Part time mulching?

[stinson]

I've been sitting on the sidelines reading these forums and finally decided to jump in. There's a lot to be learned from reading everybody's comments and experiences.
I know there are some guys on here doing mulching "part time" and still holding their full time job. I've been running some numbers on what it would take to do this. Would some of you guys care to comment on it? I've figured that I would need to do at least 40 hours a month just to cover all the expenses and leave a small amount left over. There was a thread awhile back with someone considering starting up and I think he came up with the same (40 hours). Does this sound about right to you? Around here folks are getting $125-150 an hour. I did my figuring based on a new machine (ASV) and head (Loftness carbide). Thanks!

 

[cbturf]

I know this is going to sound kinda insulting but believe me I really do not mean it in a bad way. That being said, WHY WAST 40 HOURS A MONTH JUST TO BREAK EVEN? If you are going to have a full time job finding an extra 40 hours is not as easy as you might think. You need to work 40 hours to break even, right. To produce 40 hours of billable time in the machine you can bet on spending 60 hours total when you consider driving to and from the jobs, working on the machine, meeting with customers, loading and unloading...yada yada yada I think you get my point. All of this takes time that you can not bill for. Owning and operating a business is hard enough when that is all you do, I cannot imagine doing what I do all while trying to keep a boss happy (other than my WIFE). I do not want to discourage you, owning your own business is a great thing that many of us have been able to do. I just want you to be smart about your time considerations when you jump in. Good luck and keep us all posted.

I forgot to mention that the perfect full time job to do this is an emt or firefighter with a 24-48 schedule. I have a cousin who does this and it work great for him.

I also forgot to say that it can be done if you are commited to it.

 

[stinson]

Thanks for the reply. I should have been more specific....my full time job is another business that I own that allows some flexibility. My goal is to get the mulching "side business" going with me doing most of the operating to start. Then I'll turn it over to someone to operate and I'll do the estimates and check on the work. The 40 hours is what I came up with based on costs, etc. 40 hours is the point where I start to make some money out of it. I hope that makes some sense.

 

[cbturf]

If you already own your own business then my rant was preaching to the chior. If your schedule is flexible enough to promote and build the mulching business then that is a different story, good luck.

 

[AX MAN]

I started my mulching as a side job in 2006. As soon as my equipment was delivered at least three others bought machines. Thank God I have a full time job. This business in this area is not stable or consistant. In Alabama you wont average 40 hrs. per week. You must also consider we have a long hunting season. October 15 to Jan. 30.
November thru January usually is zero work. I have been blessed enough to make my payments, supplies, tools, fuel,repairs. No salary.
This economy is in bad shape. People are having a hard time and watching their money. BE CAREFULL!!

 

[stinson]

CB and Ax...all good stuff. I agree, this is a tough decision particularly considering the economy. Fortunately I'm in an area that continues to be developed aggressively...I'm just not sure for how much longer.

 

[cbturf]

If you are planning to do your mulching for developments you need to consider a larger machine. I started off a year and a half ago with an ASV and got fired on my very first Friday because the machine was to slow. After I got my FTX-140 I have been complained at about the progress from time to time but I have not gotten fired again. Most of my problems were machine breakdowns. The FTX-140 has received a ton of upgrades and is now a kick-butt machine. Since I brought it back out to NM the first week of August I have cleared over 100 acres. That includes a couple of days when I broke a tool holder and could not get a welder out to the site and a week off to go home and see the kids and wife.

 

[Gamma]

I started my mulching as a side job in 2006. As soon as my equipment was delivered at least three others bought machines. Thank God I have a full time job. This business in this area is not stable or consistant. In Alabama you wont average 40 hrs. per week. You must also consider we have a long hunting season. October 15 to Jan. 30.
November thru January usually is zero work. I have been blessed enough to make my payments, supplies, tools, fuel,repairs. No salary.
This economy is in bad shape. People are having a hard time and watching their money. BE CAREFULL!!

Don't know if you were referencing Stinson's mention of 40 hours, but Stinson was talking about his break even point being at 40 hours per MONTH, not 40 hours per week.

 

[stinson]

I've gotten some great feedback from everyone including a PM and a phone call...all very helpful and much appreciated. One thing I'll say for the mulching community is that people are very willing to help out, even if you might be competitive to their location and business. That's a far cry from alot of forums where people seem to have nothing better to do than snipe other's comments. If anyone else has any advice, I'm all ears. What I'm hearing from alot of you is that things are definitely slowing down in the business. Makes me wonder if my timing might be off on starting up.

 

[AX MAN]

Don't know if you were referencing Stinson's mention of 40 hours, but Stinson was talking about his break even point being at 40 hours per MONTH, not 40 hours per week.

I stand corrected. I ment 40 hrs. per month. Things have been very slow here. One company dropped prices to $85.00 per hr.