ct area mulching guys?

farmerjim · Nov 17, 2007

i'm in ct and was possibly looking at starting up a land reclaiming/clearing business on the side, as i currently have a full time job and do some farming parttime. i don't really see too many guys doing that type of work in my area other than some of the bigger logging/forestry operations. i'm looking to cater more towards a smaller lot and reclaiming overgrown stuff. i'm sure i will need some heavier eq than what i currently have, mainly a track loaderw/mulcher, possibly w/ the forestry kit and probably a bigger truck and trailer. i have a 3/4 ton truck and a 10k trailer, i would like to start out w/ used eq and see where i go from there. is it worth trying to give it a go or is the market saturated? also if i do give it a go what type of eq would suit what i plan to do? i was thinking a smaller track loader to start w/, as i'm looking to keep the startup cost as low as possible,if thats feasible. i have a neighbor who does excavating so i may be able to drum up some business from him. any help/info on this would be great, thanks jim

GreatWhitehunter · Nov 17, 2007

Jim, I'm in Windham Co and I've have the same thoughts. I don't know anyone currently running this type of outfit in Eastern CT. I don't think the market is saturated. I was seriously thinking of starting my own mulching business in the area. However with a full time job and baby on the way,nows not the time. I do think there's a market here for mulching for sure. You'd just need to get the word out. And grow slow, I was thinking of plowing in the winter so at least the trucks making money while the skid steers and head are sitting.

Matt T

QwikDraw · Nov 17, 2007

Hey guys, I'm in CT....and mostly working with the Fecon, it's hard to find steady work when most people around here don't know the capabilities of the machine. I still have other type work that keeps me going, retaining walls, septics, etc. I have worked from Western MA all the way to Windham...and any other place I can find work. It's been hard to find steady work although I see plenty of places that could use such a machine.

GreatWhitehunter · Nov 18, 2007

Ted, I've looked at your site before. I knew you were in New England but I didn't realize you were so close. I'll tell you what, if you advertised in this area I can't see you not getting tons of work. Unless mulching is cost prohibitive compared to traditional clearing methods. I certainly like the results better your way. It seems there's a large overhead for startup in mulching. I still think it's a good venture and I'm sure with the right exposure and connections you'll thrive. I know I'll be looking to mulch some acreage here in a few years. I'll definatly keep you in mind. If you want to enlighten me on the biz sometime shoot me a pm. I'm sure you know the down falls.

Thanks
Matt T.

farmerjim · Nov 18, 2007

thanks for the info ted. i was wondering if anyone has thought about leasing a machine when 1st starting out if the manufactorers even do that, or is it more economical to just buy weather used or new. just trying to cover every base b4 i even consider jumping into this. to me the mulcher is the way to go if clearing undergrowth and all those nasty multi flora rose, vines, ect. mulcher seems to get a better finished product than clearing the conventional way.

TMTS · Nov 19, 2007

I found it hard to get bank financing when I started out...you could try a place like Direct Capital....I have two leases with Direct Capital- they are out of Portsmouth, NH. I've had a few billing problems with them, but generally pretty good...There are also quite a few folks who advertise in publications like tree trader, etc...

Don't know about how saturated the CT market is, but where I am in NH I know of only one or two other operators. I have noticed that there seem to be more and more folks at least aware that skid steer type mulchers are out there - a lot more awareness than when I got mine 4 yrs ago...

-tmts

TMTS · Nov 19, 2007

Another thought on getting started...seems like a lot of lower hour used ASVs with fecon s and magnum s on sites like equipmenttraderonline.com , machinertrader.com etc...keywords FECON ASV mulch Magnum etc...

-tmts