I want to be my own boss!!!!

[woogawelder]

Ill be graduating from welding school this coming fall. Now some might say I'm jumpin on this too quick but if I dont do it now I never will. I wanna start just a normal portable business. There arent many portable welders in this area so I think it will work. Ive already got paperwork in for grants to cover start up costs. Now what I need help with is findin a decent truck and trailer. I think Ive got a pretty good idea of the machinery I need but the vehicle is a different story. The way I figure you other entrepenures(spelling) probably went through this too. Any advice on manufacturers or retailers would be so greatly appreciated. Good day!

[MAC702]

Grants for starting up a business?

Anyway, I just listed my 96 Dodge 1-ton diesel on eBay. I've been using it for a welding truck for two years. E-mail me with any questions about it. I also still happen to have the trailer I built for it, but wound up putting all the equipment on the truck after using the trailer for a year.

[HMW]

Can you find enough work right off to support yourself? Most guys usually get a job as a welder and do it on the side too. Then when they get enough work they move over for themselves.

Good luck and congratulations on the welding school

[MD Welding]

As much as I hate to say it, get jobs and make contacts. You can never have enough. I can't imagine ever hiring anyone.

Mike MD Welding & Fabricating

[woogawelder]

MD Welder

Clarify if you could for me as I'm not sure I understand you correctly. When you said you cant imagine hiring anyone, how come? The reason I wanna do this immediately is because I believe I'm gonna have the startup costs completely covered. Since my dad passed I live at home with my mother takin care of the heavy labor around the house so Im not gonna need much to support myself and I feel that this sort of business should only have minimal overhead costs. Keep the advice comin fellas!!

[Darmik]

Well like HMW said for now get a welding job and start your own business that's how I started and well still do "however be warned" lets say that you find a job in the commerical truck business dont be doing that kinda of work at home because that just became a conflict of interest your fired try and convince your boss that you are not stealing business away from them.and how do they find out you ask well when you open your mouth about what you are doing on the side to a friend at work or invite a friend from work over to your place and they say hey whats this you should'nt be doing this kind of work man if the boss ever found out as soon as your friend say's that you just gotta know your F#@ked ! Just keep it to your self at work whatever you decide to do.O ya and congratulations on the welding school
As for business there is quit afew people on the motorsports side that could give you alittle more input talk to coalsmoke ,weldingrod,fusionking , KB fabrications,Pipeline Dan, aametalmaster just to name a few.

[Bmxin^Bjorn]

this is my idea: don't bother getting a welding truck just make or buy a trailer.. any vehicle can tow a trailer.

[fun4now]

as i understand it insurance can be a big over head expense. but that aside, look at what equipment you will be starting off with and get a used truck in decent shape to acomodate what you wil be working with. if buisness takes off and you need to add to your tools or cary capasity later you will have the $ to do it from the buisnes.
a shop job to cover bills wile you star getting the word about your mobile busness could realy help. if you get hired on in a shop without a mobile rig you could well end up picking up some side work from the day job.
i would not expect to put an add in the papper and have a full week right out of the gate so to speek. its likely to take you some time to get known in the area and become the go to guy, till then a real job might help. maybee real job was the wrong way to put that but i hope you get the idea.
best of luck and i hope all works out for ya.

[beamwalker]

this is my idea: don't bother getting a welding truck just make or buy a trailer.. any vehicle can tow a trailer.

im going to build little trailer for tb 301 and hook it to my motorcycle

[woogawelder]

Hey before I start let me say I think this is one of the nicest online forum I think Ive found. Thanks for not flamin and callin me a noob lol. Sooooo trailer or truck? Whats a reasonable rate to offer folks, especially contractors?