Anybody here own their own welding business?

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I'm thinking of starting a very small side business and have some questions for anyone that runs their own (successful lol) welding business. To start of with how did you find your customers when you first began?
Reply:hit the streets,flyers,business cards/face-to-face, --now days, craigs lisp,news paper list can go onan on ..  what type do you want to get into?i for one, have a niche in the boat propeller and boat welding industryword of mouth can make ya or brake yaidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:A lot of guys here will jump in on having the appropriate insurance coverage and being actually a competent and certified welder in the processes you do which is all good advice.  If you are however trying to start on a shoe string budget that is not always possible.  In that way, try and avoid high risk welding and critical welds that can come back and bite ya... at least until you can get enough business to justify and cover your insurance etc.    Being my sister is a big horse nut, I have done several jobs for her and her friends over the years.   Mostly for fun and I just took payment for materials..   but that is a great word of mouth thing.   If you can get some of them to save their old horse shoes for you there is lots of stuff u can make out of horseshoes...  horsie folks will buy that up in a hurry too.   Saddle racks, gate hooks for tack rooms.   I made a rear fold away tack for my sister's slant load trailer.   could have got half a dozen more jobs doing the same thing for her friends.    any farm/ranch communities always need welding.  Avoid stuff that rolls down the highway if its structural.. IE trailer tongues, frames..  4x4 suspension mods etc.Try the will trade welding services for????  on local craigslist.  good way to get your name out there and come across some interesting stuff while you are at itLast edited by soutthpaw; 10-11-2011 at 03:52 PM.Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
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Originally Posted by prop-doctor

hit the streets,flyers,business cards/face-to-face, --now days, craigs lisp,news paper list can go onan on ..  what type do you want to get into?i for one, have a niche in the boat propeller and boat welding industryword of mouth can make ya or brake ya
Reply:you contact THOSE people by allways/( means of comunication) as i suggested (thats advertising).. ok i was taught how to repair props in Abluquerque,New Mexico(of all places--the deeeesert)moved to Oklahoma years later stumbled into prop repair here and bought the bussinessto make a long story short ... was taught welding in high school  and never quit (done all kida stuff in-between i went to marinas  and boat dealers and took out some adds..  was / is word of mouth that works the bestidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:I'm military and move around a lot but I started where I'm at now with Craigslist and word of mouth. Get some business cards and posters and get them out wherever you can. For me, word of mouth from those I've done work from has been the best. When you have an extremely satisfied customer, they will be sure to let their friends know. I also stopped by auto shops and others to let them know. Always and I mean always call a customer back that contacts you...even if you aren't set up for the job. I just did a job saturday evening for a lady who wanted a gate done. I'm not really an ornamental Iron kind of guy but she wasn't picky and wanted me to do it. Well I did it and she was extremely impressed I was able to take a 3" difference between the two walls and make it disappear. The top of the gate between the two walls was a whole 3"  wider than at the bottom. Like I said, not big on ornamental iron, but I have a feeling her job will lead to many others since she is a salesperson at a huge commercial door factory and gets calls for welding jobs all the time. Sorry for the long post....but I hope there's a point in there somewhere. I've gotten many of my jobs just because I called the customer back and was  straightforward with them. Mobile welding is a great money maker if you are willing to put in the hard work and have the experience and tools to complete the jobs
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Originally Posted by SRZ19

THose are all good ideas and I already have a plan to do them and it sounded so easy at the beginning but now it's like "ok, so who needs a mobile welding service? How do I contact those people?" Should I do flyers door to door or would that be a waste of money? How did you originally get involved in the boat welding industry?
Reply:Thanks guys! All very helpful
Reply:SRZ19:  How's it going with the start-up?  I'm also in the process of starting a small welding business on the side, and I found this thread helpful. Best of luck to you...
Reply:Hello to everyone. Great thread. I started my welding business a few months ago in the Denver area, and it definitely is no cake walk. Word of mouth is key, like most have mentioned. So it is wise to invest in branding and online advertising, but more importantly networking. I've been doing some cold calling and visiting local general contractors to drop off our information. Results were not great just yet, but it is all about planting seeds and getting your name out. It's all statistics at first. As you increase your visibility, the chances of finding work increases. And once you break into the market, it all comes down to the quality of your work. Next step for me is to invest in some promotional gifts with our company info printed on them (i.e. key chain flash lights, bottle openers, stress relief balls) and send them out to the target audience. Some thing potential clients/customers are likely to use on a daily basis. Good luck and hope this helps.
Reply:Three key things have always really helped me - Spreading my business cards everywhere, ad in the phone book, a magnet sign on my truck. You do a good job for your customers at a decent price, & they will tell all of their family and friends. Word gets around fast, good or bad, so make sure your doing quality work.
Reply:Quality work and reliable service.  Ive always had a problem with thinking I could do things faster than was realistic.  After I was a week late a lot of times only people that were not in a hurry would come to me. I do realy good work Or no one would come to me. I finaly learned to explain that I could not give them an exact date on some things and on others I could fix it while they waited.  And that goes over big. People generaly like to get things done right now, so anything you can do Imediatly, do. That alone will biuld your reputation.  Mac
Reply:Learn how to spell search.





Reply:

Originally Posted by Make It Hot

SRZ19:  How's it going with the start-up?  I'm also in the process of starting a small welding business on the side, and I found this thread helpful. Best of luck to you...
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Originally Posted by Fat Bastard

Learn how to spell search.
Reply:greetings all its been awhile since i was here last. as an little update i am a north dakotan once again. also i have been working at a manufacturing place and really like it. plus i do alot of welding at home now heres a piece of advice.Look up my old thread hard blow to carreer and read it carefully theres alot of info and everyone here will help you.miller maxstar 150   hobart handler 210 w mig conversion hobart 250 arc force plasma cutter    boston ind cutting torch miller performance auto darkening helmet milwalkee 14in chop saw 10,000 watt generator huge drill press and industrial band saw
Reply:Ok, I am from central Alabama. I have always worked in different fields not making much money , have always made bows, arrows, and everything else that other people just buy at the store. I have been a carpenter and roofer, painter and framer. but one day i responded to a craigslist ad and joined up with a mobile welding outfit with no experience . I read a little watched some videos and one month in , I was setting up all tools , fitting all the work and the boss was asking me for advise. He ( against my instructions) was using a very old and dingy oxy torch with failing regulators turned all the way up and had a blow out and burned himself and his truck bad. I told him he was the dumbest son of a b i ever met and quit that day. the next i created my website, online advertising and got a local business license. I purchased 450$ dollars of insurance with nationwide and got a 4g structural certification. I created cards and emailed fliers to all the local home owners associations and realty people in the area and found that most needed someone just like me to do small portable welding jobs for 150-350 an hour . I now make more money than i have in the past 10 years combined and don't owe any one or take !@#$ from anyone. Its not hard at all you can do it if i could. Just think safety , Think BIG and for heavens sake get a tiny amount of insurance and a certification , even its just a small amount when people see CERTIFIED , INSURED, and LICENSED in your ad they think im going to hire this guy and pay him more than the others because he is professional . Also I just learn quickly it may take you more than it took me but i was sick and tired of handling all the work for someone else when i'm twice a qualified and need the money more. hope this helps you out i just gave you the answer you needed  to start a great company. I started with a Chicago Electric 90 amp flux core and an ARKSEN 250 amp smaw and a grinder chopsaw and a truck and generator. all you need is basic tools at first and once you can strike an arc with an ARCSEN you can weld anything.Last edited by weldingwilly; 10-25-2014 at 04:07 PM.
Reply:I like you attitude 2 thumbs up!
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Originally Posted by SRZ19

THose are all good ideas and I already have a plan to do them and it sounded so easy at the beginning but now it's like "ok, so who needs a mobile welding service? How do I contact those people?" Should I do flyers door to door or would that be a waste of money? How did you originally get involved in the boat welding industry?