SUMMIT TREE
Active VIP Member
Hey,
So im currently unemployed and thinking I might buy my own service truck and do my own thing.
I would likely focus more toward off road Heavy equipment, but likely at first I would take whatever is a paying job. I would like some advice from people with experience running a business of their own and also from anyone who is or was a field tech doing this type of work. Im trying to decide if its worth all the extra headaches of having your own business vs just being an employee. I also have questions about certain tooling and priorities for purchasing. I have been a Red seal HD tech for nearly 22 years working on a variety of different stuff but primarily Gas compression for the majority of it. Modern heavy equipment is technologically light years ahead of most of that equipment, and obviously there would be a pretty good learning curve involved, but at the end of the day it boils down to similar trouble shooting skill and experience.
I pretty much decided my truck would have to have a crane, and I have most of the hand tool you could ever need. What about something like a welder? Or a fancy charge/ boosting system. Its hard to know what kind of work a guy would end up getting, so the other one is diagnostic laptop / software. Do you immediately buy 15K worth of stuff not knowing what you need? Or is there a better way to get started and then see what you need as time goes on? What can a guy do without initially and what is a must?
Where do you typically get service information? With Cat you can buy access to sis, but what if its some old obscure piece? Is most available online from the OEM?
Truck is obviously a must, but any must haves vs nice to have? Im thinking a crane is a must. Air compressor obviously. Welder maybe/eventually? Ive never had heated cabinets, not really interested in that. Heard it causes condensation and rust. Although it would be nice in the supplies cabinet. I would probably pick something used trying to get decent but no too expensive. Probably not able to drop 200K on a brand new one right out of the gate.
How do you deal with getting paid? Ive heard this can be a real issue? I get that some large companies have a period where you wait for payment. Im talking smaller customers who just don’t pay. Can you ask for pre payment? Or kinda situation dependent? Im not a bank and don’t intend on becoming one. If you can’t pay obviously I stop working for them. But how to collect. I get this goes with the territory, but just seeking best advice.
Lastly, to drum up business, I would get business cards, and probably use some social media initially. Is it acceptable to go around to anyone I think might use my service and walk in to have a chat? Drop off a card with them kinda thing.
I think that the actual pulling wrenches will be ok I’ll figure it out and accend the learning curve. Im mostly intimidated by fear of the unknown I guess. I suppose I just buy a truck and jump in with both feet.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
So im currently unemployed and thinking I might buy my own service truck and do my own thing.
I would likely focus more toward off road Heavy equipment, but likely at first I would take whatever is a paying job. I would like some advice from people with experience running a business of their own and also from anyone who is or was a field tech doing this type of work. Im trying to decide if its worth all the extra headaches of having your own business vs just being an employee. I also have questions about certain tooling and priorities for purchasing. I have been a Red seal HD tech for nearly 22 years working on a variety of different stuff but primarily Gas compression for the majority of it. Modern heavy equipment is technologically light years ahead of most of that equipment, and obviously there would be a pretty good learning curve involved, but at the end of the day it boils down to similar trouble shooting skill and experience.
I pretty much decided my truck would have to have a crane, and I have most of the hand tool you could ever need. What about something like a welder? Or a fancy charge/ boosting system. Its hard to know what kind of work a guy would end up getting, so the other one is diagnostic laptop / software. Do you immediately buy 15K worth of stuff not knowing what you need? Or is there a better way to get started and then see what you need as time goes on? What can a guy do without initially and what is a must?
Where do you typically get service information? With Cat you can buy access to sis, but what if its some old obscure piece? Is most available online from the OEM?
Truck is obviously a must, but any must haves vs nice to have? Im thinking a crane is a must. Air compressor obviously. Welder maybe/eventually? Ive never had heated cabinets, not really interested in that. Heard it causes condensation and rust. Although it would be nice in the supplies cabinet. I would probably pick something used trying to get decent but no too expensive. Probably not able to drop 200K on a brand new one right out of the gate.
How do you deal with getting paid? Ive heard this can be a real issue? I get that some large companies have a period where you wait for payment. Im talking smaller customers who just don’t pay. Can you ask for pre payment? Or kinda situation dependent? Im not a bank and don’t intend on becoming one. If you can’t pay obviously I stop working for them. But how to collect. I get this goes with the territory, but just seeking best advice.
Lastly, to drum up business, I would get business cards, and probably use some social media initially. Is it acceptable to go around to anyone I think might use my service and walk in to have a chat? Drop off a card with them kinda thing.
I think that the actual pulling wrenches will be ok I’ll figure it out and accend the learning curve. Im mostly intimidated by fear of the unknown I guess. I suppose I just buy a truck and jump in with both feet.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
