ct area mulching guys?

[farmerjim]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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