Garbage truck and salt spreader should be right there with motor home
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Business is slow this season
- Thread starter wlhequipment
- Start date
Around here every heavy truck/equipment shop is covered up with work for months, some are charging astronomical prices as a result (which I don't agree with.)
As to pricing, I'm probably in the top 10-15% on price for a lot of the work I do. You don't sell work on price, you sell it on value. Sometimes the most expensive is actually the best value, the cheapest rarely is. If you do premium quality work and offer an excellent customer experience, charge accordingly.
As to pricing, I'm probably in the top 10-15% on price for a lot of the work I do. You don't sell work on price, you sell it on value. Sometimes the most expensive is actually the best value, the cheapest rarely is. If you do premium quality work and offer an excellent customer experience, charge accordingly.
Acoals
Senior Member
Fire apparatus and ambulances . . .
skyking1
Senior Member
The dump truck needs some extensive engine work and I have no place to get it in out of the weather. In the PNW it is not so much snow, but rain.
Welder Dave
Senior Member
Undercutting the competition can backfire in a big way. Customers may think you don't do as good of work and/or aren't experienced. Another big thing you don't want is to get a reputation as basically a scab that can't get work unless you undercut everybody else. Nobody will want to work with you or deal with you. Equipment dealers and other vendors you deal with will get wind of it from their other customers who might happen to be your competition. Your undercutting could be affecting their business as well. It's not good to have a bad reputation, right off the bat, in the industry you're trying to break into.
Mobiltech
Senior Member
The key is to start with a small core group of faithful customers that trust you and your work. Do your best to keep them running.Your business will grow from that group as they bring in other good customers by referrals.
If someone is giving you a hard time about your work and or is saying they can go anywhere they want to get work done . Cut them off and let them go elsewhere.
Also “ Never Put All Your Eggs In one Basket”
Customers will retire and new ones will take their place.
If someone is giving you a hard time about your work and or is saying they can go anywhere they want to get work done . Cut them off and let them go elsewhere.
Also “ Never Put All Your Eggs In one Basket”
Customers will retire and new ones will take their place.
Birken Vogt
Charter Member
I don't know Colorado. But I thought it was a high cost state. You being near a big city.
If so your rates seem very low. I have heard it said that raising rates did not cut anybody's work. It just brought them better customers.
Remember also, with 10 years experience you have become much more efficient. So you will have less billable hours to accomplish the same tasks. Your rates need to rise to cover that, and then some, so your profit will be higher, and also account for inflation in the money you are profiting.
I also don't think your web page is helping you. It makes it look like a small power tools shop. I am more web site oriented than FB oriented. Of course I do not have much of a web site and no FB anyway so who am I to talk.
I have active marketing all over the territory. If you can find somebody to put your name out there to the customers you might want, it helps. Word of mouth is great and the internet is full of stories about guys who only run on word of mouth, but the right marketing pays back. You have to find the right marketing guy though.
If so your rates seem very low. I have heard it said that raising rates did not cut anybody's work. It just brought them better customers.
Remember also, with 10 years experience you have become much more efficient. So you will have less billable hours to accomplish the same tasks. Your rates need to rise to cover that, and then some, so your profit will be higher, and also account for inflation in the money you are profiting.
I also don't think your web page is helping you. It makes it look like a small power tools shop. I am more web site oriented than FB oriented. Of course I do not have much of a web site and no FB anyway so who am I to talk.
I have active marketing all over the territory. If you can find somebody to put your name out there to the customers you might want, it helps. Word of mouth is great and the internet is full of stories about guys who only run on word of mouth, but the right marketing pays back. You have to find the right marketing guy though.
Papablunt
New Member
I believe 5% rate raise every year is inline with inflation. Everything gets more expensive, so your services should follow. The biggest thing is not assume that your customers will leave due to a price increase. Offer value, not price.
Birken Vogt
Charter Member
Inflation is over 8%. 5% will not cover it. You need to be well north of 8% because otherwise you are getting cheaper or staying the same. And you always need to be advancing your business.
I agree that customers will not necessarily leave. First, who will they go to? Any outfit that has their own jobs lined up will be more concerned with getting fixed quickly and efficiently than the bottom line on the invoice, so they can get back to making money for themselves at 10x the rate you cost them for some repair.
I agree that customers will not necessarily leave. First, who will they go to? Any outfit that has their own jobs lined up will be more concerned with getting fixed quickly and efficiently than the bottom line on the invoice, so they can get back to making money for themselves at 10x the rate you cost them for some repair.
Welder Dave
Senior Member
When I started doing skid steer services back in the 90's I wasn't sure what to charge. I wanted to be in the range of what others were charging. My dad said if people will pay $35/hr. they'll pay $40/hr. The same applies the other way too. If people will complain at $40/hr. they'll complain at $35/hr. Charge $40/hr. and you're not throwing $5/hr. away.
Mike L
Senior Member
I slowed down a bit in December but most of my customers are loggers and the mills had cut them all back because they’d met the annual quota. in January we went on vacation for a week and then Had a cold snap that kept the loggers home. Last week we got 6-10” of rain which kept them home. weather cleared up Friday and phone started ringing just about the time my vgt actuator decided to retire. I suspect I’ll be back to wide open next week. I charge about $50/hr less than the dealers around here and I’m fixing some of their F ups. it seems like most of my customers are more concerned with minimal down time and not so much the cost.
Truck Shop
Senior Member
You need a more personal touch with your web site---something along this line.
Business cards either get the publics attention or it's so bland they ignore it and
round file. I did some work for a business about 12 years ago--it did make a
difference according to the owner.
*
Business cards either get the publics attention or it's so bland they ignore it and
round file. I did some work for a business about 12 years ago--it did make a
difference according to the owner.
*
Welder Dave
Senior Member
Absolutely! If you have a distinctive business card or even a company logo that's really unique can bring instant recognition. It's a really good way to advertise and get your company known and a very inexpensive way to advertise. Doing other things no one else is can also make you stand out.
My sister's salon was the first in Victoria to advertise on busses. She's been doing it long enough she gets better deals and even extra busses at times. There's also been times they've just left ads on even though though they were technically ended. She also changes the ads so they're new and not the same old thing. Other salons have tried but never did it long term or more than 1 bus. I think my sister does it on 4 busses generally but has had as many as 6 or 7. It does cost a bunch but she's always busy. Her salon is very well known for the ads on busses. She makes some of her own hair products too and Westjet featured them in their in-flight magazine one month. Getting your name and your services out there in creative ways sets you apart. Potential customers won't have to search the internet for contractors if they remember seeing your catchy business card or logo.
My sister's salon was the first in Victoria to advertise on busses. She's been doing it long enough she gets better deals and even extra busses at times. There's also been times they've just left ads on even though though they were technically ended. She also changes the ads so they're new and not the same old thing. Other salons have tried but never did it long term or more than 1 bus. I think my sister does it on 4 busses generally but has had as many as 6 or 7. It does cost a bunch but she's always busy. Her salon is very well known for the ads on busses. She makes some of her own hair products too and Westjet featured them in their in-flight magazine one month. Getting your name and your services out there in creative ways sets you apart. Potential customers won't have to search the internet for contractors if they remember seeing your catchy business card or logo.
Over here in the UK we fell into recession during October 2022.This is just my opinion and we’re not officially into any economic dip.
The quarries are the first to slow down, then the construction industry follows.
My D9 has been snoozing for 14 months now with no work.I have had a couple of jobs come in for it,but it wasn’t with regular customers,so I turned them down.I don’t actively seek work for the tractors anymore.
The D8 has suffered too,but it’s still out doing a few days every month.This is how I actually like things to be honest.
In general, the construction boys kept steady enough last year,but most of it was legacy jobs needing finished off.
Now things are really biting for many of them.
To be honest,our country has had it too good in reactant years with abit of a deceant boom in the game.Silly rates from drivers haven’t helped either.Things needed to cool down.
They have now.
The quarries are the first to slow down, then the construction industry follows.
My D9 has been snoozing for 14 months now with no work.I have had a couple of jobs come in for it,but it wasn’t with regular customers,so I turned them down.I don’t actively seek work for the tractors anymore.
The D8 has suffered too,but it’s still out doing a few days every month.This is how I actually like things to be honest.
In general, the construction boys kept steady enough last year,but most of it was legacy jobs needing finished off.
Now things are really biting for many of them.
To be honest,our country has had it too good in reactant years with abit of a deceant boom in the game.Silly rates from drivers haven’t helped either.Things needed to cool down.
They have now.
As for prices and machinery sales and exports,One of my customers is a dealer specialising in medium to large Cat construction and mining gear.Sales are pretty poor in the domestic and foreign markets,but by no means dead.Things are ticking over.
I was at the big Euro Auctions this week and watched 6000 lots go under the hammer.
There were big crowds and heavy turn out of internet bidders.
I suspect we were all there as we’ve nowt else to do at the moment and hoping to get some bargains.
This wasn’t really the case.There was no evidence of silly prices either way,but it’s reassuring the see the big boy brands making 25 to 30% more than similar machines of lesser .
Cat is still king.
I was at the big Euro Auctions this week and watched 6000 lots go under the hammer.
There were big crowds and heavy turn out of internet bidders.
I suspect we were all there as we’ve nowt else to do at the moment and hoping to get some bargains.
This wasn’t really the case.There was no evidence of silly prices either way,but it’s reassuring the see the big boy brands making 25 to 30% more than similar machines of lesser .
Cat is still king.
As for the OP’s thoughts on paying rent to his landlord,This is the main part of my business, so I can offer him my opinion as a landlord.
I have quite a lot of my tenants struggling to pay me through the winter months.Many of them are small mom and pop outfits who don’t have much behind them,but are of sound character.I allways let missed rents build up and the they tend to get themselves squared up with me within a couple of months.I also should point out that I tend to let the commercial and domestic properties cheaper than what they should be.This ensures I have 100% occupancy and it’s also a better the devil you know situation.No landlord wants to evict tennants out unless absolutely necessary.Things can be worked out.As the OP allready said,there’s a lot of belongings that need moving and huge upheaval for both parties.
I suspect his landlord would give grace on the rent.I would suggest offering part payment with a promise to square it at the earliest possible moment.However,I would not recommend you asking for a rent reduction.I would serve notice if that was the case.
Best of luck with it all,and remember this……..if you’re a year or two of feeling the downturn,then you’re allready a year or two closer to coming out the other side of it.
I have quite a lot of my tenants struggling to pay me through the winter months.Many of them are small mom and pop outfits who don’t have much behind them,but are of sound character.I allways let missed rents build up and the they tend to get themselves squared up with me within a couple of months.I also should point out that I tend to let the commercial and domestic properties cheaper than what they should be.This ensures I have 100% occupancy and it’s also a better the devil you know situation.No landlord wants to evict tennants out unless absolutely necessary.Things can be worked out.As the OP allready said,there’s a lot of belongings that need moving and huge upheaval for both parties.
I suspect his landlord would give grace on the rent.I would suggest offering part payment with a promise to square it at the earliest possible moment.However,I would not recommend you asking for a rent reduction.I would serve notice if that was the case.
Best of luck with it all,and remember this……..if you’re a year or two of feeling the downturn,then you’re allready a year or two closer to coming out the other side of it.
Welder Dave
Senior Member
A partial payment is along the same lines as asking if you could get a reduced rate in slow month's. My sister told her landlord she couldn't pay for 1 month during covid and the landlord agreed. Maybe reluctantly but my sister was a long term tenant and always paid on time. She couldn't be open for a while during covid and had to lay off most of her staff. In doing so had to pay $30,000 into unemployment. That's a good chunk of money when you have nothing coming in for several month's.
wlhequipment
Senior Member
its been 30% since day 1. +30 on everything
wlhequipment
Senior Member
My website blows, I'll be the first to admit. I am not a web designer, it was the best I could do
