Welding business pointers/suggestions

[PLWeld]

Hello all!

I was just curious if anyone out there could give me a few pointers on generating more business with my welding business.

Signwave,
I saw a reply from you to an individual looking for a high paying job and you told them the real way to go would be your own business. Also, I agree with you as far as doing the best work and basically taking care of your customers.

I have seen other fabrication/welding jobs around here that have been done by other "claim to be" welders and fabricators and some/most of it is down right crappy! I started doing this on my own about a year ago and have slowly increased in the number of jobs I've done, but I would like to do more. I am currently in the yellow pages and have a new add starting in the multi county paper here next week.

Also,
I have excellent references that will speak highly of my work.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks to all and weld on!!

[SignWave]

I think you're off to a very good start PL. Sounds like you'll do okay. Be patient, keep your eyes open and you'll be surprised what comes your way.
remember the 80/20 rule... thats really important. if you dont pay attention it'll bog you down worse than a stalled swamp buggy.

Ya hafta go looking for it cuz it aint goin to come to you.....and its really easy. If your easily discouraged , you're dead before you start.

there's a saying in the bible: God helps those who help themselves...

so whoever your god is, he/she/it will do just that but you have to help yourself. Its surprising how many people really dont understand that..

My "God" is everything around me and if I manipulate everything around me I can induce change in anything I touch, think about, or apply myself too. In the caseof doing business, I would apply myself to the people about me and induce change into their lives thorugh my thoughts and actions... Does this make sence?

[FusionKing]

there's a saying in the bible: God helps those who help themselves...

so whoever your god is, he/she/it will do just that but you have to help yourself. Its surprising how many people really dont understand that..

Trust Me that is NOT in the Bible...but I do believe the meaning of the saying and feel that it works and is good advise (I hate lazy people)...just not Biblical tho

[SignWave]

hmmph , and all this time....

[PLWeld]

Thank you for replies

Thank you both for your replies! It is nice to know that there are still other people in this world who are firm believers in being the "go getter" and not the "couch sitter". I am full time military (Air Force) and work on airplanes, but that is not what I will do when I retire from that. I love working on my own, making my own decisions and going after what I believe in. When my day is done with the Air Force, my day is not done! It's off to the shop to put in another good 4 to 6 hours, (about 12 on weekends), depending on the mobile jobs. I will keep focusing on going after the work as you have suggested.

I don't remember who's post it was, but a couple of days ago I saw a post on here that said something to the tune of (don't quote me on this); "I would rather put in 80 hours a week waking up telling myself what needs to get done than work 40 hours a week waking up to someone telling me what will get done".

Thank you both for your advice and I will continue to push forward!

[SignWave]

Im jealous, the guy wworks on aircraft... Sign I mean Sigh....
I build airplanes from balsa wood.... and My granfather was a mech during WW2. He worked out of England On the lancasters and some other type that I cant recall. My fav WW2 single seater is the mustang and the Helldiver. as for bombers, Im partial to the B17. Those guys got shot up something fierce.

[SignWave]

back on subject... No prob on the thoughts, again, sounds like you'll do just fine...

[I Bleed Blue]

Don't want to start a........

I don't want to start a argument, But GODS word says GOD help those who can't help themselves. If you can do something under your power and without GOD (not saying you were denying GOD Sign) why would you need HIM.

GOD Loves welders! Don't believe me just read about the first weldors in the Old Testament.

GOD Bless

[SignWave]

Yo Blue,
Im not touching that one. The way you worded it has confused my little mind... and im really not sure what to say..

So God bless you too.

[I Bleed Blue]

Well I'm sorry about that. Before I forund JESUS I had everything I needed or so I thought untill I walked into a little church and saw these people who had nothing and yet they had a joy and a happiness I didn't have that when I realized that I had found what I was missing. I figured out then that HE had to let me run myself out so I couldn't say I DID THIS! I have to give HIM ALL the Glory.

Gotta run 7pm is gong to come early GOD Bless!

[HMW]

Wow, this one hit all kinda subjects, new business, God and old airplanes. I like em all so. its all good.

The 3 large bombers in WW2 were the B-17 flyin fortress[US], B-24 Liberator[US] and the Lancaster[British]. All pretty tough. By the way my favorite WW2 plane is the F4U1 Corsair. Always big arguments but the Corsair was just as fast as the Mustang but could carry more weight. Had like 1000hp more to I think. It was also the longest serving piston engine fighter plane in US service. The Mustang wasn't much till they put the Britsh Merlin engine in it. The Allison was good but they were afraid to put in in service with the exhaust driven Turbo, so it lacked performance. But, the Mustang is beautiful. Just my 2 cents worth


Oh...God bless you all too

[Jolly Roger]

Wow, I went in the army to get away from welding, lol. I would have stayed too, but got hurt and uncle doesn't want anyone who can't fire an m-16, lol. Advertising helps, but the best is word of mouth. Satisfied customers tell everyone they know about you. I actually get most of my work that way. I do a lot of heavy equipment repair and when these guys find someone that fixes it and it stays fixed they tell everyone. One out here tells everyone he can that I am too high, but that is because I won't do any more work for him til he pays me the 5000 he already owes me. I am just one of many. Most of them don't care just because it all stays together. I warranty all my welds for one year, but it has to be done my way. If it breaks I will fix it free. I could warranty it for longer but this stuff is seriously abused. I have had one warranty repair in the last 10 years.

Most of them around here do such sorry work that they are giving me their business.

If they say "I would do it myself, but I just don't have the time" just walk away. They will be more headache to you than they are worth.

[HMW]

"If they say "I would do it myself, but I just don't have the time" just walk away. They will be more headache to you than they are worth."


Man, isn't that the truth. Same thing with equipment repairs. I always laugh when they say that or how about. "It should only take you a few minutes to weld it" Shouldn't cost that much. Gas shouldn't cost that much either but it does. Thats why I never let anybody wait for a repair anymore. If you repair something in 30 mins and charge them $50 labor, they flip out. But, If they don't know how long it took, seems to be no problem. Some jobs you can get more for depending on what its worth. I once welded aluminum coil mounts on a kohler engine that the ring gear wiped out. Charged the guy $150. My friend was with me and said that only took you a half hour. I said yeah, but a new short block cost $800 and noone else would fix it. Customer was tickled to death. Still running. I try to never work by the hour, only use it as a rough guide.

Jollyroger, I see you were in the Army, did you retire from there? I was in the Marines [early 80s] but got out after 4 years.

[Sberry]

You should find something you can specialize in and drive the marketing and advertising with that. I see adds in the yellow pages, some good, some bad. One good one was for stainless and another poor one included everything under the sun, wasn't sure if the pressure piping was the sideline or the handrail work. The marketing should be geared toward the specialty, you can always fix a handrail should it come along but don't put effort in selling it unless its your area of expertise. "I do nuclear pipe work but also auto body patch panels" Might be true but it leaves some questions in ones mind and thats where the battle with the competition and customers comes into play.

[SignWave]

Im with you Berry,
I thinking about cutting my services in half. Im running aound like a chicken without a head and its driving me nutz! So specializing is starting to sound REALLY shweet!