John,
Thanks for the great story and words of encouragement. You have done exactly what I'm hoping to achieve.
My business philosophy is pretty simple:
Always do what you say you're going to do.
And, give people more than what they're paying for.
I honestly believe that that by following those two guiding principles, success has to follow.
Here's a little fenceline clearing job I did today:
http://berryhillfarm.us/Dozer/Mitsch...re-AfterLR.jpg
And another little clearing job yesterday:
http://berryhillfarm.us/Dozer/Schwab_Before-After.jpg
Yes you can do quite a bit with thease little dozers, if you just take your time. They certianly more fuel efficent than a larger one. Eaiser to load up and haul also.
That looks good
People seem amazed by what I can get done with that little jigger. And, I can be on the ground and working 10-15 minutes after I arrive at the job. Loading takes a little longer...15-20 minutes.Originally Posted by John White
It's now apparent that, while the dozer can do it, the brush cab built by the prior owner isn't up to the task of clearing heavy brush. The left side screen looks like I've been in combat, taking RPG fire in Bagdhad. Additionally, I'll have to build some side screens for the engine enclosure because while backing up the other day, I managed to ram a good sized branch into the backside of the fan and clipped off about 30% of the back edge of the fan blades.
I still can't believe people are paying me to do this stuff.
R Leo,
You are doing almost the same thing I am wanting to do. Alot of business around here for that kind of small work. I have a day job that pays quite well but I've always wanted to do something on the side. Last year I had about 50 acres of timber clear cut on my farm. I bought a Cat D3 to do the clean-up work after all the timber was out. I'm not quite done yet with the clean-up just yet, but it got me to thinking about keeping the dozer and doing some work in my off time. I work a 12hour shift, so I'm at my real job three days one week and four the next so that gives me all kinds of time to have a side business. My brother-in-law owns his own trucking company so transportation of the dozer is not a problem. Just thinking about it right now but it might turn into something more.
Terry, welcome to HEF. Good luck with your enterprise. What seriese Cat do you have? And how do you like it?
Legdoc
2012 Kubota SVL-90
2010 Shelby GT 500 (birthday present to myself)
2009 Kubota M9540
2006 Dodge 3500 Dually
2004 Case 580M Turbo 4x4 extendahoe
1998 Kubota M6800
1989 F-700 370 gasser 6yd. dump
Fiat-Allis (A-C) M-100 grader
John Deere 690-A excavator
I-R 185cfm compressor sandblast rig
I probably couldn't have done this a few years ago because I had to have a regular income to get kids through college, etc.. but, nowadays I can afford to have an erratic revenue stream and just sit back and have fun.
There have been the unfun days too...like when I was moving the iron about three weeks ago: I looked into the mirror and say nothing but white smoke/dust behind the trailer. I stopped and discovered that the right rear trailer wheel now only held the beads of the tire that had once been there. The fun had only just begun because it was about then when I found that the trailer spare I'd been carrying had the correct bolt pattern but the hub cutout wasn't the right size. I will not go into what I had to do on a Sunday evening just to get home...but, at least it wasn't raining.
BTW, I untracked the little jigger yesterday. I was excavating around a huge post oak, unavoidably doing it side slope too, getting ready to push it over when I heard an unusual noise. She'd walked the right track off of the idler and it was up against the blade frame. I just reversed the motion and it went right back on.
Whew..close call.
I probably couldn't have done this a few years ago because I had to have a regular income to get kids through college, etc.. but, nowadays I can afford to have an erratic revenue stream and just sit back and have fun.
There have been the unfun days too...like when I was moving the iron about three weeks ago: I looked into the mirror and say nothing but white smoke/dust behind the trailer. I stopped and discovered that the right rear trailer wheel now only held the beads of the tire that had once been there. The fun had only just begun because it was about then when I found that the trailer spare I'd been carrying had the correct bolt pattern but the hub cutout wasn't the right size. I will not go into what I had to do on a Sunday evening just to get home...but, at least it wasn't raining.
BTW, I untracked the little jigger yesterday. I was excavating around a huge post oak, unavoidably doing it side slope too, getting ready to push it over when I heard an unusual noise. She'd walked the right track off of the idler and it was up against the blade frame. I just reversed the motion and it went right back on.
Whew..close call.
Legdoc, It's a Cat D3B. So far it has done everything that I've needed it to. I've operated a Case dozer and a few Komatsu dozers in the past and so far I like the Cat just as well.
R Leo, I plan on keeping the regular job regardless, but since I have so much time off I figured I could do these small 1-3 day jobs in my spare time. I was also thinking about putting a classified ad in a local paper or two this spring for light dozer work. Any suggestions? Wording, size of ad, etc.?
The only advertising that I've done is to post in the Craigslist under "farm/ranch - for sale" ...I placed ads in the three Craigslist sites that are closest to where I want to work.o
I regularly go in and update the ads so they are close the top. Since I started the ad campaign in December, the Criagslist ads have generated two or three jobs and maybe 6-7 inquiries.
I also have had screen printed signs made to nail up on telephone poles or fence posts. They are the same size as a real estate sign and only have the words: "Light Dozer Work" and my 800 number. I haven't had an opportunity to put any up yet.
The other thing I want to do is go to all the towns in my service area and drop off business cards at every real estate office, title company, feed store, hardware store and auto parts house.
R Leo,
Thanks for the info. It will be helpful when the time comes. Good luck!
how has it been going since the last time
Pretty good. I've got as much work as I can do right now (having to attend to some health issues with my family the last few weeks) but need to ramp it up sometime in the next few weeks. I currently have 2 jobs backlogged, another one scheduled for this Friday and another to go bid next week.
Life is good.
R
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote