Business ideas

[NY 986]

So I just was thinking out loud today and I didn’t come up with anything good so I figured I’d come to you guys and see what you had to say. I’m currently working full time but will be switching to part time here shortly and doing multiple part time gigs but it will allow for some free time. I really enjoy old iron and especially the implement side of old equipment and would like to possibly start doing more with them. I know it’s a dying thing especially for my generation being only 20 so I’d like to get connections and learn as much as I can. I’m daily mechanically inclined but I don’t have any room to start buying tractors and implements and start parting them out or working on them since I don’t have a large enough shop but I would like to start some sort of business working on or dealing with old equipment just to learn more and have fun I don’t have to make millions. I thought of maybe getting into collecting manuals and selling copies or something like that but I wanted to ask on here and see if anyone had other ideas since everyone is so creative and problem solving on here.
Thanks
Haykid

As hinted at previously the biggest problem in producing material will be licensing by the companies of which the products were initially produced by. People found out the hard way during the tough 1980's that manufacturers will protect material that may seem to be obsolete to most people. As said over 40 years ago the agricultural sector is way overmanned in terms of labor needed for any one sector of that economy. Are you willing to skimp on basics such as a vehicle to compete economically such as what a few religious sects do? Unless you can reinvent the wheel economically I don't see how you are going to make it. You came along at the wrong point in time for your desire as man has been driving himself off of the land for some time now. Unfortunately, a person needs to be fairly wealthy to buy their way back onto the land. May you defy the odds!

 

[mjsnodgrass]

So I just was thinking out loud today and I didn’t come up with anything good so I figured I’d come to you guys and see what you had to say. I’m currently working full time but will be switching to part time here shortly and doing multiple part time gigs but it will allow for some free time. I really enjoy old iron and especially the implement side of old equipment and would like to possibly start doing more with them. I know it’s a dying thing especially for my generation being only 20 so I’d like to get connections and learn as much as I can. I’m daily mechanically inclined but I don’t have any room to start buying tractors and implements and start parting them out or working on them since I don’t have a large enough shop but I would like to start some sort of business working on or dealing with old equipment just to learn more and have fun I don’t have to make millions. I thought of maybe getting into collecting manuals and selling copies or something like that but I wanted to ask on here and see if anyone had other ideas since everyone is so creative and problem solving on here.
Thanks
Haykid

10 years after i retired i got bored. i started a portable line boring business. the entire business i could carry in the back of my pickup. no shop to pay for either. all i did was line bore. it was up to the customer to dissemble and reassemble the machines. did lots of excavators and dozers. the business got out of control. between the price of insurance, and the increased demand for my service i retired again. i kinda wish i would have started at 20 instead of 65. i guess my point is, if you're gonna start a business pick something specialized. sell your labor. there will always be work. good luck

 

[SweetFeet]

So I guess I didn’t really explain my situation real well. I’m training to get into the fire service right now and will be in that within a couple months. Until then I’m still going to be working full time till I transition over to fire department stuff which is 24 on 48 off so it would give me free time on the days off so I’m not looking for full time job stuff more or less just a side gig that I could have fun with and not lose money on. I don’t even care if I made hardly any at all on it

Haykid,

Yes, the rest if your story makes it all make a lot more sense.

Good for you. Wishing you safety and a good career in the fire service.

My advice, since you don't care if you really make money at the side-gig... is just find a hobby that you enjoy, and keep it a hobby... not a business.

 

[Haykid]

Well I appreciate the responses from everyone and I apologize I didn’t write the full story the first time. Your guys input has made me think more about it and I’m starting to think it’s not worth trying to make a side business and just keep it as a hobby more. In the future I hope to get a chunk of ground and a building and get me some old implements I can play around with and restore to take to shows and stuff. I was just kind of brainstorming my ideas on stuff I could do with my off days. Once again thank you all for the input most of you guys have many years and a lot of wisdom on me so I figured you could give me some insight
Haykid

 

[2SteveWI]

So I guess I didn’t really explain my situation real well. I’m training to get into the fire service right now and will be in that within a couple months. Until then I’m still going to be working full time till I transition over to fire department stuff which is 24 on 48 off so it would give me free time on the days off so I’m not looking for full time job stuff more or less just a side gig that I could have fun with and not lose money on. I don’t even care if I made hardly any at all on it

Retired career firefighter/paramedic. Retired in 2019. Best job in the world if you have the right mindset. Have had 80 acres in Central Wisconsin for last several years. With corn, soybeans and maple syrup I was always busy. Good excuse to have 15 tractors. Not profitable but it keeps your to do list full. Best of luck in your career choice. Steve

 

[DRussell]

Well I appreciate the responses from everyone and I apologize I didn’t write the full story the first time. Your guys input has made me think more about it and I’m starting to think it’s not worth trying to make a side business and just keep it as a hobby more. In the future I hope to get a chunk of ground and a building and get me some old implements I can play around with and restore to take to shows and stuff. I was just kind of brainstorming my ideas on stuff I could do with my off days. Once again thank you all for the input most of you guys have many years and a lot of wisdom on me so I figured you could give me some insight
Haykid

You like to work on equipment, especially older stuff. Something that I never really heard of till I moved down to where I am now is a completely mobile mechanic for farm equipment. Sure, the dealer will send a truck out with a mechanic if you buy new equipment from them, but probably not just to work on stuff that is old, or if they do it's a completely exorbitant price.

There's a guy near me who makes his living, including supporting a family, doing only mobile mechanic work. He has no shop, just his tools and a vehicle. If you're not looking to make a lot of money doing it, you could price your work at a point where a lot of guys would pay you to do the stuff they don't really have time to do.

If you have a vehicle, and tools and are willing to drive to do the job at a cheap enough rate, you would soon get yourself busier than you want to be I'm thinking. Most shops have an hourly rate of 100 or more these days. If you aren't looking to get rich, price yourself at half that or even less and if you are a competent mechanic jobs will be there.

 

[moresmoke]

You like to work on equipment, especially older stuff. Something that I never really heard of till I moved down to where I am now is a completely mobile mechanic for farm equipment. Sure, the dealer will send a truck out with a mechanic if you buy new equipment from them, but probably not just to work on stuff that is old, or if they do it's a completely exorbitant price.

There's a guy near me who makes his living, including supporting a family, doing only mobile mechanic work. He has no shop, just his tools and a vehicle. If you're not looking to make a lot of money doing it, you could price your work at a point where a lot of guys would pay you to do the stuff they don't really have time to do.

If you have a vehicle, and tools and are willing to drive to do the job at a cheap enough rate, you would soon get yourself busier than you want to be I'm thinking. Most shops have an hourly rate of 100 or more these days. If you aren't looking to get rich, price yourself at half that or even less and if you are a competent mechanic jobs will be there.

When I was wrenching for a dealer, 75% of my time was mobile. Many of the customers had nicer shops than the dealership did.

If the OP has some mechanical knowledge, there is plenty of work on older and smaller stuff in most areas to pick up some side work. Yeah a fully equipped service truck is nice, but there are a lot of jobs that can be done with a small toolbox in the back of a Honda Civic. Just be honest about what your capabilities are and don’t be afraid to say no to a job. Last thing is get paid for all jobs at the time of work. If anybody tries to push on payment, tell them you have an agreement with the bank. The bank doesn’t do mechanic work, and you don’t lend money. There are plenty of ways to take payment on the spot in today’s world.

In my area, ag dealers are at or knocking on $200/hr shop rate.

 

[NDIHC]

In between jobs I used to do a little mobile farm repair. Loaded tools in my pickup and would do smaller repairs and such on site. Brakes in older tractors like letter series Farmalls and D series AC and other light duty things like that. Did some mobile ac work but with all the regulations now that would be an exoensive one to get into. I'm certified to do it but the equipment is out of reach if you want to do full scale recovery services. Also did auto repairs at home. Didn't make a bunch of money at it but got me by between jobs.

 

[Haykid]

Like a couple of you guys just said I’ve thought many times that I could make a living doing the mobile mechanic gig since I don’t hardly even try to get work as of now and I’m the go to mechanic for a couple families. I’m not going to say I’m a extremely experienced mechanic and I’ve definitely got into some things that I shouldn’t have but I also have phone numbers that can help me get out of things if I do get into it deeper than I planned on. I definitely need to start learning how to say no though I can’t hardly hear myself think at the moment with everything I have going on

 

[moresmoke]

Like a couple of you guys just said I’ve thought many times that I could make a living doing the mobile mechanic gig since I don’t hardly even try to get work as of now and I’m the go to mechanic for a couple families. I’m not going to say I’m a extremely experienced mechanic and I’ve definitely got into some things that I shouldn’t have but I also have phone numbers that can help me get out of things if I do get into it deeper than I planned on. I definitely need to start learning how to say no though I can’t hardly hear myself think at the moment with everything I have going on

Failure to plan on their part is not an emergency on my part.

Just remember this statement. As a sideline gig you are free to only accept the jobs and customers you want to work with. Just be honest and upfront about that and you can keep your sanity.

 

[Vito]

Life shouldn't be extremely complicated at 20 years old. Enjoy your youth. Most people only start making real money in their late 20's - mid 30's.

Vito

 

[E.B. Haymakin']

So I just was thinking out loud today and I didn’t come up with anything good so I figured I’d come to you guys and see what you had to say. I’m currently working full time but will be switching to part time here shortly and doing multiple part time gigs but it will allow for some free time. I really enjoy old iron and especially the implement side of old equipment and would like to possibly start doing more with them. I know it’s a dying thing especially for my generation being only 20 so I’d like to get connections and learn as much as I can. I’m daily mechanically inclined but I don’t have any room to start buying tractors and implements and start parting them out or working on them since I don’t have a large enough shop but I would like to start some sort of business working on or dealing with old equipment just to learn more and have fun I don’t have to make millions. I thought of maybe getting into collecting manuals and selling copies or something like that but I wanted to ask on here and see if anyone had other ideas since everyone is so creative and problem solving on here.
Thanks
Haykid

Coming up with a business model in this day is going to be a challenge. The cost of living alone is overwhelming for your age group. Depends on do you have access to a tractor or forklift for moving the equipment? As mentioned earlier copy rights are a huge obstacle for printed material, don't know, wish you luck....

 

[Hobo,NC]

So I guess I didn’t really explain my situation real well. I’m training to get into the fire service right now and will be in that within a couple months. Until then I’m still going to be working full time till I transition over to fire department stuff which is 24 on 48 off so it would give me free time on the days off so I’m not looking for full time job stuff more or less just a side gig that I could have fun with and not lose money on. I don’t even care if I made hardly any at all on it

That's cool but you will never be off to go to the beach with the family and miss birthdays and such. A friend that just came by said 30 more days with the fire department and he's out of their. He is taking a 4 10's job with Fridays being optional. It will cut into his hunting but he will be with his family more. I coach ball its rare to see a dad fireman at a game its the price they pay for being nailed down 24 hr. at a time.

Lets be realistic unless you have a gig to do on the side that pays well the trill of fix'n old tractors will get old its not a big money maker. The only reason I mess with it is its something different. You hope it was grandpa's tractor and they have the funds to go for the Kill

If wrenching is in your blood get into heavy equipment repair you can name your price. A kid that worked for me while in high school is killing it doing that he's in the hood of 150K plus a year. He's 35 he plans to do field work for 5 more years then get into easier part of the industry. He's still young enoufh to go play firemen if he wanted to.