Hi guys, my names Liam I'm looking for some advice on starting owner driver excavator company

[Liam1992]

I want to start a one man band operation, I live in cornwall and have been driving machines since I was 17 I'm now 28 and have wanted to go on my own for a few years, the opportunity has come up to be able to do that and was just looking for advice on what size machine would be a good size to start with?

 

[TiltyShaun]

I want to start a one man band operation, I live in cornwall and have been driving machines since I was 17 I'm now 28 and have wanted to go on my own for a few years, the opportunity has come up to be able to do that and was just looking for advice on what size machine would be a good size to start with?

Hi Liam
As a start who is your anticipated clients? You can easily hire machinery on a self drive basis before committing to any one size!!

 

[Regy53]

1-3 tonne
what sort of customer do you think you will have ? Access issues? If not 1.5 up .

 

[Liam1992]

thanks for the replies, I was thinking mainly doing driveways, larger garden leveling, clearing or whatever comes up really, I don't want to go into working for builders unless I have to

 

[doobin]

Hello mate good to see you on here. Are you buying new or used? Prices for used are stupid ATM and may well crash, new stock is pretty much unavailable When were you wanting to start?

A 1.9t class machine is a good all rounder, it can shrink down to just shy of a metre for access. I've since gone both sides of that with a 1.2t micro and a 2.8t as well. To be fair, I couldn't really manage without any one of them, but the 1.9t is a good compromise for day rate works. 2.8t are quite a bit more money but don't bring in much more money (certainly no more profit!) as an operated hire unless for a speciality.

Get a grab with it, they're so handy.

 

[Liam1992]

Hi mate, yeah I was looking at new, for the exact reason you just said, 2nd hand prices are so high, I was looking at a 1.9 but the price of a 1.9 is not a lot less than a 2.8, that's why I'm kind of on the fence a bit

 

[TiltyShaun]

What are you moving it around with?

 

[Liam1992]

I'm going to get a transit tipper or something similar with a plant trailer

 

[Liam1992]

I do have a bmw x5 2001 reg atm which can tow 2.7 ton so I could just get a plant trailer if the machine is smaller

 

[JD450A]

Get in your car, drive to South Devon, and I'll depress this desire out of you.

The first question is who have you been running for up to now? What tickets do you have? Those two questions will potentially deathnail any need/want to be a owner operator.

What Business experience do you have? What change in circumstances has made this route a option?

Going down the route of a minidigger will earn you between £200 - £300 a day gross in your part of the world.... Quite frankly if your anygood you will earn similar working for someone else.

Oh and there will always be someone floating around who is cheaper.....

Depressing I know, but tbh your plan of things to do is the usual pipe dreamy s**t that people want to do but don't realise that it's not milk and honey.

 

[TiltyShaun]

You are talking yourself into a below 2ton machine then!!

 

[pettsy]

I'm going to get a transit tipper or something similar with a plant trailer

Check what your tow vehicle(s) will legally tow, that might limit your purchase weight.

 

[Regy53]

Get in your car, drive to South Devon, and I'll depress this desire out of you.

The first question is who have you been running for up to now? What tickets do you have? Those two questions will potentially deathnail any need/want to be a owner operator.

What Business experience do you have? What change in circumstances has made this route a option?

Going down the route of a minidigger will earn you between £200 - £300 a day gross in your part of the world.... Quite frankly if your anygood you will earn similar working for someone else.

Oh and there will always be someone floating around who is cheaper.....

Depressing I know, but tbh your plan of things to do is the usual pipe dreamy s**t that people want to do but don't realise that it's not milk and honey.

Let’s not be to negative. There’s room for everybody in the market if you know different people . Start with a 1.5 tonne and see how you go

 

[JD450A]

Let’s not be to negative. There’s room for everybody in the market if you know different people . Start with a 1.5 tonne and see how you go

All well and good but the market in that part of the world is oversubscribed by farmers doing things for far less than is required to run a business. The market is no longer suitable for one man, digger, van and trailer around here.... IMHO everyone around here needs a minimum of 4 facets in there business to remain profitable. It's not about being negative.... it's about providing the required devils advocate so someone can see the potential pitfalls

 

[Giles]

I’m with Rory

dream on if you aren’t working for builders/contractors and only private people

 

[Liam1992]

JD450A, Ive got all tickets required and experience, my boss who Ive worked for since I left school is selling up, so I'm being made redundant so thought it would be a good time to have ago by myself, your 200-300quid a day working for someone else is not even close to what people earn around here as plant driver. I don't have any buisiness experience. I know it's not milk and honey, I appreciate your comments but I don't need the lecture on how tough it is, I'm not retarded, driving plant is a passion of mine and something that comes naturally to me, also I'm not just a stick puller I'm able to get involved in all aspects off repairs etc

 

[JD450A]

I’m with Rory

dream on if you aren’t working for builders/contractors and only private people

I do well off private people. But it's got to intertwine.... reason we get private work is we have a lorry and can cart away cheaper than a builder can arrange.

The offer is there.... drive up and have a look. Don't mind lending my time over a cup of tea/coffee. It's not rocket science BUT you've got to trickle along and it's a very odd industry to carve a living in.

 

[Liam1992]

Yeah I absolutely get what your saying, your acting like I'm gonna go balls deep into something I know nothing about, agreed I don't know alot about running a buisiness but that's why I'm here for advice

 

[doobin]

Let’s not be to negative. There’s room for everybody in the market if you know different people . Start with a 1.5 tonne and see how you go

This. Buying a 1.5t digger was a great move for me, it opened doors.

 

[Liam1992]

Thank you regy and doobin