is there any money in fab shops

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I know this is probaly not the right section for this, but i think you guys look at the picture secton the most.  My question is, do you guys think there is any money in a custom fab shop.  Here is my situation, I live in the chicago suburbs, and currently run a shop in chicago.  We build dumpsters and roll-off containers.  the shop is roughly 15,000 SQ ft and we currently have a 6 ft shear 8 ft brake. 4 large miller welders 2 large band saws and lots of other misc. equipment. My family owns the shop but my heart is not in building dumpsters.  I like doing custom work i.e. Fences, security gates, signs trailor work, etc.  Now the city has a ton of small shops, but were i live i can only think of one shop that does welding and fab work. I know how to stick and mig. and i currently own a CNC plasma cutter with a partner.  I have a small shop close to my house where we currently keep or CNC machine.  I also thought about doing mobile welding.  If i started now i would have to set it up so that customers would meet me under appointment.  I work in the city from 6:00 - 3:30 The main question is what do you think a small fab business could make, i would like to grow to a 5 man shop roughly.  Thanks for any input.
Reply:As with any business it takes time and money to build up your shop (business) and your name. You can advertise in papers, on radio and TV if you like. The biggest part is making a name for yourself. If you have a good product or produce a product that people enjoy,make customers feel they got a good deal, and completed it in a timely manner, the references will supply you with enough business (usually) to keep your head above water. Good luck in your venture.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:There is money to be found with Off-road/Truck Fabrications.  People are stupid in that area and will pay anything just to have their trucks look cool to compensate for something. For example:Have a look at these http://www.n-fab.com/products.nerfsteps.asp  They are the best Side Steps I've seen.  Its 50.00 worth of metal and they retail for 375.00 - 500.00 .  Thats freaking ridiculous, but you know what they sell like a MOFO. Theres a ton of other items out there like Differential Covers that sell really well.  If you know what your doing you can make some money.
Reply:It all depends on you friend.  Depending on how fast you work, how diverse in your work you can be, and quality is always paramount.  However, speed is a big one.  So is being honest and marketing skills is key here.   Besides that, luck of the draw I guess.  If you can find your niche Im sure you will make money if the local economy can handle it.   Best of luckIF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:It seems that around here (Napa, ca. ) that the welding shops all have portable rigs , but don't want to use them, -they always lose $ , compared to staying in the shop doing shop work. Because you can't hardly get paid for all the time (portal to portal) , maybe you should charge 50 per cent more per hour , than shop work, at least for short jobs . we don't advertise in the newspapers , people will think you work for cheap . and, you might need a lot of liability insurance , i had none so..... i had to be very selective and turn down a lot of jobs .
Reply:i look around our shop for $$$$ all the timehav'nt found any yet.... ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:I Run a small fab shop doing exactly what you are talking about but it took a few years to get a good customer base.We now have customers come to me for the smallest thing, they have found I have the correct tools for the job and have the necessary skills so I can do the work faster than they can.I have invested a large amount of money in buying tools and stock, but I am trying to offer a one stop shop.Just a few points to think on. Hope it helpsCan you afford to start slow and build it up?Do you have any regular or prospective customers?Do you have the necessary tools and equipment?  If you custom fab shop gets busy what will it do to your shop in Chicago?.Insurance and taxes?Simonhttp://members.optusnet.com.au/~abba/index.html
Reply:As of right now i make pretty good money. so i dont want to quit.  The plasma cutting is still slow but we are working on that.  I am not afraid to leave the chicago shop if i get enough work coming in, were i need to make it full time. Thats also if i can make the same im making now or more. As every one knows family business' are tough.  I run a shop controlled by two different family compainies(long story). So when **** hits the fan i always seem to be caught in the middle.  I can build about anything you can think of. I also have very good mechanical abilities.  The problem with my job now is, theres way to many chiefs and not enough indians. I have nothing but headaches and deadlines to worry about.  I want to make it on my own and the beautiful thing is i have a rent free shop right now. Its small but free.  the other benifit is access to equipment.  I could do good size jobs at night useing the city equipment for what i dont have yet.  im just wondering what i can make money wise.  i do not want to stay small by any means.  I would love to grow into a very large job shop with many employees.  What do you guys think.
Reply:buisness loan new building and your in buisness..in this day and age you had better have the contracts to carry on  or the bank carries off  ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by RubenZThere is money to be found with Off-road/Truck Fabrications.  People are stupid in that area and will pay anything just to have their trucks look cool to compensate for something. For example:Have a look at these http://www.n-fab.com/products.nerfsteps.asp  They are the best Side Steps I've seen.  Its 50.00 worth of metal and they retail for 375.00 - 500.00 .  Thats freaking ridiculous, but you know what they sell like a MOFO. Theres a ton of other items out there like Differential Covers that sell really well.  If you know what your doing you can make some money.
Reply:Check out this site. www.bluetorchfab.comIt's a buddies of mine.  He started doing this as a side thing while he was a drug rep.  He is now one of the premier fabricators and DIY parts designers in the country.  In my opinion, he is the best.  Back when he rented a little shop in town and was mainly doing buildups, building some bumpers and other misc.  stuff, he was getting his name out there for unparalled quality and unique stuff.  He told me once that he was looking to find a niche and fill that niche.  He has and is doing really well.My point is:  Quality, Quality, Quality.  Business will follow.  Also, he built and maintained his own website.  He built it with Microsoft Frontpage.  Most of his business is internet related.
Reply:Looks like you mates business has taken off in a big way, So he might inspire a few members to follow their dream to run their own fab shop.I agree the secret is quality, I have had customers come it wanting a cheap and nasty quick fix, I will not do it. As it is my name that is attached to the job, But I will patch something in an emergency situation.I also must add don't make a promise if you can't deliver. Simonhttp://members.optusnet.com.au/~abba/index.html
Reply:Originally Posted by rookiemowerAs of right now i make pretty good money. so i dont want to quit.  The plasma cutting is still slow but we are working on that.  I am not afraid to leave the chicago shop if i get enough work coming in, were i need to make it full time. Thats also if i can make the same im making now or more. As every one knows family business' are tough.  I run a shop controlled by two different family compainies(long story). So when **** hits the fan i always seem to be caught in the middle.  I can build about anything you can think of. I also have very good mechanical abilities.  The problem with my job now is, theres way to many chiefs and not enough indians. I have nothing but headaches and deadlines to worry about.
Reply:I too like you have the same expectations for my shop, are going the route you are, like you I also work a regular job.  I work 7:00 to 3:00 everyday, run my shop from my home evenings and weekends. I hope over the next few years to be able to stop working my full time job and be my own boss.  As of right now the first year or so I pretty much lost money, tools equipment etc. I did what jobs I could with the equipment I had / could afford.  Right now I am pretty much breaking even, tools, Insurance, yellow page ad, general business expenses and I’m still not making enough of a salary to even afford a can of soda, but the money I do make is turned right back into the company to gain assets. If you have toys to take that you own it’s a bit easier to get funds from a bank, I am looking for land to build a building, Right now I am concentrating on keeping as low a overhead as possible.  I still only get a handful of calls from the phone book and most of them are people looking for a job. There are seven shops in my town that I am competing with I charge an average of what the other shops do, under promise and over deliver on the jobs I do get, trying to build my reputation up, my experience so far has taught me it takes time.  We are fortunate that we have other income to count on If I didn’t I would not make it.  I guess after all that be patient, work with what you have and don’t over extend yourself, you’ll not enjoy it anymore then your really in a bad spot.Keith
Reply:I work with a Local Government Office,  Don't forget to sign up as a vendor with your local City, County, State agencies.  Nation-wide they have this policy that gives first preference to Small, Minority Womens Business Enterprises (SMWBE).  You'd be surprised how many Male owned business's now have female Presidents. LOL    Check it out.  Couldn't hurt,,