TLB Service = Money Maker or Headache?

[sunstardude]

Thinking of getting an L45 or L47 and hiring out my tractor services, ie. digging, trenching, mowing, tilling, grading, clearing, etc. Would obtain contractors license, bond and insurance. In general, is this a money making idea, or a real headache? Ps. I'm getting a TLB anyway to develop a small RV park on my own property.

 

[RickB]

Get quotes for the insurance, bond and license. You will know a lot more than you do now, or will learn from the experts here.

Buying the machine will probably be the cheap part.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Much depends on how much competition there is in that marketplace and how much they charge. I was watching a You Tube video the other day about a young kid with a million or so in gross sales in the landscaping business. He started when he was eleven and makes his money upselling "everything".

There are constantly newcomers under cutting him and he just provides quality and stays firm in his pricing. Tough business!

 

[jeff9366]

You posted a nearly identical thread 11/05/2016 and had twelve replies.

What has changed?

In three months you have had time to do ample research in Bend, Oregon.

 

[sunstardude]

Sorry, Jeff9366.. my old thread was geared around an ag tractor. I thought this new thread was an entirely different discussion geared toward TLB, specifically the addition of a backhoe. But feel free to delete either or both of these threads. I don't want to muddy up the forum with dumb questions. :ashamed:

 

[Hersheyfarm]

You need to be upfront in advertising. The l47 and 45 are really too small for general tlb work. It takes much longer for ditch work, espeacially in hard ground or rocky ground. I use an m59 for my plumbing business and it's a bit small. The wear and tear really show on these smaller tlb's. But there is no doubt they can fill a niche.

 

[RickB]

Sorry, Jeff9366.. my old thread was geared around an ag tractor. I thought this new thread was an entirely different discussion geared toward TLB, specifically the addition of a backhoe. But feel free to delete either or both of these threads. I don't want to muddy up the forum with dumb questions. :ashamed:

Just went back and read that old thread. With few exceptions, all responses then apply now.
If you havent looked into your fixed costs from local providers and regulatory agencies, you are wasting bandwidth here. Adding the option of working below grade (backhoe) will increase your insurance costs significantly. I honestly don't know what kind of answers you are fishing for, you have a bunch of straightforward thoughtful responses that apparently aren't what you want to hear.

 

[Code54]

The market in your area is really the wild card. Seems a lot of people around us think $50 an hr for TLB work is really high. Once you figure the cost of the machine, insurance, maintenance, transportation, fuel, your labor, etc there is no money in it at that price. Bid by the job and shoot for the jobs that are too small for a big company and too much for a homeowner to do himself easily.

 

[300UGUY]

You will also need a pretty big truck and trailer to move it. Most guys also have a dump truck, so you can move matieral around.

 

[tractchores]

I used to have a neighbor who did this. He was able to make a living at it. The key for him is he developed relationships with a bunch of local contractors who would sub work to him. That way he didn't need nearly as much overhead and he could just show up and do the work. Given the smaller size of the machine he specialized in working in tight spaces where a bigger machine isn't practical. I don't know your area, but I think that may be a good angle to take a look at. I want to say he was getting $200 - $250 an hour, which paid him, his insurance, fuel, maintenance etc. That obviously varies hugely with your specific location.