enough to not take on jobs over your head or with a high potential for liability. Start slow, learn as you go...as things and experience pick up, you could look into getting insured, starting an llc or s-corp or whatever, upgrading your equipment maybe. Or, you'll find you don't wanna do this anymore for one reason or another, sell the tractor for nearly what you bought it for, walk away with knowing you got to experience what set out for.

You just have to be aware that no matter how careful you are about the jobs you take or how you use your equipment, something bad may still happen...that's life. Your job here or in life in general is to mitigate that risk, I'm sure that's not news to you.

Joe Rogan had this one guest on on, dude wrote a book about Comanche Indians, I'm reading it now. Big part of it is settlers moving to Texas back when it was part of Mexico and afterwards, the risks they took getting out there and dealing with the Comanches and some of other tribes. Wow is all I could say, those plains Indians were friggin insane, seriously scary! It's hard to imagine modern Americans risking so much just to stake out a chunk of land, and yet that's how this country was settled. The safety net mentality is so ingrained in society now, one must ensure they put on waterproof underwear just in case there's wet fart.

 

[fidowanttobe]

I "take care" of my neighborhood. 95% of the time for beer, friendship, and fuel. Couldn't do it without a loader, tiller, blade, brush mower and 4x4. My nephew is one that I do a lot for and he HAS one of those Ford parade tractors. Their time has come and gone decades ago.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I doubt anyone hiring someone to do a job cares how they do it as long it is done to their satisfaction.

I have actually had customers frown on me showing up on a 60's tractor to rake hay, so that just isn't true.

Most feel like that are paying top dollar, even if they aren't and feel they are paying so much, because you have nice newer equipment.

SR

 

[DerbyRunner]

If you do business under the LLC, then you are not liable. You are an employee of the LLC. You have to sign a contract in the LLC name, that is who the person is hiring not you personally. If you just show up and just start working, then no, you are not protected. I had a contract form at the time they would sign saying what work was to be done, and their responsibility was on them to locate underground utilities. But I was also smart enough to know when not to dig if there was a remote chance of hitting anything important.

The LLC limits you to all the assets under the LLC. This is why a lot of business have multiple LLC's. This is very common with rental property. Each house should have it's own LLC, that way if something were to happen, then can not get all the houses, just the one.

I feel I understand LLC entities and laws very well. I am part of several LLC entities. But I don't agree with everything you are saying.

Perhaps laws vary by State, which could explain some differences. But in any state, if you are the LLC shareholder and tractor operator, I don't think you have bought yourself immunity. But I could be wrong about the laws in your State, which I may be unaware of. Which is why checking with a local attorney may offer value.

 

[K5lwq]

I have actually had customers frown on me showing up on a 60's tractor to rake hay, so that just isn't true.

Most feel like that are paying top dollar, even if they aren't and feel they are paying so much, because you have nice newer equipment.

SR

I am sure there are people out there like that and I would not want their business. JMO. But he could market his business that way, call it Yesterday's Tractor Service or something like that.

Ever been to the Half Century of Progress Show? If not I recommend going at least once. Really neat to see old iron still getting it done!

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I go to 4 or 5 shows every year, I even take a tractor or two, to show. I do have many old tractors that I never show...

BTW, if you turn down too many customers, it isn't long before someone fills the void, and you aren't called any longer.

SR

 

[airbiscuit]

If you have gumption, you can find a way to make it work That said, the 8N or 9N transmissions are geared to fast for my needs
1st gear - Too Fast
2nd gear - Way Too Fast
3rd gear - WTF

Better to find an older Massey Ferguson.
Better yet to find a cheap skid steer

In any case - Good Luck

 

[fried1765]

After I got my first tractor, Ford 1700 4WD with loader, I did the same thing you are looking to do. If you start a LLC, you can limit your liability, and also have the tax write offs. I had an LLC and no insurance. I only did one or 2 backhoe jobs and they weren't near anything important, but explained to the homeowner it was their job to call missdig or identify anything underground. Mostly did driveway grading and moving dirt and regrading.

If all you are going to do is brush hogging, light grading and maybe tilling gardens, then you can get away with a 8N or 9N. I used one for many years as my first tractor exposure. Pulled stumps and did all sorts of stuff. But, if you don't have a tractor now, buying something better is a much better option. More money, but you can do a lot more.

I see tilling and brush hogging signs all over the place, so a lot of competition for the easy crap where I am at. I've seen some prices, and not sure I would get out of bed for what they are charging.

What I found out, that by the time you go quote the job, trailer there and back and do the job, it just wasn't worth the money. My time was more valuable than the few $$. I have a IR P185 towable air compressor that I traded a guy for some tractor work. Got it running and did sprinkler blow outs for a couple years. I had the compressor and just had to pay for gas, but somehow these guys renting them charged so little money that it wasn't worth my time to compete with them.

At the end, I stopped doing it all and just did jobs for local neighbors here and there and spent my weekends doing my own projects. If you don't plan to make it a profession, then probably a waste of time unless you have nothing better to do.

"maybe tilling gardens"

Nope!
The 2N/8N/9N tractors are not suitable for tillers, even if they might have a Sherman transmission.
They do not have a low enough gear for a tiller.

 

[K5lwq]

I go to 4 or 5 shows every year, I even take a tractor or two, to show. I do have many old tractors that I never show...

BTW, if you turn down too many customers, it isn't long that someone fills the void, and you aren't called any longer.

SR

I am sure you can still get good work out of them. New tractor or old, it is more about knowing how to do something properly. A inexperienced operator with new equipment can make a mess of stuff quick. A experienced operator on old iron can accomplish a lot.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I am sure you can still get good work out of them. New tractor or old, it is more about knowing how to do something properly. A inexperienced operator with new equipment can make a mess of stuff quick. A experienced operator on old iron can accomplish a lot.

That's true, and if you want happy customers, you better show up with newer equipment and know exactly what you are doing!

NO ONE like to pay someone to get "on the job training" at their expense...

When I show up to till a garden or field, I ask "what do you want it to look like when I'm done", then it's up to me to set the tiller and tractor to get that as fast as I can.

That's how I get return customers.

SR