• Thank you for visiting HeavyEquipmentForums.com! Our objective is to provide industry professionals a place to gather to exchange questions, answers and ideas. We welcome you to register using the "Register" icon at the top of the page. We'd appreciate any help you can offer in spreading the word of our new site. The more members that join, the bigger resource for all to enjoy. Thank you!

Getting paid

92U 3406

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Messages
3,100
Location
Western Canuckistan
Occupation
Wrench Bender
How do you independent mobile mechanics and welders ensure you get paid for your work? A bigger and well established company doesn't seem like a big deal to get paid by but what about these smaller outfits? Do you demand payment upon completion or upfront? Run credit/reference checks on them etc?
 

92U 3406

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Messages
3,100
Location
Western Canuckistan
Occupation
Wrench Bender
This is the reason I keep a day job and am really picky hows stuff I spend my spare time pulling wrenches on.
That's what's kept me out of it so far. I'm about at my breaking point of working for a company. I'm debating trying it on my own or just hanging it up completely and going to college or another industry.
 

Simon C

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2015
Messages
664
Location
Rocky Mountain House , AB., Canada
Occupation
Heavy Equipment Mechanic
If they are complaining about what it is going to cost before you start, if they have done none of the necessary oil changes and greasing that they were suppose to do. Run the other way. If they can't afford necessary maintenance I just tell them to find someone else cheaper and faster. If they insist that I do the job, I ask for cash up front. Would rather sit at home than work all day and not get paid. Just my way of dealing with uncertain people.
Simon C
 

Shimmy1

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2014
Messages
4,260
Location
North Dakota
How do you independent mobile mechanics and welders ensure you get paid for your work? A bigger and well established company doesn't seem like a big deal to get paid by but what about these smaller outfits? Do you demand payment upon completion or upfront? Run credit/reference checks on them etc?
I think you have some work to do building relationships before jumping ship. If you're concerned about getting paid, why do you feel that way? Have you heard guys talking about it? Obviously putting your own a$$ on the line will require commitment and self-discipline. If you can find a bank that will set up a L.O.C., that will definitely make life easier until you get to where your cash flow is at a level you are comfortable with. You will have to decide starting out if you want to be a "bill when the job is done" or a "send the bills out on the 1st of every month" kind of guy.

When (if) you get going, the customers you have good enough relationship with, you can bill them immediately and play the "I just got started, would it be ok to get a check today" card. After you get a little breathing room, you can send the bills. You will very soon know who needs an invoice in their hand before you leave the yard, and who you can send them to. We all have those guys that you hate to do it, but you don't leave unless you have a check in your hand. Another good policy is on jobs over a certain amount, they have to pay 25% up front.
 

92U 3406

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Messages
3,100
Location
Western Canuckistan
Occupation
Wrench Bender
Very true, Shimmy. How does one go about building relationships before jumping ship? Many of the companies and small contractors that would be in my target demographic would be a conflict of interest situation. I currently stay strictly in the shop so its not like they even know who I am if I were to turn up at their office with a business card.
 

92U 3406

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2017
Messages
3,100
Location
Western Canuckistan
Occupation
Wrench Bender
If they are complaining about what it is going to cost before you start, if they have done none of the necessary oil changes and greasing that they were suppose to do. Run the other way. If they can't afford necessary maintenance I just tell them to find someone else cheaper and faster. If they insist that I do the job, I ask for cash up front. Would rather sit at home than work all day and not get paid. Just my way of dealing with uncertain people.
Simon C
Good point. If they don't maintain their iron, they probably have a cash flow issue.
 

Tyler d4c

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2016
Messages
1,750
Location
Salix Pa
Very true, Shimmy. How does one go about building relationships before jumping ship? Many of the companies and small contractors that would be in my target demographic would be a conflict of interest situation. I currently stay strictly in the shop so its not like they even know who I am if I were to turn up at their office with a business card.
Well if any on missed my opinion of conflict of interest the other day. When I'm not on your time clock with I'm doing isn't your business
 

Birken Vogt

Charter Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2003
Messages
5,305
Location
Grass Valley, Ca
You might do like I did and find a friend with a business (construction or whatever works) where you can make ends meet while you build a customer base.

If you set up an account with Chase Paymentech, you can take credit cards up front and preauthorize any amount before you turn a wheel. That way you know they are good for it.
 

Truck Shop

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2015
Messages
16,556
Location
WWW.
One important thing to remember--The Dead Beats in any given area will search out any new shops/
mobile mechanics--because they have no credit and every shop around knows them and all work
performed is 50% up front, when done C.O.D.
 

materthegreater

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2012
Messages
642
Location
VT
I'm not a mechanic or a weldor but I deal with similar issues. What @Shimmy1 said is accurate: each customer is different. I've found that some try to pay before I'm done with the job (and I don't have a clue what the total will be yet) and others won't pay unless I show up at their house with a paper bill and wait for them to write a check. Others get the bill right away but have to be reminded before they will pay. A very select few I can just send the bill to and within a week I have a check, it's almost magical!
 

Coaldust

Senior Member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
3,292
Location
North of the 60
Occupation
Cargo Tanks, ULSD, RUG, Methanol, LPG
Three years in and haven’t been stiffed, yet. But, sometimes it may take a couple months to get paid. I’m careful about who I work for. If a job takes a large expense of parts, I’ll tell the customer to purchase them so I don’t get stuck carrying the expense over. Smaller, owner/op types get an instant credit card invoice e-mailed or texted to them. The big players get a traditional invoice emailed to their AP person.
 

Delmer

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2013
Messages
8,865
Location
WI
One important thing to remember--The Dead Beats in any given area will search out any new shops/mobile mechanics--because they have no credit and every shop around knows them and all work
performed is 50% up front, when done C.O.D.

Whether it's dating, finding a house, finding a renter, finding an employee, or finding a job. The crap stays on the market longer, and comes back on the market sooner, so most of the market is crap.

Here, there's a handy state website that shows civil and criminal court actions, very easy to screen most people very quickly. If you don't have something like that publicly available, then some sort of subscription credit check service may be a good investment. I am a terrible judge of character, have to learn to use facts instead of sympathy.
 

AzIron

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2016
Messages
1,541
Location
Az
As a dealer tech you probably are not even seeing equipment from who your target customer base may be. Figure companies that dont run anything under warranty is a good customer there prepared to spend money on maintenance because they dont want it in payments

If your looking for comfort or security get a job at the hardware store self employed is anything but a picnic you basically trade your one boss for 10 bosses all more important than the last on the flip tho you can make better money and it's your choice who or what you will do or put up with

FYI there is no right answer just your answer
 

Shimmy1

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2014
Messages
4,260
Location
North Dakota
If your looking for comfort or security get a job at the hardware store self employed is anything but a picnic you basically trade your one boss for 10 bosses all more important than the last on the flip tho you can make better money and it's your choice who or what you will do or put up with

Just wait until you have 15 customers that all want you there yesterday. When you are punching a clock, you don't have to deal with those type of first-world problems, same as the bill collecting.

But, the best will be when that guy who wrote you a $18k check calls when you are about halfway in on a similar job for a guy 3 counties over begging you to come and change the starter out on his [whatever] because he's going to go bankrupt if this machine isn't going by this afternoon.
 

Mobiltech

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2014
Messages
1,680
Location
Sask.
Occupation
Self employed Heavy duty mechanic
There are 2 myths among people working at a dealer when they are considering going independent . Myth one is you will have trouble getting paid. Myth 2 is you can take time off whenever you want because you’re your own boss.
Myth 3 comes up when you are successful. “ if I only had a helper I could get more done”
 
Last edited:

Old Doug

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2013
Messages
4,485
Location
Mo
That's what's kept me out of it so far. I'm about at my breaking point of working for a company. I'm debating trying it on my own or just hanging it up completely and going to college or another industry.
You think is ruff now when your on your own there will be several times the stuff to deal with. Alot of guys go on there own and its a good fit for them . Its going to take a some money to go on your own and it it dosent work you may end up in debt . I kind of like mechanic work and i have worked as a welder to but if they are at the bottom of my list of jobs.
 
Top