New business starting up

[Vincent skinner]

Hi all I've just joined.

 

I am thinking of investing in a spider lift, something like a 18m size. My idea is to hire myself out with it as a operator, for all tasks at height either taking different trades up such as electrician/signage/CCTV etc and also offering tree work with it. I'm looking into getting the relevant cs ticket first, I have had some experience in tree work. Basically i am after some feedback from people before I commit to buying it to see if you think there would be enough work for it and if any of you on here would consider using me? I'm in the kent area! Any feedback regarding this would be helpful, I've looked at some other posts on spider lifts so I hope I'm not boring anyone ha ha many thanks vincent!

[Warners]

Could work. Depends, as you say, if there is enough work out there... How often do you see lifts being used and how often does the hirer use the lift themselves....

 

I suppose its a bit like man and digger to use a comparison..... We use diggers but always with a driver included....

[Woodcrafter]

We hire our own lifts if necessary for tree work.

You may be able to get some sort of maintenance contracts for flats etc. doing the gardens gutters street lights window cleaning using it.

If I were doing it id research the local hire place and try and find out which and what companies/services in your local area are using the specific lift and then you maybe able to approach them? Just a thought good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Cheers Phil

[Stefan Palokangas]

Clearing gutters, painting jobs, tree jobs, building sites often hire them with operator. I think building sites is where you would get most of your jobs.

[Vincent skinner]

Funny you say that about the diggers "Warner's" as I was thinking of this before the cherry picker thing but thought there were to many people who can drive one or no someone who's got one, where as I don't know anyone with a cherry picker, but maybe that is down to demand? I thought it's more niche? Also that's a good idea woodcrafter regairding asking the hire firms, many thanks for the input vincent

[Vincent skinner]

Also Stefan, I agree these are the areas I think I want to aim for also, I've just looked at your website, and I guess you was in a similar position at some point? What you specialise in is quite niche aswell? How did you go about drumming up business, or was it a gradual thing with other work included? Thanks vincent

[Stefan Palokangas]

Also Stefan, I agree these are the areas I think I want to aim for also, I've just looked at your website, and I guess you was in a similar position at some point? What you specialise in is quite niche aswell? How did you go about drumming up business, or was it a gradual thing with other work included? Thanks vincent

 

 

I'm still in your position, and at one point i was thinking of buying one of the spider lifts aswell, but i ended up with a stump grinder.

 

I was looking on it in the way it must be something i absolutely love doing, something i feel i can do every awake hour on the day. And i felt after thinking in that way that a stump grinder is for me. I had used them quite alot before when i hired them for my tree surgery company. And i enjoyed every second of it.

 

The thought is always on the work, and in the beginning at the very least every awake hour needs to be focused on the company. Find new ways of getting the wheel spinning.

 

At the moment i'm avoiding as far as i can to advertise in papers.

 

I do think that always money needs to be put aside as much as possible for hidden costs. i take away 25 % of any income and put aside for a rainy day, if the engine blows or anything.

 

I do think you will get busy with a spider lift, there is alot of companies looking to hire them. medium sized industry hire them, change lights, service a indoor crane, just about anything, i think your market is wide and if you put your mind to it then it is a success.

 

There is same with stump grinding, the market is quite wide, you got tree surgeons, private folks you give cards to and they give it to a friend, monoblockers, fencers, builders.

 

Better if you have a job on the side, to give in some sort of security, so you have the time and no need for panic if the phone goes silent for a while.

 

Try to see the positive in everything, make sure to learn from mistakes, and turn the mistake over to something good, so your mindset stays the same.

 

Look around you and see what other companies there are, see how you can do it better.

 

To get more business.

 

There is Ebay, gumtree, forums, facebook page, taking part in conversations on youtube in videos around your area, like pages on facebook and take part in conversations, advertise in local papers, make sure your name is out there, order big banners from vista print secure them well and hang them over a bridge, just about anything so your name is there, folks needs to see it many times to remember, so your aim is to make sure folks in your area know your name and know what you are doing.

 

It's a gradual thing, it takes time, but it works and in time it will be a new life style with more freedom. Try to avoid over spending or taking out to big loans.

[Vincent skinner]

That's some great advice thanks Stefan ill refer to what you say. Thanks for taking the time to reply in such detail! Vincent

[Stihl Unknown]

I was thinking about this idea, it could work especially if you can network with other Arb guys, not everyone has a mewp and if your reasonable with your rates should be a good adventure.

 

GOOD LUCK

[Vincent skinner]

Thanks for your reply and vote of confidence. Pricing is also something I need to look at very carefully obviously as I don't want to price myself out of the market, but also a good living and being able to pay for itself etc is what I need also. Has anyone had to rent out one of these with a driver before? What would people roughly be willing to pay for this service? I've rung similar people and the way they price varies from hourly/ half day/ day plus miles, some say there day starts from when they leave there home 8hrs hire then overtime for anything after, the ones I have contacted have been from £350/400 a day for spider lifts some truck mounted have been cheaper, I hired a 7.5 ton mounted one think it was bronto 20m 2 yrs ago, and they was £300 for the day "without driver". I was thinking I could it cheaper with me operating it around £300 mark? Any thoughts people? Thanks vincent