TheBackwoodHustler
New Member
I live in Tennessee, near Nashville, and I just quit my job in construction staffing. I have zero experience in excavation, but I believe it's something I would really enjoy doing after walking job sites every day. I like working for myself, and no matter what my end goal is to start my own company within a few years.
I know that I could get in an excavator and operate it fluently by the end of the day, I'm mechanically inclined and grew up working machines on a farm, but I understand this business is all about experience and things you learn from it. Of course I could start as a grunt with a shovel in my hand, but I want to start in a machine with a company that will teach me, and learn the trade.. all the while saving my $ for equipment startup.
What route should I take? I was thinking going to school, and finding a company willing to hire a greenie.
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Besides the questions asked below, simply put- what do I need to know to get started? I know it's no simple question. Just anything you think as an excavator would be good for me to know getting into things. Mainly speaking about when I start my own business.
Excavation questions:
Please bare with me, as I said I know literally nothing but the basics of excav.
-Excavators are expensive, so I'll most likely start in a mini unless I decide to get a loan. What type of jobs can you do EFFICIENTLY with a mini? How do I go about finding and bidding on jobs? (I know a lot of people i'm sure could get me contacts for work)
-Should I start with a mini and work my way up through residential, small comm jobs? Or is renting midi's and large excavators from the start, eventually buying one, a viable option?
-What licenses will I need for working an excavtor for commercial and residential jobs?
-How do you judge a job's worth? I understand that's a loaded question, but I'd be focusing on ONLY excav work. Do you price your time by the hour? By the weight moved? The square feet?
I know that I could get in an excavator and operate it fluently by the end of the day, I'm mechanically inclined and grew up working machines on a farm, but I understand this business is all about experience and things you learn from it. Of course I could start as a grunt with a shovel in my hand, but I want to start in a machine with a company that will teach me, and learn the trade.. all the while saving my $ for equipment startup.
What route should I take? I was thinking going to school, and finding a company willing to hire a greenie.
----
Besides the questions asked below, simply put- what do I need to know to get started? I know it's no simple question. Just anything you think as an excavator would be good for me to know getting into things. Mainly speaking about when I start my own business.
Excavation questions:
Please bare with me, as I said I know literally nothing but the basics of excav.
-Excavators are expensive, so I'll most likely start in a mini unless I decide to get a loan. What type of jobs can you do EFFICIENTLY with a mini? How do I go about finding and bidding on jobs? (I know a lot of people i'm sure could get me contacts for work)
-Should I start with a mini and work my way up through residential, small comm jobs? Or is renting midi's and large excavators from the start, eventually buying one, a viable option?
-What licenses will I need for working an excavtor for commercial and residential jobs?
-How do you judge a job's worth? I understand that's a loaded question, but I'd be focusing on ONLY excav work. Do you price your time by the hour? By the weight moved? The square feet?