I have the chanch to buy all the equipment I need to open a small
shop. I have about 15 years experience(in about 15 shops) so I can at
least pretend I know what I am doing. What I have seen in the past is
that the leadman where I worked went out one day a week for a while and
by going door to door(This was in KCMO) found work.

If I do this its going to be in rural Arkansas 100 miles from Little
Rock. This means the businesses are far and wide. What I'm wanting
from y'all is advice about how to approach people and get a foot in the
door. Advice from people who have actually done this or who send work
out and what they look for.
Moving to the big city isn't an option.

I also wondered if going to a place, like California, where the shop
rate is I'm guessing twice what it is in the backwoods around here if
this strategy makes sense.

wrote:
I have the chanch to buy all the equipment I need to open a small
shop. I have about 15 years experience(in about 15 shops) so I can at
least pretend I know what I am doing. What I have seen in the past is
that the leadman where I worked went out one day a week for a while
and by going door to door(This was in KCMO) found work.

If I do this its going to be in rural Arkansas 100 miles from Little
Rock. This means the businesses are far and wide. What I'm wanting
from y'all is advice about how to approach people and get a foot in
the door. Advice from people who have actually done this or who send
work out and what they look for.
Moving to the big city isn't an option.

I also wondered if going to a place, like California, where the shop
rate is I'm guessing twice what it is in the backwoods around here if
this strategy makes sense.

What part of Arkansas ? I have a few contacts around Mtn View ...

--
Snag aka OSG #1
'76 FLH "Bag Lady"
BS132 SENS NEWT
"A hand shift is a manly shift ."
shamelessly stolen
none to one to reply

I also wondered if going to a place, like California, where the shop
rate is I'm guessing twice what it is in the backwoods around here if
this strategy makes sense.

Before moving for financial gain, look carefully at the two tax
structures; often rates are what they are to pay for local real estate
prices and _taxes_ of all varieties. Free markets generally work, and
if they settle on different prices, ask why.

I have read mixed reports on California, but the negative ones had
higher credibility IMHO. Need to hire people? Find out what it will
cost, etc. I also heard (no idea whether this is true) that California
law forbids questions about immigration status, yet one can be hit hard
for hiring illegals (that combination is more than a little unfair).

Also, California has made news by apparently having inadqeuate power
infrastructure. Having reliable electricity is important if you are
going to run a shop for a living. I suppose you could have a generator
and fuel on hand, but figure on paying some of the highest fuel prices
in the country, at least the last I looked - perhaps another reason the
shop rates look so attractive??

Finally, you mentioned having the chance to buy the equipment. W/o
prying, I'm wondering whether this is used stuff in Arkansas; the land
of the Governator is a long way from there, so consider hauling all of
the stuff, if appropriate, in your moving equation.

Good luck!!

Bill

I suggest that you take a sales course or two first. When you are in
business for yourself, you have to do everything and sales is first. If
you don't like hearing "no", you won't like being in business for
yourself. Note that the leadman who went out "one day a week for a
while" was spending about 20 percent of a person selling. It is likely
that you will have to spend at least 20 percent of your time or more, to
do the same thing. And please realize: you will be very unlikely to be
able to bill out over 50% of your time!

Pete Stanaitis

wrote:
I have the chanch to buy all the equipment I need to open a small
shop. I have about 15 years experience(in about 15 shops) so I can at
least pretend I know what I am doing. What I have seen in the past is
that the leadman where I worked went out one day a week for a while and
by going door to door(This was in KCMO) found work.

If I do this its going to be in rural Arkansas 100 miles from Little
Rock. This means the businesses are far and wide. What I'm wanting
from y'all is advice about how to approach people and get a foot in the
door. Advice from people who have actually done this or who send work
out and what they look for.
Moving to the big city isn't an option.

I also wondered if going to a place, like California, where the shop
rate is I'm guessing twice what it is in the backwoods around here if
this strategy makes sense.

wrote in message
oups.com...
I have the chanch to buy all the equipment I need to open a small
shop. I have about 15 years experience(in about 15 shops) so I can at
least pretend I know what I am doing. What I have seen in the past is
that the leadman where I worked went out one day a week for a while and
by going door to door(This was in KCMO) found work.

If I do this its going to be in rural Arkansas 100 miles from Little
Rock. This means the businesses are far and wide. What I'm wanting
from y'all is advice about how to approach people and get a foot in the
door. Advice from people who have actually done this or who send work
out and what they look for.
Moving to the big city isn't an option.

I also wondered if going to a place, like California, where the shop
rate is I'm guessing twice what it is in the backwoods around here if
this strategy makes sense.

What kind of shop? General machining? What are your strongest skills that
will bring your best return/hour? What are your weakest points? Do you
have a sub that you can send stuff to that you can't do or can't do
profitably?

Start with a business plan that includes realistic goals and numbers. Write
up a catalog of your abilities in order of proficiency and profitability.
Write up a history of your best work with pix. What do you WANT to do?
What is your war chest going to stand? How much do you need to break even?
What skills do you need to improve to be profitable? What suppliers do you
have with what relationship? Are you proficient with all the software you
need from CAD to accounting?

Finding work: Best advertising is a happy customer! Patience! Be fair but
not cheap...no mater what! The job you give away is NOT appreciated. Do
any of the last 15 shops job stuff out? Make companies aware of your
available services with a quick visit and business card and keep following
up. Network with people at community organization meetings. Build a web
page.

The most important thing I forgot: Be professional!!! Make sure the
customer knows EXACTLY what he is getting, how much it will cost at
understood terms, and when he will get it. Get the drawings and contract
signed and dated. Follow up after the job to make sure the customer is
happy. Give him evxactly what he expects. If there are any variences in
time or cost, contact the customer IMMEDIATLY. One misunderstanding looses
you a customer and every potential customer from him.

wrote in message
oups.com...
I have the chanch to buy all the equipment I need to open a small
shop. I have about 15 years experience(in about 15 shops) so I can at
least pretend I know what I am doing. What I have seen in the past is
that the leadman where I worked went out one day a week for a while and
by going door to door(This was in KCMO) found work.

If I do this its going to be in rural Arkansas 100 miles from Little
Rock. This means the businesses are far and wide. What I'm wanting
from y'all is advice about how to approach people and get a foot in the
door. Advice from people who have actually done this or who send work
out and what they look for.
Moving to the big city isn't an option.

I also wondered if going to a place, like California, where the shop
rate is I'm guessing twice what it is in the backwoods around here if
this strategy makes sense.

Back in 1968 I borrowed money and bought a machine shop that was going out
of business. The owner, an older guy, simply wanted to go fishing. There
were a few accounts but not nearly enough for me to hire anybody, not even a
receptionist, although she was there, and I kept her on because she knew the
clients. Once my wife learned the details of the front office we let Norma
go.. which was OK with her because she was getting married and her hubby
didn't want her to work.

So, to answer your question, I went through the various directories at the
library (you can now do this online with Thomas Registry and others) and
made a mailing list of all manufacturers and related businesses that might
need a general machine shop's services. I then created a post card which
invited them to keep the card and use it for when they needed overnight or
emergency services from my shop. I asked them to keep the card handy. Then,
when I had nothing else to do, in otherwords: no business - I went scouting
calling on these prospects and finding out who did the buying, who ran the
projects, etc. I also milked info from the local supply house sales reps who
called on my shop. So between the sales reps, my cards and calls, I was able
to generate enough business to end up with 13 machinists and two tool & die
masters. I ended up designing machines and tools for local manufacturers.
And all was going well until the Maquiladora thing started and my customers
moving south into Mexico because the unions would not let these customer
automate or tool up to reduce labor content. I sold the shop and moved to
San Diego and have spent most of my time running or setting up operations
for American companies, in Tijuana.

Don't even think of moving to California. Workman's comp will kill you as
will all the rules and regulations regarding time off, and the wages you
must pay are way too high. Your fully burdened labor rate in California will
be over $35 and exactly the same output per man hour can be had in Tijuana
for $7. Right now I'm helping a punch press operation move from the Los
Angeles area into Mexico because a few years ago one of their operators put
his hand under a press and lost a finger. Even though the operator is back
on the job, they lost their affordable rate for workman's comp and so can't
hire anybody for less than a king's ransom. So, off to Mexico.

Bill Schwab wrote:
I also wondered if going to a place, like California, where the shop
rate is I'm guessing twice what it is in the backwoods around here
if this strategy makes sense.

Before moving for financial gain, look carefully at the two tax

I didn't think he was considering a move Bill, just prospecting for
business.


I have read mixed reports on California, but the negative ones had
higher credibility IMHO. Need to hire people? Find out what it will
cost, etc. I also heard (no idea whether this is true) that
California law forbids questions about immigration status, yet one
can be hit hard for hiring illegals (that combination is more than a
little unfair).

California requires proof of a persons legal status to work. It is against
the law here for employers to pay you if you haven't got an I-9 on file for
each of your employees.



Also, California has made news by apparently having inadqeuate power
infrastructure. Having reliable electricity is important if you are

California's power infrastructure isn't inadequate and is being expanded.
The problem was with companies like Enron artificially manipulating supply
in order to run up prices and margins. There is also what is known as a
"pinch" in the distribution network between northern and southern
California. California certainly has its problems but they largely fall into
the category of a dollar of tax money going to Washington DC and 65 or 70
cents coming back to the state. We are the fifth largest economy in the
world and a pretty fair sea port as well. We feed half the country to boot
and that isn't something much appreciated.

Let's put it this way. No other state in the union copuld afford our ****
poor state government but we manage that too. LOL

--
John R. Carroll
Machining Solution Software, Inc.
Los Angeles San Francisco
www.machiningsolution.com

On Sat, 26 Nov 2005 15:20:55 GMT, Bill Schwab
wrote:

I also wondered if going to a place, like California, where the shop
rate is I'm guessing twice what it is in the backwoods around here if
this strategy makes sense.
You might try using the internet/web. Dwg files transmit as well
as any other files and you can have a big edge if you are in a
low rent/tax/wage area and can sell into the high rent/tax/wage
areas [ask China]

Before moving for financial gain, look carefully at the two tax
structures; often rates are what they are to pay for local real estate
prices and _taxes_ of all varieties. Free markets generally work, and
if they settle on different prices, ask why.
Very astute observation. My Father kept telling me "its not what
you net, its what you gross." I was 40 years old before I
figured out he was right.

I have read mixed reports on California, but the negative ones had
higher credibility IMHO. Need to hire people? Find out what it will
cost, etc. I also heard (no idea whether this is true) that California
law forbids questions about immigration status, yet one can be hit hard
for hiring illegals (that combination is more than a little unfair).
Also environmental laws -- disposal of cutting oil and chips for
example.
Also, California has made news by apparently having inadqeuate power
infrastructure. Having reliable electricity is important if you are
going to run a shop for a living. I suppose you could have a generator
and fuel on hand, but figure on paying some of the highest fuel prices
in the country, at least the last I looked - perhaps another reason the
shop rates look so attractive??

Finally, you mentioned having the chance to buy the equipment. W/o
prying, I'm wondering whether this is used stuff in Arkansas; the land
of the Governator is a long way from there, so consider hauling all of
the stuff, if appropriate, in your moving equation.

Good luck!!

Bill
Uncle George

snip
Before moving for financial gain, look carefully at the two tax
structures; often rates are what they are to pay for local real estate
prices and _taxes_ of all varieties. Free markets generally work, and
if they settle on different prices, ask why.
Very astute observation. My Father kept telling me "its not what
you net, its what you gross." I was 40 years old before I
figured out he was right.
snip
and 26 years later I still can't get it right. What he said was
"its not what you gross, it's what you net."

Another thought -- machining should not be your life, i.e. you
should have outside interests. Be careful that you don't move to
an area where these interests such as shooting, hunting, camping,
horses, etc. are prohibited, excessively regulates/taxed, or
available only by traveling back to where you came from.

The maxim is "you should work to live, not live to work."

Uncle George

can you afford to take no money out of your business for a year? this
means everything you make will go back into teh business?
i live in a very small community. farmers, hobbyists, rental stores,
and lots of really weird places keep teh guy busy.
but the guy is good, and doesn't seem to rape anyone on price, and does
what he says when he says he will do it.
it took him a while to get going though.

Wayne was saying:
Right now I'm helping a punch press operation move from the Los
Angeles area into Mexico because a few years ago one of their operators
put
his hand under a press and lost a finger.
How the heck did that happen? Press accidents like this are getting
pretty rare these days; not like the old days. At my first industrial
job one of the first people I met was named "Lefty"; you can imagine
how he got his name.

Even though the operator is back
on the job, they lost their affordable rate for workman's comp and so
can't
hire anybody for less than a king's ransom.
And I'll just bet OSHA (calosha?) had a major cow as well. Can't
imagine why.

dennis
in nca

Yes California requires stuff - but the local support groups print up stuff
and get documents made easily.

Many a time I saw middle aged White female buying tickets for 3 or 4 'travelers'
using cardboard boxes as suitcases and can't speak a lick of English. San Jose airport.
(oh - Norm Maleta International airport )..
Remember the CHPs Sargent that went to jail - stealing thousands of licenses.
Fraud every place possible.

In Santa Cruz there was a time IMS would run a van in and take out a bus load
of people. The population grew so fast and large a large area called the flats -
went from artist types to 'travelers'.

Laws are being ignored and circumvented every day. These people are not grape pickers.
They displace young people an many a workman making a living. The liberals just
are blind and don't want to see or think - they know their open boarders is right.
It just isn't.

Martin
Martin Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
NRA LOH, NRA Life
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder



John R. Carroll wrote:
Bill Schwab wrote:

I also wondered if going to a place, like California, where the shop
rate is I'm guessing twice what it is in the backwoods around here
if this strategy makes sense.

Before moving for financial gain, look carefully at the two tax


I didn't think he was considering a move Bill, just prospecting for
business.


I have read mixed reports on California, but the negative ones had
higher credibility IMHO. Need to hire people? Find out what it will
cost, etc. I also heard (no idea whether this is true) that
California law forbids questions about immigration status, yet one
can be hit hard for hiring illegals (that combination is more than a
little unfair).


California requires proof of a persons legal status to work. It is against
the law here for employers to pay you if you haven't got an I-9 on file for
each of your employees.



Also, California has made news by apparently having inadqeuate power
infrastructure. Having reliable electricity is important if you are


California's power infrastructure isn't inadequate and is being expanded.
The problem was with companies like Enron artificially manipulating supply
in order to run up prices and margins. There is also what is known as a
"pinch" in the distribution network between northern and southern
California. California certainly has its problems but they largely fall into
the category of a dollar of tax money going to Washington DC and 65 or 70
cents coming back to the state. We are the fifth largest economy in the
world and a pretty fair sea port as well. We feed half the country to boot
and that isn't something much appreciated.

Let's put it this way. No other state in the union copuld afford our ****
poor state government but we manage that too. LOL


----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

I hope I'm not going to far afield on this, but I was in business for
myself years ago and it's a very different life. I already made one
post on this subject today, but after I made it, I got a call from a
friend who is a professional archetectual blacksmith and has been one
for over 20 years. He just emailed me with some advice to pass on and
here it is:

Peter,

While working on these drawings, I have been thinking about your e-mail to
the man who is thinking about becoming self employed. Very interesting.
If
he were to ask me the questions, I think I might answer like so ---

1. Studies have repeatedly shown that people who are self employed because
of a passion or cause, do far better than people who go into self
employment
for money alone. The people in pursuit of money do not have the passion
required to work the many hours it takes to pull something like self
employment off (usually). So, my first question to the man would be, would
he be willing to take a cut in pay and work more hours per week then he is
working now? Because that is probably where he will start out and may
never
be able to rise above that point (although the sky is the limit). What
kind
of lifestyle does he want. Self employment is a lifestyle, not a job.

2. Can he do this without burning any bridges?? This is no longer 1965
and
good jobs are not as plentiful as they once were. Does he have a safety
net?

3. Is he married? If so, he should work with his wife on this one. Make
sure there is a good safety net and that Mama is behind you. If you go off
half cocked and sever your income or reduce it, if Mama is not working with
you, you may have jumped into water that is a lot deeper than you think.

4. Sales will be harder for him than for a full time salesman. I feel one
of the hardest parts of being self employed, is being two different
people.
One person needs to be the caring person who sees that the customer gets
what they want and their needs are met on both a product and personal
level. Then, the self employed person has to change hats and be very
aggressive and charge, not what you want to, but what will keep the ship
afloat in this day and age. This amount is always more than the customer
wants to pay and you have to do it. When was the last time you were
pleasantly surprised by how little or fairly priced something was (that was
American made)?? When was the last time you purchased gasoline or fuel oil
for your house??

Switching hats is learn-able, but for most people, not a natural skill as
one hat runs contrary to who you are.

5. The last question I would ask is, can he delegate successfully? If he
thinks he is going to pull this off all by himself, I doubt that it is
going
to be very successful. Economy of scale and marking up someone's labor
(the
more people the more money he will make) and keeping a continuous flow of
work being produced, is how money is made (I believe). Conversely, if
he is
a one man band and hurts himself, the buck stops right there.

And then the down side to delegation, is that if he enjoys being a
machinist, he will have just put himself out of what he enjoys and into
management, which he better also enjoy, because it will now be his either
part time or full time job description.

Just some food for thought.

Bob
-------
Posted on Bob's behalf by Pete Stanaitis
---------------------------------------------

wrote:
I have the chanch to buy all the equipment I need to open a small
shop. I have about 15 years experience(in about 15 shops) so I can at
least pretend I know what I am doing. What I have seen in the past is
that the leadman where I worked went out one day a week for a while and
by going door to door(This was in KCMO) found work.

If I do this its going to be in rural Arkansas 100 miles from Little
Rock. This means the businesses are far and wide. What I'm wanting
from y'all is advice about how to approach people and get a foot in the
door. Advice from people who have actually done this or who send work
out and what they look for.
Moving to the big city isn't an option.

I also wondered if going to a place, like California, where the shop
rate is I'm guessing twice what it is in the backwoods around here if
this strategy makes sense.

Develope some sort of product, get the reaction, improve it, market
some more, and some more.
Then you will have a basis for buying the most effecient machines.

The "shotgun" may work sometimes, but not often IMHO.

wrote:
I have the chanch to buy all the equipment I need to open a small
shop. I have about 15 years experience(in about 15 shops) so I can at
least pretend I know what I am doing. What I have seen in the past is
that the leadman where I worked went out one day a week for a while and
by going door to door(This was in KCMO) found work.

If I do this its going to be in rural Arkansas 100 miles from Little
Rock. This means the businesses are far and wide. What I'm wanting
from y'all is advice about how to approach people and get a foot in the
door. Advice from people who have actually done this or who send work
out and what they look for.
Moving to the big city isn't an option.

I also wondered if going to a place, like California, where the shop
rate is I'm guessing twice what it is in the backwoods around here if
this strategy makes sense.

I think you are doing this backwards. Don't buy a bunch of machines and
then HOPE you'll find somebody that needs parts made. This is a recipe
for bankruptcy. Find the customer FIRST, then buy what equipment you
need to do THAT job efficiently. Nothing like buying a 13" lathe and
then the first job you get needs a 14" swing! This holds true for
every category - an EDM won't do you any good if the part needs to
be made of plastic, a punch press can't make 1" deep holes in aluminum
castings, etc.

Now, if you already HAVE contacts at various manufacturers, and have
some idea of what kind of work you want to pick up, that is a bit
better. Maybe it is just that I'm not much of a salesman, so opening
a job shop wouldn't work well for me. But, I have some products that
I do all the machine work on in-house. That works fine for me, and
I can design stuff such that I can build it with the machines I have.

Jon