I'm sure it's the most asked question but I just wanted to give it a go myself.
I'm a one man band with a very simple shop: CNC plasma, welding, tube bending, and I even picked up a older Amada RG25 CNC press brake. I guess I would be more of a fab shop than job shop. I do mostly sheetwork but I honestly tackle anything I can get my hands on. I'm relatively fluent in CAD (Fusion360 and some other simpler software) for what I need to do. I'm located in a pretty rural part of Missouri but I'm at the doorstep of a military base.
For almost a year, I've visited/emailed as many manufacturers, contractors, business that I think I could add onto, etc. from KC to STL and haven't heard back from any. I actually picked up one reoccurring customer in an adjacent town supplying semi-truck trailer parts which has been doing OK. I come to learn CNC cutting is hard to compete against other shops that also supply metal since they buy their material at wholesale whereas I'm having to buy at marked up prices.
I'm also signed up in the SAMS for gov't work but I only had one phone call (I'm registered as a non-disabled combat Vet in the system. My area doesn't qualify for any of the specialized competitive zones). That system isn't very small business friendly (small as in 1 person. Their definition of small is ~500-1000). They solicit for advertisement options but it gets pricey. If you want to tackle jobs elsewhere, you honestly need a full-time employee to sit there and browse the listings on a daily basis. I'm also in local cities and State bid systems but most of that work is large-scale contractor stuff. Not really any small shop related work.
The biggest part that's probably killing me is that I just work out of the house. I can't afford a separate shop. But, since I'm looking for the job-shop related work, I figure there is no need to have another building. However, since I do tackle any job I can get my hands on, it often becomes a struggle because it requires customers to come by and leave stuff at my already packed property.
My nearest competitors are all an hour away but these are legitimate job shops with fair size facilities running 24/7 with more capacities and capabilities. Seems like most of the job shops I know in the area are spaced about an hour apart. I've even talked to them about picking up any OT work but they're usually OT on welding.
Wondering if anyone else has some strategies that I could try? I'm not picky nor trying to limit my boundary. My only competitive edge is my shop rates are pretty cheap and lead times are pretty quick. I'm also adjacent to an interstate if that helps but there aren't any shipping brokers nearby. I've seen various trade shows to try and enter into but I can't afford those booth costs. I was told Design2Part wants $4k for a booth. I believe I can get a booth at SEMA cheaper than that, lol.
I'm a one man band with a very simple shop: CNC plasma, welding, tube bending, and I even picked up a older Amada RG25 CNC press brake. I guess I would be more of a fab shop than job shop. I do mostly sheetwork but I honestly tackle anything I can get my hands on. I'm relatively fluent in CAD (Fusion360 and some other simpler software) for what I need to do. I'm located in a pretty rural part of Missouri but I'm at the doorstep of a military base.
For almost a year, I've visited/emailed as many manufacturers, contractors, business that I think I could add onto, etc. from KC to STL and haven't heard back from any. I actually picked up one reoccurring customer in an adjacent town supplying semi-truck trailer parts which has been doing OK. I come to learn CNC cutting is hard to compete against other shops that also supply metal since they buy their material at wholesale whereas I'm having to buy at marked up prices.
I'm also signed up in the SAMS for gov't work but I only had one phone call (I'm registered as a non-disabled combat Vet in the system. My area doesn't qualify for any of the specialized competitive zones). That system isn't very small business friendly (small as in 1 person. Their definition of small is ~500-1000). They solicit for advertisement options but it gets pricey. If you want to tackle jobs elsewhere, you honestly need a full-time employee to sit there and browse the listings on a daily basis. I'm also in local cities and State bid systems but most of that work is large-scale contractor stuff. Not really any small shop related work.
The biggest part that's probably killing me is that I just work out of the house. I can't afford a separate shop. But, since I'm looking for the job-shop related work, I figure there is no need to have another building. However, since I do tackle any job I can get my hands on, it often becomes a struggle because it requires customers to come by and leave stuff at my already packed property.
My nearest competitors are all an hour away but these are legitimate job shops with fair size facilities running 24/7 with more capacities and capabilities. Seems like most of the job shops I know in the area are spaced about an hour apart. I've even talked to them about picking up any OT work but they're usually OT on welding.
Wondering if anyone else has some strategies that I could try? I'm not picky nor trying to limit my boundary. My only competitive edge is my shop rates are pretty cheap and lead times are pretty quick. I'm also adjacent to an interstate if that helps but there aren't any shipping brokers nearby. I've seen various trade shows to try and enter into but I can't afford those booth costs. I was told Design2Part wants $4k for a booth. I believe I can get a booth at SEMA cheaper than that, lol.