Starting a small shop

[Ox]

Well, I am all aboot waiting for the movie, but since I already read this book, I have no use for the movie anymore.


----------------------

Sweatin' to the Oldies!
Ox

 

[Donkey Hotey]

Don't you guys love how PM scans our conversations for YouTube content? I'm going to start linking their videos in the threads they took them from, it only seems fair... right?

BOAM!!! BAYBEE!!!

Oh, wrong channel.

 

[cnctoolcat]

Don't you guys love how PM scans our conversations for YouTube content? I'm going to start linking their videos in the threads they took them from, it only seems fair... right?

Welcome to the new age, and how A.I. will be used to further the effectiveness of "integrated marketing"....

 

[Freedommachine]

For a guy that never has spindles running, he sure has a lot of "advice". The least he could do is stop in and introduce himself.

 

[EmGo]

For a guy that never has spindles running, he sure has a lot of "advice".

At least he doesn't have a beard.

Yet

 

[kenton]

Not that I'm aware of. Most people I know either burn it or give it to someone else who burns it. I have a few friends that cut it with home heating oil and run it in their trucks, tractors, skidder, dozer, ect.

I just stack 5 gallon buckets of it in preparation for building a waste oil burner. I also mix it about 30/70 with WoolWax and use it to oil spray my vehicles. Used oil also works very well for painting the bottom side of mower decks.

Now, if anybody knows of a useful solution for 25 gallons of old antifreeze... I'm listening lol.

My buddy used to work for the local sanitary district (shit processing) and he said the recommended procedure was to dump it down a city drain. By the time it mixes with all the sewer liquids and solids (his terms) and is processed it will be consumed and/or diluted to basically nothing.

 

[DavisMT]

I enjoyed that YouTube video. Sorry haven't responded in awhile, life is moving by fast. So I'm securing a loan for a used TRAK LPM, any suggestions on equipment insurance (for the loan)? Also looking at xometry to start out, any thoughts? I've read a few threads on here and get mixed reviews. Mind you I'm starting from nothing with no customers. As far as the shop space goes I've cleaned it up and moved more stuff in.

 

[nn21]

So I'm securing a loan for a used TRAK LPM, any suggestions on equipment insurance (for the loan)?

Mine is covered under my general business policy through the hartford. Absolute PITA to find someone to insure a new business. Burned through 5 or 6 places all telling me no, including the hartford. Best solution I found was to call up a local business insurance agent. There are a lot of extra things they'll have access to beyond the online forms. Spent a half an hour on the phone with the agent, agreed that I would never cut mag (don't want to anyway), and all was well.

 

[J Gilles]

Found this on Reddit the other day . Trust the science!

View attachment 407396

At some point after 1970 they did this in front of my shop. We were replacing some of the foundation and that stuff was like a harder asphalt.

Related to the thread topic, I would start with any previous contacts you have that work on any related industry. Tell everyone you have worked with in the past what you are doing and your capabilities. You never know what's happening at their workplace. Plus it's by far the most likely to work out, because someone can vouch for you if you weren't an ass in the past.

Depending on the type of person you are, I still think you can do pretty well by finding any local business that needs manufactured goods and trying to visit in person. It obviously doesn't work all the time and for everyone, but I have had good success with this in the past.

Social media can also be leveraged, but it takes time to grow. The best part is you can reach people and show them your capabilities, so they aren't taking as much of a risk when they use you the first time. They have seen the level of work you do, how clean your shop is, and how you conduct yourself. It takes far more than just posting random pictures, but can be a long term strategy.

 

[Freedommachine]

Mind you I'm starting from nothing with no customers. As far as the shop space goes I've cleaned it up and moved more stuff in.

Hit up the local golf courses and give their service guy your card; do the same at local auto service shops as well.
Next, call the county and inquire about becoming a vendor for the street dept, water dept, sheriff dept and fire depts.

Call up the local chamber of commerce and let them know what you've got in mind, see if they can offer any advice or suggestions.

 

[Doug]

Looking for work....?

Starting a shop and don't know where to find work locally? Is there something wrong in that scenario?

There's a saying about real estate, the three most important things are..... location, location, location.

I believe the same three things apply in starting a shop, location, location, location. When Bill Gates decided to keep his business in his home town area all sorts of spinoffs sprang up here with a quite number of them looking for small shops to work with. That makes this area a good place to start a shop, unfortunately you won't be able to afford a house though.