Agriculture contracting

[New Holland TM150]

Thinking of starting a contracting business is it a good idea o bad?

I have got not a huge experience on machinery, but I enjoy what I have done and I am keen to learn.

 

[Chae1]

Go for it.

 

[Muddyroads]

Thinking of starting a contracting business is it a good idea o bad?

I have got not a huge experience on machinery, but I enjoy what I have done and I am keen to learn.

Work for others first to gain experience. If you do go out on your own, try to find work that others don’t do and do your costings really carefully.

 

[kiwi pom]

Work for someone else fulltime for a few years first, to get a idea how everything works.
Become really good on the spanners if you want to go it alone.

 

[benny6910]

Starting up is the easy part, keeping going is the harder part.

 

[Princess Pooper]

Thinking of starting a contracting business is it a good idea o bad?

I have got not a huge experience on machinery, but I enjoy what I have done and I am keen to learn.

Get your bills out quickly and look after the customers who pay on time rather than chasing business from sometimes much bigger accounts that leave you unpaid for months. And if you can learn to work alongside and with your competitors, share jobs etc rather than getting into cut throat competition it is actually better for customers as well as you.

 

[puppet]

Thinking of starting a contracting business is it a good idea o bad?

I have got not a huge experience on machinery, but I enjoy what I have done and I am keen to learn.

That is not a great CV if you came to offer me your services. A contractor has to do it better, quicker and often cheaper than I could. That goes for silage to painting a shed.
Great to have a goal, make it a 5 year plan to get experience and see what jobs you would be best at. Then look at what makes a return. I bought a 6 foot topper for £250 15 years ago and only needed 1 blade and a few shear bolts as well as any old tractor.
The more gear boxes and electronics the higher the risks

 

[som farmer]

offer large discount for cheque in 7 days, and make sure you stick to it. Young contractor, just gone under, over financed, and under paid. When you start, the bad payers will soon ring. Part of the above problem, but, sadly, some really couldn't pay.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

As long as you understand there is a lot of competition in the contacting industry, the price is driven down by over supply, unless you are determined to go that way I would advise against it ,
Ist problem for a new business is you will attract a lot of slow and bad payers, so you will need a fair bit of cash behind you to cover for those who may never pay . They are professional none payers, so dont ever think a court case will get you payed

 

[Oscar]

There is a thread on here called "What advice would you give to a young farmer" on Agricultural Matters, read this as most of it will apply to you despite what age you are !!

 

[hoff135]

I started when i was 25, saved for 2 years to buy an old 3000 series massey and a plough. Like many young lads was mad for tractors.

However 9 years later the novelty of being thrown every which way and fighting with broken down gear begins to wear off.

I only do it part time as a sideline. I have half a dozen customers. Even though i never conquered the world, i dont regret doing it.

Whats the point of life if you dont do the things you want?

Just be prepared for it not to pay that well. Guys with lawnmowers are charging £20/hr and others with 200hp tractors are not much more.

 

[fgc325j]

Thinking of starting a contracting business is it a good idea o bad?

I have got not a huge experience on machinery, but I enjoy what I have done and I am keen to learn.

Tractors, machinery and anything with tyres - guaranteed to cost a lot to run and depreciate in value, and the more hours
you use it, the faster it depreciates. If you want to make money from machinery either become proficient with spanners,
or start to buy and sell!.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Keep it simple and avoid the shiniest toys. A lot of the tech is unreliable and expensive.

Keep on top of paperwork. Send invoices within a few days, start calling for money owed the day after the due date. Some customers will ask about a “payment plan” before you start, I work with that very occasionally.
Some ask about it after you’ve done the work. No.

 

[ollie989898]

If i was going into contracting at a young age it would be driving speed boats for Columbian drug cartels where keeping her lit is a prerequisite for the job.

 

[GeorgeK]

Be aware there are people with access to a farm and all the equipment who can take on some contract work for a bit of extra pocket money with none of the costs

 

[happycows]

If i was going into contracting at a young age it would be driving speed boats for Columbian drug cartels where keeping her lit is a prerequisite for the job.

Have you seen Stacey Dooley Costa Del Narcos? 10 minute trip from Morocco to Costa del sol with 3 x 300hp motors on the back of your rib .
If your good 30,000 euro's !! That's contracting!!

 

[ollie989898]

Have you seen Stacey Dooley Costa Del Narcos? 10 minute trip from Morocco to Costa del sol with 3 x 300hp motors on the back of your rib .
If your good 30,000 euro's !! That's contracting!!

Had a ride on a big motorboat in Thailand. Three engines, I forget how big they were though. It was a big boat and went like the proverbial off a shovel.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Dont let enjoyment cloud your vision
Having said that, why people class buying a wagon and hauling straw as enjoyment is hard to understand, I suppose it gets you away from the farm and the daily grind

 

[upnortheast]

Ideally find something that no one else is doing.
Otherwise you will have to compete on price & as a new starter will attract all the customers who for whatever reason do not get on with existing contractors.
Some lads round here seem to get on Ok subcontracting to the big contractors.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Ideally find something that no one else is doing.
Otherwise you will have to compete on price & as a new starter will attract all the customers who for whatever reason do not get on with existing contractors.
Some lads round here seem to get on Ok subcontracting to the big contractors.

Stone picking machine ,
Few have bought direct drills getting a fair bit of work