Long time listener, first time caller. I have some hopes and dreams so I thought I would put them out here to get chewed up real good and I will sort through the leftovers and figure out a plan forward.
Here we go...
Current situation is that I am employed in a lucrative job in the offshore oilfield. Not a good place to be right now due to the downturn in oil prices and all the layoffs, pay cuts, etc. I plan to hang on to this for as long as I can because I enjoy it and it pays good (so far). My schedule is 28 days working and then 28 days off. It's my 28 days off that I wanted to discuss. Like to get a little something extra going on the side that makes some spending money and builds a history and client base just in case things go south in the oil patch.
I spent 16 plus years in residential construction until the crash and burn in 2008. That prompted a career change at 40 to where I am now. I would like to fall back to the construction business since I have history there and know enough to be dangerous at least. The North Atlanta market seems to be coming back and there should be work for sometime unless the economy tanks again. I don't need to make much and plan to keep as much as possible in the bank or paying off equipment. My construction history is everything from concrete, to rough framing, to superintendent, to purchasing & estimating. We did our own grading plans, house layouts, managed dirt hauls, balanced lots to keep dirt movement to minimum etc. I have a few hundred hours in skid steers and mini-excavators. Have my own tractor, bush hog, driveway plane and bunch of hand tools, chain saws, builders level, chains, yada, yada, yada. I have an F250 4x4 with the big diesel and a pintle hitch on it. Short bed so no GN. I own 20 acres with my house on it and have another 10.5 acres adjacent to us that is undeveloped so equipment storage, potential shop space, security etc is golden. I have a little bit of equity in the land and a little bit of cash to invest, but cash is king and I want to keep as much as possible. My credit rating is good. I am working with the small business development center to develop a business plan and put as much in writing as possible so I have some clearly defined goals.
Now... on with the 2000 or so questions that I have. My initial start up plan is to get and LLC set up and get insurance, bank account, take a erosion control for contractors class, and put the word out that I am looking for work. Not necessarily dirt work, but bush hog, weed eat, driveway maintenance, or just about anything that involves labor and some tools. Looking for GC and homeowners as well. I don't have a trailer and that is probably the first issue I am trying to think through. Do I get a trailer that I can haul behind my existing truck or should I be looking to get a slightly larger setup and get a single axle dump or tandem with a heavier trailer? My plan is to rent equipment and be able to pick it up to save delivery fees and improve my timing on jobs. Nothing worse that waiting for a delivery that shows up late and brings the rain with it. Can't imagine that I will be swamped with skid steer/mini excavator work right out of the gate. I am looking to make myself as flexible as possible and make as much as possible; is a dump truck a good idea to start? Single axle or tandem? Just be me trying to stay busy. I can employ some part time help for general labor if needed. I would like to get some small jobs with a slightly larger track loader if possible. I have inquired about the rental units previously and the transport is outrageous along with the insurance that my homeowners doesn't cover causes another expense. If I have the commercial insurance it should cover it and I can haul. That saves big bucks.
How does most everyone haul fuel? Tank in the back of the truck?
What is the best opportunity to get a foot in the door? Having a dump truck and keeping it working as much as possible then use it to haul equipment as those jobs pop up? Or should I try to stay with a trailer my truck can pull and hire a dump truck with driver any time I had a job that required hauling?
I think I managed to get a coherent question or two in the above rambling. Any thoughts you might like to share would be much appreciated especially to any of you near the Atlanta market. This helps me just getting something in writing and over time I can clean it up and make a presentation to the bank.
Happy 4th of July everyone.
Here we go...
Current situation is that I am employed in a lucrative job in the offshore oilfield. Not a good place to be right now due to the downturn in oil prices and all the layoffs, pay cuts, etc. I plan to hang on to this for as long as I can because I enjoy it and it pays good (so far). My schedule is 28 days working and then 28 days off. It's my 28 days off that I wanted to discuss. Like to get a little something extra going on the side that makes some spending money and builds a history and client base just in case things go south in the oil patch.
I spent 16 plus years in residential construction until the crash and burn in 2008. That prompted a career change at 40 to where I am now. I would like to fall back to the construction business since I have history there and know enough to be dangerous at least. The North Atlanta market seems to be coming back and there should be work for sometime unless the economy tanks again. I don't need to make much and plan to keep as much as possible in the bank or paying off equipment. My construction history is everything from concrete, to rough framing, to superintendent, to purchasing & estimating. We did our own grading plans, house layouts, managed dirt hauls, balanced lots to keep dirt movement to minimum etc. I have a few hundred hours in skid steers and mini-excavators. Have my own tractor, bush hog, driveway plane and bunch of hand tools, chain saws, builders level, chains, yada, yada, yada. I have an F250 4x4 with the big diesel and a pintle hitch on it. Short bed so no GN. I own 20 acres with my house on it and have another 10.5 acres adjacent to us that is undeveloped so equipment storage, potential shop space, security etc is golden. I have a little bit of equity in the land and a little bit of cash to invest, but cash is king and I want to keep as much as possible. My credit rating is good. I am working with the small business development center to develop a business plan and put as much in writing as possible so I have some clearly defined goals.
Now... on with the 2000 or so questions that I have. My initial start up plan is to get and LLC set up and get insurance, bank account, take a erosion control for contractors class, and put the word out that I am looking for work. Not necessarily dirt work, but bush hog, weed eat, driveway maintenance, or just about anything that involves labor and some tools. Looking for GC and homeowners as well. I don't have a trailer and that is probably the first issue I am trying to think through. Do I get a trailer that I can haul behind my existing truck or should I be looking to get a slightly larger setup and get a single axle dump or tandem with a heavier trailer? My plan is to rent equipment and be able to pick it up to save delivery fees and improve my timing on jobs. Nothing worse that waiting for a delivery that shows up late and brings the rain with it. Can't imagine that I will be swamped with skid steer/mini excavator work right out of the gate. I am looking to make myself as flexible as possible and make as much as possible; is a dump truck a good idea to start? Single axle or tandem? Just be me trying to stay busy. I can employ some part time help for general labor if needed. I would like to get some small jobs with a slightly larger track loader if possible. I have inquired about the rental units previously and the transport is outrageous along with the insurance that my homeowners doesn't cover causes another expense. If I have the commercial insurance it should cover it and I can haul. That saves big bucks.
How does most everyone haul fuel? Tank in the back of the truck?
What is the best opportunity to get a foot in the door? Having a dump truck and keeping it working as much as possible then use it to haul equipment as those jobs pop up? Or should I try to stay with a trailer my truck can pull and hire a dump truck with driver any time I had a job that required hauling?
I think I managed to get a coherent question or two in the above rambling. Any thoughts you might like to share would be much appreciated especially to any of you near the Atlanta market. This helps me just getting something in writing and over time I can clean it up and make a presentation to the bank.
Happy 4th of July everyone.
Questions about starting a new venture.
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire