I wanna Make A Name For Myself.

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Hey Guys, I was layed off awhile ago from a Steel/Welding company  That I had worked for for almost 4 years, Starting in High School and continuing after gradustion. Then I became 2nd shift Welding Foreman.  But after looking for work for awhile, My father has been running a very sucessfull General Contracting / Historic Home restoration business for about 25 years now.  He always told me why do you let someone else dictate when you have to be at work, when you can have a break, and when you leave, and what you make. So I tried my own little business welding.  I took my old Ford F350 IDI diesel and through my Lincoln Weldanpower in the back and a bunch of tools, I had a big boiler job in Summit NJ, lasting about 10 days.  That was probably my biggest Job/Money of 2010.  I did a few repair jobs here and there.  Now in 2011 I havent got any work.  I am currently in the process of buying a new Trailblazer 302 so I can have the AC/DC Capabilities.  Can anyone give me advice on how to sucessfully advertise.  I want to do Maintence repair, Fabrication, and also I want to do Sub Contracting for a few of the big Excavating and Construction companys around here. I have left and handed out probably 250 business cards so far.   Any Advice or Suggestions Would Really Help.                                                                                      Thanks, Don.Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:Originally Posted by DieselDon16So I tried my own little business welding.  I took my old Ford F350 IDI diesel and through my Lincoln Weldanpower in the back and a bunch of tools, I had a big boiler job in Summit NJ, lasting about 10 days.  That was probably my biggest Job/Money of 2010.  I did a few repair jobs here and there.  Now in 2011 I havent got any work.  I am currently in the process of buying a new Trailblazer 302 so I can have the AC/DC Capabilities.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSW Don't expect work to just come to you unless you are well established with a list of long time clients.
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmGenerally that would be correct.For me it's different.  Never advertised and don't want to.  People talk and then find me.  I can't go into the bar or cafe without somebody asking me to fix something.  Just this weekend I picked up a new customer.  He stopped by thursday and asked me to fix his grain trailer.  I went to look at it and agreed to do the work.  He dropped it off friday and picked it up this morning happy as could be.  Between that and other jobs, I put in over 30 hrs this weekend.  Thought I would try to relax today.  Didn't work, more people found me.I figure if I do good work in a reasonable time, for a reasonable price, people will come to me and they do..
Reply:Originally Posted by Boostinjdm  People talk and then find me. ..
Reply:Thats the only way to build a business. Sometimes you might have to do a job you might not normally do but customers remember.  A saturday job or afterhours job goes along way building a reputation.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Your attention is invited to;  http://www.weldathome.co.za/index.htm.Good LuckI offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:The Trailblazer fund has been in the works for a few years.  Just money I've saved and put aside for it.  It will be bought in one full shot.  No loans No payments.  And I can comfortably purchase it.   I have one job maybe lined up for June, another Boiler Job.  And it would be nice to use a machine that works properly and has the capability.Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:Don't forget the internet.Get a website. Now the secret is the NAME of the website.Thinks about this.... Some one in your city or town has a broken stair railing.They sit down and type into the computer welding repair. NO,No NO.They would just get a list of thousands or millions of welders all over the world.They would have to type in something reasonable like ( my city) welding repair.So the name on your welding website is .....my city welding repair.Can't do that because it already exists. So...So you name your website (my city) friendly welding service.Which would you choose? city welding.com or  city friendly welding service.com?So choose the name of your welding website very carefully and put words on it like... small repairs welcome.Or, no job too big.Or we specialize in heavy equipment repair.And remember it has to be a .com Not a .net- thats useless.I am a welder and I can tell you that even when I go to a welding shop for any reason many times the welders are NOT very friendly. Sometimes they are $#%*^ 's.Know what I mean?AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:Sounds like first thing you might do is call dad and invite him over for a few cold beverages. Then when he gets in lock the doors and put the bright lights on him until he gives up his secrets.If he been running a successful business contracting for 25 years he's been doing something right. It's tough getting in the bigger places as a 1 man show. Usually they want to be able to pick up the phone and have you bring out a crew for an outage. Then once you done that you might pick up some of their smaller routine work. If you've done boiler work I assume you got all the insurance, accounting and certifications lined out. Subbing could be good if you get with a contractor that pays his bills and has good ethics. Want to be kind of picky who you hook up with or they can hurt your reputation  through no fault of your own. Don't be afraid to take on smaller jobs. Never know if the guy who you just fixed his garden gate might be the plant manager of a big outfit or know somebody who is. Always look professional, always do exceptional work. Set your rates reasonanble...too low can be as bad or worse than too high. AlA man is judged by what's between his legs...always ride a good horseMiller DialArc HFLincoln Classic 300DThermal Arc 181iPowermax 45Scotchman Ironworker(2) BridgeportsOkomota Surface GrinderAutoCAD 2010
Reply:Actually everything you do everyday is making your reputation known.When people say " I met that guy and he gave me a business card." "He was very nice and looked nice and neat and so was his truck, andwe think he would be a good guy to fix our broken trailer."Always be on time.Communicate.Do not be on the cell phone when working for a client.Never charge more that your estimate if you gave an estimate.If they ask for something extra be polite and say I would be happy to do that but there will be an additional charge,(and give them the price),but do not get mad at them.Make clear written agreements and there will be no resentments.List everything that you did. Cleaned the oil off of the steel. Cut all the parts.Welded the gate sanded rough or sharp edges. etc.,so the customer can understand what they paid for. Educate them.This is how you will be known.So when someone says "What do you think of so and so's welding company?"And the other person says," They were very freindly and did excellent work, showed up on time, did not step on my plants,left no garbage to pick up, and charged a fair price, -good guy."AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:Thanks guys,  I was brought up with my father showing me how to be a curtious contractor.  You all made good points.  And they are all appreciated.  And its like my dad said, he doesnt even advertise anymore its all word of mouth and repeat customers.  And COMMUNICATION is the key.  and sometimes I would rather have the 2hr jobs than the 3 week jobs.  And as far as the Sub Contracting goes, I would get with a good local company that, there is 3 in the area, and they all have very good Reps, and are widely diverse, Highway work, Pipeline, Excavating, Bridges, Dams...  But thanks guys for the advice.Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:If your good at welding then consider contracting to one of the shipyards down here in the tidewaters region of eastern Virginia.  Huntington Ingalls is one that I work for and they do hire contractors to come in and do welding since they have not been able to find enough qualified and experienced welders to work on the payroll.
Reply:in this start up phase, Ive found that never turning down a job that you can actually do has worked well for me. Some of them have been a pain, but that person knows other people, and they contact me too. Be friendly, helpful, upfront. Fair pay for fair work. Cant go wrong. Good luck.Weldanpower 225 G7Ironworkers Local #24
Reply:Many years ago my dad started a little fabrication business and always had a strict policy of never charging the local kids for labor on repairs to bikes, go-karts, etc....  After he passed away about 15 years ago, my brother still keeps that policy and now has these same kids, who have kids of their own, bringing in business.6 Miller Big Blue 600 Air Paks2 Miller 400D6 Lincoln LN-25's4 Miller Xtreme 12VS2 Miller Dimension 812 4 Climax BW-3000Z bore welders Hypertherm 65 and 85Bug-O Track BugPair of Welpers
Reply:Originally Posted by ExpatWelderMany years ago my dad started a little fabrication business and always had a strict policy of never charging the local kids for labor on repairs to bikes, go-karts, etc....  After he passed away about 15 years ago, my brother still keeps that policy and now has these same kids, who have kids of their own, bringing in business.
Reply:Yup, if your the freindly neighborhood shop that charges a fair price and does a good job the word will get out and you will have as much work as you care to do.  One of the local guys has a reputation for repairing cylinder heads and he does a great job, it takes a while for him to get to your stuff but he does it right when he gets to it and there is never a comment on what he charges.  I know for a fact that the guy is making over a hundred an hour doing what he does.  he works 4 days a week and drag races every weekend and always has a pocket full of money.  The key is to devote yourself to being good and reliable and above alll fair and it will work out.  Just don't be in a hurry or get too greedy both of those will kill you before you get started.BobI'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.Anybody got a spare set of kidneys?  Trade?
Reply:Yes thats very true.  My father, when I would go to work with him would do the same thing for certain people.  A Elderly Lady called him one time and she was probably in her 80's when we got there we knoticed she really didnt have alot of money, and her handrail was coming out of the concrete, and was very loose.  My dad and I probably spent half a day there and we fasined it back into the concrete, and made it sound and sturdy again.  When my father was finished she asked how much she owed him, he smiled and said nothing.  Now I know my dad, I've seen him get into big arguments with concrete drivers and people before, but always maintains a level of being a professional, but when i asked him why he didnt take any money from her, he just said , I think of my mother (your Grandma) and how much that handrail helps her everyday,  And I tell ya, that sweet old lady passed his name on to her son in law, and my father got a call from him, and he wanted to add a BIG addition on to his Automotive shop, and my father is a very Christian man, and to this day that memory stands out.  And it made me think of that whole situation.  Helped someone out in need, and it came back to him in such a great way.Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:helping someone out is good karmaidealarc 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