Making a living with with your machine?

[4570Man]

There seems to be a fair bit of work these days but getting the right connections takes time and yeah I don't want to hire people to run my equipment especially with some of the newer operators around that know nothing about pulling a wrench or what end of a hammer to use. And I don't really want to get a machine any bigger than maybe 12 tonne. Something like a Kubota KX-080 would be ideal.

I haven’t been quick to jump on the mini excavator and skid steer wagon because so many jobs require both. Problem one is moving them. I’d have to settle for each being half as big because making 2 trips to move them individually takes too much time. Second problem is 2 machines is double the cost. That’s money I don’t have right now and I’m not willing to sacrifice half the size and twice as worn out. I’m strongly considering trading my 310 for a M59 which would gain a lot of versatility back that I don’t have with the 310. I’d eventually add a midi trackhoe if I went that route.

 

[TXCOMT]

I rented a trailer from a local U-Haul dealer a few weeks back and happened to ask about business...he says the U-Haul side is OK, but where he really makes his money is renting construction equipment. I was a little surprised, but he says many contractors don't want to buy the big stuff, so they rent it when they need it from him. No fuss, no muss. That was news to me; I figured those guys would want to own their stuff, but apparently not...anyway, to the OP's question, I'm too new to tractoring to even consider such a thing, but I could see the appeal if you were so minded. That's the key: being good at making money. The reason four out of five businesses fail is because those four should've never opened in the first place. Be careful trying to turn your avocation into your vocation.

TXCOMT

 

[crashz]

I run a small tractor business on the side and so far its been great. Like the poster above, I pick and choose the jobs I take and try to take on work that I can safely do in a day. But it would have to be kicked into overdrive to pay my bills.

The insurance is not bad. We have a landscaper policy that also covers a few other things, but keep in mind that that includes excavation to point. I believe the maximum depth I can excavate to without upgrading my insurance is 4ft.

If you are building your business, one brick at a time, it will take time. And as TXCOMT mentioned, it may be worth your while to rent as you need it until you build enough capital and clients to justify the cost of a new machine.

 

[Molalla1]

I run a small tractor business on the side and so far its been great. Like the poster above, I pick and choose the jobs I take and try to take on work that I can safely do in a day. But it would have to be kicked into overdrive to pay my bills.

The insurance is not bad. We have a landscaper policy that also covers a few other things, but keep in mind that that includes excavation to point. I believe the maximum depth I can excavate to without upgrading my insurance is 4ft.

If you are building your business, one brick at a time, it will take time. And as TXCOMT mentioned, it may be worth your while to rent as you need it until you build enough capital and clients to justify the cost of a new machine.

One must carry the umbrella policy . . .

 

[MESSMAKER]

I stay busy doing tractor work but at the end of the day equipment failure will make or break you. I make good money if everything works as it should. I would say I spent one of every 4-5 hours on repair or maintenance. You have to figure that in as well as fuel and insurance

 

[L47TLBwannabe]

I rented a trailer from a local U-Haul dealer a few weeks back and happened to ask about business...he says the U-Haul side is OK, but where he really makes his money is renting construction equipment. I was a little surprised, but he says many contractors don't want to buy the big stuff, so they rent it when they need it from him. No fuss, no muss. That was news to me; I figured those guys would want to own their stuff, but apparently not...anyway, to the OP's question, I'm too new to tractoring to even consider such a thing, but I could see the appeal if you were so minded. That's the key: being good at making money. The reason four out of five businesses fail is because those four should've never opened in the first place. Be careful trying to turn your avocation into your vocation.

TXCOMT

Yeah as part of my unofficial business plan I wanted to buy a machine I could afford to make payments on with my regular job hence buying my Kioti tractor recently, I'm not expecting to go full time right away or anything but I have done a few things to ensure I can get some work like getting my septic installers course done and along with the tractor I bought a stump grinder that's run off the pto which has started to generate some interest already. As far as any excavation work I'll either do that with my bosses excavator as I already have his blessing for all this stuff or I'll rent a machine until I've got enough business coming in to justify buying my own. I've been running equipment for 20 years so I already know how tough it can be.

 

[TXCOMT]

Yeah as part of my unofficial business plan I wanted to buy a machine I could afford to make payments on with my regular job hence buying my Kioti tractor recently, I'm not expecting to go full time right away or anything but I have done a few things to ensure I can get some work like getting my septic installers course done and along with the tractor I bought a stump grinder that's run off the pto which has started to generate some interest already. As far as any excavation work I'll either do that with my bosses excavator as I already have his blessing for all this stuff or I'll rent a machine until I've got enough business coming in to justify buying my own. I've been running equipment for 20 years so I already know how tough it can be.

Excellent...good luck!

BTW, what kind of stump grinder? I could see where a PTO-based machine could be handy around my place!

TXCOMT

 

[Geotech]

The short answer is no, you cannot make a living like that. Not if you want net income much above the poverty line. Buy 10 machines and run 10 crews, now you can live normal, not upper, middle class.

 

[edgarrian]

I have thought about doing this as well. I have a 1705 massey with quite a few attachments. Id probably want at least a 100 dollar pull in charge. Nothing less than that. I have a tiller, rotary mower, trac vac. I have also thought about including services such as mosquito control, and cleaning of septic tank filters. I believe septic tank filters are most likely neglected and never pulled out to clean. I clean mine during the winter time every year. Its easy and painless.

I use to own a link belt excavator. Its there biggest one with a blade on it. I installed septic systems, ran sewer lines, farmers field tile, dug foundations. I did it part time. I helped dad with his landscaping business. He only put out yards as he had a harley rake. Which by the way is an impressive attachment. His business was bigger than mine. We both still had full time jobs. My dad it for extra income and he did well with it. My business did ok. I ended up getting out right before the housing crisis. I got lucky. I made money when I sold my stuff. I was working 80-95 hours a week. It was becoming a real drag. granite I had money but I didn't feel as if i was making enough to justify my sacrifices. Plus in that county excavators were a dime a dozen. Plenty of competition. Basically i sold my stuff, moved to indianapolis where my college friends were and enjoyed my mid 20's to late 20s. I got out of the equipment operating business and landed a job in the oil industry. The rest is history. So far its been a great move. I still live Indiana and work two weeks and then two weeks off. So thats why I'm looking to try to start a small business.

I think if a guy is thinking about installing septics systems that a excavator should be the first choice. I wouldn't use a tractor with BH attachment. But if you have to start some where then you gotta do what you gotta do. Indiana has that dumb septic license as well. I have mine but I don't have any interest in doing those. I have here in the past a few times but I don't really enjoy doing them. Also people have said that insurance is going to be your major concern. Meh I had insurance when i had my little excavating business and it wasn't bad. I think 1000 to 1200. That was also 20 years ago.

 

[attract her]

Talk to your accountant, lawyer, and insurance agent, then decide if putting a machine to work for hire is justified. The accountant and lawyer won't be bad. The insurance agent will likely change your mind.

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