Finding work for your business

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I always wondered how one would find jobs to bid on, and how the bid process works?
Reply:There is a number of ways that I find the jobs to bid on, I'll give you a few examples. I go to the city hall and they have a post listed of all the City jobs and requirements to be bid on, I do the same at the county administration building and also check for bid projects on the government's web site for any state or federal projects that are coming up.Another thing I do is go out to all of the general contractors in the area and get my name out to them, the are always looking for new subs, and the best way to find the bid jobs is to have a good reputation in town and do quality work, hope this helps you out some. DaveI am what I am, Deal with it!If necessity is the Mother of Invention, I must be the Father of Desperation!
Reply:Yeah thanks for that, I guess that answered my question. So if you do find a job you want to do, then what, they supply you with plans and you calculate your bid and submit it.
Reply:Originally Posted by dabar39There is a number of ways that I find the jobs to bid on, I'll give you a few examples. I go to the city hall and they have a post listed of all the City jobs and requirements to be bid on, I do the same at the county administration building and also check for bid projects on the government's web site for any state or federal projects that are coming up.Another thing I do is go out to all of the general contractors in the area and get my name out to them, the are always looking for new subs, and the best way to find the bid jobs is to have a good reputation in town and do quality work, hope this helps you out some. Dave
Reply:Altobe, I forgot to mention the back of the newspaper classifieds, look in the public notices section and you will find bid projects there as well. littlefuzz,   I make my rounds, don't say much here, but do check it out everyday. DaveI am what I am, Deal with it!If necessity is the Mother of Invention, I must be the Father of Desperation!
Reply:if you are a real newbie, you might want to post a listing on your local craigslist.  You might get a small home-repair type job that can help build your experience.
Reply:I actually got a few big jobs off Craigslist, the only problem with Craigslist is people want you to work for no money, and the endless spam. I started out walking in to excavating contractors, and anywhere else I thought someone needed something welded. I got my truck lettered and talk to everyone. A good attitude, and QUALITY!!! work will go a long way.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Tozzi said it, A good attitude, and quality work.  If you have those two you want have to go hunt work.  After the word is out they will be coming to you.  Supposedly ANY GOV'T work is to be advertised that it is open for bids.  However sometimes Bidding Gov't jobs can be more of a hassle than its worth, and I have seen times it was easy money...  I would suggest Going to the local businesses that usually need welding and give them a card.  Don't be overbearing trying to impress them, just let them know you are there and would be glad to help them anyway you can.  Also a lot of local news papers have a business card section for cheap.  Drop a card off at the paper, and have them put it in the paper.  You would be suprised how often people will check that section when they need help.   I have gotten a good bit of work from the couple I have listed over the years.  The best advertisement for a weldor is word of mouth.  Do what you say you will, when you say, and you will have plenty of work.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:Pass out thousands of business cards, literally.  Cards are cheap, they hang around and get passed around.  Talk to local folk who do what you do. Sometimes they will give you leads on jobs they don't want to deal with.  Talk to contractors on jobsites, leave a card - you never know when their regular guy won't be able fulfill their needs.I went to those yellow phone directories a three years ago.  My word of mouth and repeat customer far out weigh what I get from any of my directory jobs.  The directories take some tweaking so I wouldn't recommend them starting out.  Also, directory jobs result in a lot of calls and estimates and comparing prices. While, word of mouth and repeat calls are from people wanting work done and when can you start.
Reply:Tapwelder, That is a good point about the yellow page ads.  I wondered if I was the only one who was not getting much out of the listing.  True, I get far more calls than I did before, but not much of it turns into real work.  Just like you stated, all the calls are constantly pricing and wanting to know my capabilities.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:people see me welding in my garage and will stop and ask if i am for hire.
Reply:Something to remember with all muinicipal bids: they are all crooked and rigged to favor one person/company.I went to bid on a $274,000 job for the City of ****tsburgh and the specs read "repair facility must be located in city limits." I called the solicitor and was told I could not even bid on the job. I was awarded to somebody that's 8 miles out of the city limits.I smell corruption. I also smell a rebid when I call tomorrow and question this BS.I once read bid specs for a fire engine that read "all bidding parties' trucks must have an oval shaped emblem that reads "Pierce" on all four sides of the truck" !!!! Gee. It sounds like they wanted a Pierce truck!
Reply:Originally Posted by TozziWeldingI actually got a few big jobs off Craigslist
Reply:Thanks a lot for the info.
Reply:Word of mouth is all I use.  I have no sign on my shop.  I am not in the phone book, All I have is a cell phone for home, work.......  Just one phone.  People know me from my garage, so work just comes around.  Getting started is tough, but I did knock on doors, hand out business cards and have a cookout every Friday at my shop. "Free lunch Friday"  People could see my place and I would leave a job in the middle of me working on it on "display".  Pens and key chains are great because it keeps your # there for when they need it.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:i placed and add with the Masonic lodge in Jan. once a year new pledges go out and solicit business's to purchase add space. part of their initiation. guy tells me 4000 people will see this magazine, i thought man $25 for a 1/4 page add and only 4000 sets of eyes, but i did it to help the guy out. 2 weeks after the book comes out i get a call from the DOT section shed near my house. GM is a mason, he remembered seeing my business card in his book. needed some work done ASAP and his welders were tied up. i quoted him a rough estimate price and walked away $2500 to the good. nice return on my ad price. i am still getting work from that one ad.craigslist has bombed for me. i get several e-mails asking if i can tig or stick and i tell them yes, then i quote and they never call back. but i do visit the local shops. i have a meeting on friday with the only hydraulic shop in town. they have a small tig machine for some of their work. but some customers need major repair work done. he's been subbing that out at $75/hr and transpoting the machine to the welding shop. i told hime i will come to him and charge $45 an hour if i can use his shop and his power. he was elated and figured he can carge 50 to cover the power and such and still save his customers money. the meeting is just to sign some contracts and hammer the final details out, also moving some stuff around to clean me out a bay. i am still working my FT job, and going to school. but i told him if it's a gottta have it yesterday job i can get it done then, or i can work the weekend and bring in extra welders to ensure the machine is ready to go to work on monday. depending on the volume of work from him and some other clients i am hoping to go solo anyday now."Retreat hell, were just fighting in the other direction"Miller Trailblazer 302, Extreme 12 VS, Dimension 400, Spectrum 375, HF 251D-1, Milermatic 251 w/ spoolgun  Hypertherm 1000Lincoln sp 1702000 F-450 to haul it
Reply:Backuproller.  I made a similar agreement with a customer.  I use his equipment, at his place, I cut my rate 25%.    He has some nice stuff too.  I have my own shop.  I do get travel time.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.