• RME Gear & Apparel

Fab shop in Richfield? Is it worth opening one?

jeepspeedtj

jeepspeedtj

Active Member
Well this year the farming is getting to a really slow start.:eek: Well to be honest I have just under 200 acres and have yet to plant this year. So I have had a lot of time on my hands to wheel my junk.

The problem is that there are no shops here local that do quality fab work at a reasonable price There is midstate jeep parts and Hippy is great. They just are not set up to do just fab work.

I am wondering if i could find enough work to make this worth my time. Since i will have little to no overhead my shop rate will be cheap. I dont really want to have to work on peoples jeeps but i do want to build tube fenders, bumpers rock sliders, Ect.

So i guess my question is, is there enough work out there to pay for my time and expenses of running a small fab shop.

All welding done will be tig and all of the sheet metal parts will be cut either on a cnc plasma or a laser table.

This is just a feeler but here are some of the estimated prices.

*Text removed - vendor rules violation*
 
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Bart

Bart

Registered User
Location
Arm Utah
You'll never know unless you try and in a small community, if you're not stepping on others toes, you can usually get them to send business your way. Good luck.
 
SAMI

SAMI

Formerly Beardy McGee
Location
SLC, UT
Maybe pick up where others failed? Black Widow Off-Road comes to mind. They were starting to cater to the later Nissan crowd (who have little to no after-market support), but failed due to, i assume large over-head and poor money management to boot.

If you found a niche, produced quality products, and strive for good customer service, you might be ok. :)

I'll donate my Xterra for a day or two while you design and build bumpers/sliders/roofracks for it ;)

-Jason
 
rondo

rondo

rondo
Location
Boise Idaho
I would think the rent/insurance/start up costs of moving into an industrial area would be high? You have a farm...i'd just start slow in your garage or barn and start knocking these things out. I know of guys that have started this way. Then your costs really are down when the planting starts.
 
jeepspeedtj

jeepspeedtj

Active Member
rondo said:
I would think the rent/insurance/start up costs of moving into an industrial area would be high? You have a farm...i'd just start slow in your garage or barn and start knocking these things out. I know of guys that have started this way. Then your costs really are down when the planting starts.
Click to expand...

That is how I would start out and stay.

Why would I want to start out somewhere that would cost money?
 
Caleb

Caleb

Well-Known Member
Location
Riverton
jeepspeedtj said:
Why would I want to start out somewhere that would cost money?
Click to expand...

I don't know how it is in the 4x4 world but I know vendors often require a commercial location (sinage, etc to boot) with a lease/purchase agreement in your company name. I'm dealing with this issue right now with my company. Also, some will give different (better) rates to the shops that have a commercial location (dealt with this with my previous business venture). It also will give your company a bit more legitimacy. People may not want to purchase something from you if you're working out of your garage. If you're in a shop, people realize you're a bit more serious about your business venture. These are just a few reasons. I can go on and on about this cause, like I said, I'm dealing with this same issue with my company.
 
cannoncrawler

cannoncrawler

TWERNT THE MORMONS!!!!!!
Location
Idaho
we have a shop like this up here. steve started out in his garage just bending tube and building bumpers. He worked hard and slowly moved up till he is now in a commercial spot. He keeps his overhead low and just does mostly fab work.


If you start out slow and don't try to grow so much, I think there is always a market for anyone providing a good service at a fair price.
 
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jeepspeedtj

jeepspeedtj

Active Member
cannoncrawler said:
we ave a shop like this up here. steve started out in his garage just bending tube and building bumpers. He worked hard and slowly moved up till he in now in a commercial spot. He keeps hid overhead low and just does moslty fab work.


If you start out slow and don't try to grow so much, I think there is always a market for anyone provideing a good service at a fair price.
Click to expand...

That right there is my business plan plain and simple.
 
ricsrx

ricsrx

Well-Known Member
If you have all that equipment , dont limit your self to just 4X4 stuff, as you know in a small town word of mouth travels fast, think of all the farmers, street rods, muscle cars, your potential is limitless!!!!!

I have a friend who just moved to Loa who is doing the same thing, he really suports the whole community's needs with his skill with the machine shop,
 
jeepspeedtj

jeepspeedtj

Active Member
ricsrx said:
If you have all that equipment , dont limit your self to just 4X4 stuff, as you know in a small town word of mouth travels fast, think of all the farmers, street rods, muscle cars, your potential is limitless!!!!!

I have a friend who just moved to Loa who is doing the same thing, he really suports the whole community's needs with his skill with the machine shop,
Click to expand...

Pm me your friends name. All of my wife's family is from Loa
 
DaveB

DaveB

Long Jeep Fan
Location
Holladay, Utah
Maybe you could help get my son in law who lives in Richfield to finally finish his Jeep project so he doesn't have to bum rides to Moab.
 
Anchor_Mtn

Anchor_Mtn

Work Less, Travel More
Vendor
Location
Fruita, CO
Im out in that part of the state pretty often. I was in Mayfield 2 weeks ago, Burrville last week and going back to Mayfield again in a day or two. Its some darn pretty country with A TON of dirt roads snaking through it. I really want to go explore Fishlake Natl. Forest sometime soon.
 
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