I really appreciate you giving business advice. You share your failures which if the wise pay attention, they will most certainly be able to avoid those same mistakes or make it not hurt as much. With todays current events, I do think you will see more welders try to trail off from companies and go off on their own, and these videos you upload are gold. See you next time.
Man I LOVE your channel. Everything you post is a learning experience and I don't think I can watch enough of you to be prepared for my journey. I don't even have a truck yet... Having to start out of my car while working my 9-5. Everything needs to be portable. Lol
So sometimes I will get a credit card number upfront on portable jobs, down payments on materials is an absolute must specially if you’re a small company and can’t absorb the materials into your inventory. One of my rules as a shop owner is jobs don’t leave my shop until paid for unless Prior arrangements have been made.
Yes Sir, always have a backup plan. As a retired Law Enforcement Officer of 32 years that is my way of life. Even after retirement still live the same way. I always had two things of everything in my patrol unit sometimes more than that. Good advise.
You have a great channel man. I went out on my own after just 2 years total of welding and fab experience. In those 2 years, I learned a lot. I’ve done everything from building oil tankers to custom handrails, to auto rust repair (spent a year at a shipyard, then a year at a custom fab shop), but it’s awesome to still have someone that I can continue to learn from, because I still have a lot to learn.
Hey man I just turned 20, I’m in welding school and taking SMAW TIG MIG Flux core and pipe. I graduate in May but I don’t know where to go after. Should I join a union? There’s a local pipe fitter union near me. I’m in the Bay Area. Advice? In the long run, I don’t want to be the average welder with average pay
@@gasclutch6280 I’m personally not a fan of unions, but they have their benefits because they pay you to learn how to weld, instead of you having to pay. Since you’re already close to graduating weld school, I think the best route is to get a job at a non-union fab shop that does a large variety of work, and uses a large variety of processes. The shop I worked at did structural ironwork, handrails, auto fab, stainless and aluminum fab, high-end stuff, rust repair, etc. so I was able to learn a large variety of things during my time there. Also, when you work for a company that does a variety of work, you’ll be able to refine which avenue you’d like to further pursue or focus on because you’ve been exposed to it all. Another thing, if you go Union, you are usually restricted to doing one thing. If you’re a welder, all you do is weld, if you’re a fitter, all you do is fit, if you’re a fork truck driver, all you do is drive a fork truck. If you’re a welder and you need something heavy moved, guess what, you can’t move it yourself, you have to wait for some whose job it is to move it. I like to weld, fit, layout, cut, bend, drill, operate giant press brakes, and run cnc machines. I want to learn and do it all. Just in terms of how much you can make as an employee, I’m sure Union pipe welders are some of the highest paid welders out there, and for non-Union, a real nice tig game can make you pretty good money, but I think the best route is to just learn as much as you can, and then go into business for yourself, because I don’t know about you, but I’m not a fan of having a boss. Hope this helped.
5:20 just watch out some states don’t allow down payment or deposits of more then 30% up front. I don’t hear of anyone complaining though. Just hit them with a bill of materials instead of saying I want half down right now. If the customer doesn’t know you they won’t trust you just like they won’t trust them. I’ve seen many times where people pay upfront and then they disappear after some work is done. It is really important to get some money first since people will hose you. It happened to my father once and only once in construction.
Hey brother I just wanted to appreciate your videos brother I’m in psl and from west palm beach and I’m a master electrician working my ways to a mobile welding business for myself I’ve been learning and learning and I’ve watch a to. Of your videos brother. Your real about shit and us florida people in the service business appreciate that and it’s funny as fuxk to😂. Anyways man just know the stuff your posting is helping people and for that I appreciate you and you going out of your way to make content. Trust me I know how hard it can be to film in the field with customers around lol
Great Tips, I carried multiple of everything, plus 6 grinders each with it's own wheel, 2 -100% argon tanks, 2 -75/25co2 tanks. My first welder 180amp Belco, generator/welder, burned out right at the start of a job, luckily I new the guys at AirGas, I got a new Miller Trailblazer 301g the next day. I got screwed making a small fence, then couldn't get paid so I told him, you have till Friday to pay me. I guess he thought I was kidding, when Monday came I went over there with a 20 ft chain and hooks and ripped it out of the ground and left it all bent up for him to cut it up and scrap it. GREAT VIDEO THANKS
Hey man, love your honesty it really helps those of use that are trying start our own truck. Best advice I got from this one goes in line with what the Marines taught me. "One is none and two is one" keep getting after it bud looking forward to learning more 🤘
Great tips Anthony! You've motivated me to make my business successful. I've been welding professionally for over 8 years and decided to go on my own a couple months ago. It's been very difficult picking up customers but I'm hoping business will happen soon.
Hey man I just turned 20, I’m in welding school and taking SMAW TIG MIG Flux core and pipe. I graduate in May but I don’t know where to go after. Should I join a union? There’s a local pipe fitter union near me. I’m in the Bay Area. Advice? In the long run, I don’t want to be the average welder with average pay
@@gasclutch6280 there are pluses and minuses to union jobs. Lots of guys who want the big bucks go the oil pipeline route which is good money when oil prices are high but can find themselves out of work when prices take a dive. Personally, I'd look into a boiler service company. If you can pass an open root 6g pipe test they will train you/certify you along the way for everything else you need to know/do in the industry. Starting pay will be better than your typical shop job and in 3-5 years you'll be close if not at 100k a year. I was with a company for a 1 1/2 years as a boilermaker apprentice, loved the work but was starting a family with my wife and didn't want to travel as much so I took a different job that I knew I'd be home every night. But if you're a young guy that's willing to learn and work a ton and don't mind being out of town sometimes it's a good industry to get into. Between doing repairs, new installs and services you never get bored with doing the same thing everyday.
I totally agree with you I got screwed by a deacon of a seventh day Adventist church here in L.A. after the job is done the crook came with a lot of shit just not to pay now my policy is anything more than $150 dollars no matter how well I know you I take half down as deposit and churches is3/4 down no exception
Up front do you take the cost of materials plus 50% of the labor before starting the job? How do you factor in gas and other consumables in to a bid? I hear some people say they just charge an extra 10% to cover this. Just curious...
What if you changed the credit card fee disclaimer to make it say something on the order of.... " 3,5% discount on cash." That way the customer doesn't feel punished when paying with a credit card, and feels extra happy when he pays with cash. Maybe structure the billing such that you can offer a higher rebate for cash...
Super cool vids. Big fan of yours. Did you ever get a chargeback with a credit card transaction.? Your customers would ask their bank to reverse a credit card transaction maybe because of services were not as described etc Your bank will help you of course. If you ever get a chargeback hit me up. I used to work in the field and it would piss me off if someone ever did that to you. Keep it up buddy!
I had this happen in my other business. what I learned was make sure the customer signs the agreement and have picture of the work. a picture with the customer in it is even better
Absolutely fantastic video your advice and tips is priceless all of these videos are helping me to start my own welding business.massive thanks and full respect ✊ 👍👍👍
Good vid Anthony! I'm new to the industry and work on the equipment sales side of welding. Do you have a video on the PPE that you use and why? I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts!
Crazy because by using credit card the card holder can charge you back a year later and just take the money out without telling you anything. Have to have two separate accounts one for the credit card money to go into and get transferred out of to the regular account
That just happened to me. We agreed on the job I said would buy the material and fab it at my shop. No problem, until I fab'd about 75% of the project and reached out to him to go install and never heard from him again. So it left me out about $250 in material and 5 hours of my time. Even tho this Is side work for me I will be from now on getting money up front from New customers for material. I learned the hard way lol
@@MeltinMetalAnthonywhere’s a good state to find work for a mobile welder in the winter months I’m a Hoosier and last winter was super slow it was my first year but still super slow I enjoy what I do and can’t wait to be able to stay steady bowed up thanks for the knowledge
I really appreciate you giving business advice. You share your failures which if the wise pay attention, they will most certainly be able to avoid those same mistakes or make it not hurt as much. With todays current events, I do think you will see more welders try to trail off from companies and go off on their own, and these videos you upload are gold. See you next time.
Wise men learn from others, regular men learn from experience, brutes learn from instinct
Don't forget the extra piece of hose from the welder to the gas bottle. They are prone to splitting just as you arrive on site 🥳
Man I LOVE your channel. Everything you post is a learning experience and I don't think I can watch enough of you to be prepared for my journey. I don't even have a truck yet... Having to start out of my car while working my 9-5. Everything needs to be portable. Lol
So sometimes I will get a credit card number upfront on portable jobs, down payments on materials is an absolute must specially if you’re a small company and can’t absorb the materials into your inventory. One of my rules as a shop owner is jobs don’t leave my shop until paid for unless Prior arrangements have been made.
Yes Sir, always have a backup plan. As a retired Law Enforcement Officer of 32 years that is my way of life. Even after retirement still live the same way. I always had two things of everything in my patrol unit sometimes more than that. Good advise.
You have a great channel man. I went out on my own after just 2 years total of welding and fab experience. In those 2 years, I learned a lot. I’ve done everything from building oil tankers to custom handrails, to auto rust repair (spent a year at a shipyard, then a year at a custom fab shop), but it’s awesome to still have someone that I can continue to learn from, because I still have a lot to learn.
Thanks 👍
Hey man I just turned 20, I’m in welding school and taking SMAW TIG MIG Flux core and pipe. I graduate in May but I don’t know where to go after. Should I join a union? There’s a local pipe fitter union near me. I’m in the Bay Area. Advice? In the long run, I don’t want to be the average welder with average pay
@@gasclutch6280 I’m personally not a fan of unions, but they have their benefits because they pay you to learn how to weld, instead of you having to pay. Since you’re already close to graduating weld school, I think the best route is to get a job at a non-union fab shop that does a large variety of work, and uses a large variety of processes. The shop I worked at did structural ironwork, handrails, auto fab, stainless and aluminum fab, high-end stuff, rust repair, etc. so I was able to learn a large variety of things during my time there. Also, when you work for a company that does a variety of work, you’ll be able to refine which avenue you’d like to further pursue or focus on because you’ve been exposed to it all. Another thing, if you go Union, you are usually restricted to doing one thing. If you’re a welder, all you do is weld, if you’re a fitter, all you do is fit, if you’re a fork truck driver, all you do is drive a fork truck. If you’re a welder and you need something heavy moved, guess what, you can’t move it yourself, you have to wait for some whose job it is to move it. I like to weld, fit, layout, cut, bend, drill, operate giant press brakes, and run cnc machines. I want to learn and do it all. Just in terms of how much you can make as an employee, I’m sure Union pipe welders are some of the highest paid welders out there, and for non-Union, a real nice tig game can make you pretty good money, but I think the best route is to just learn as much as you can, and then go into business for yourself, because I don’t know about you, but I’m not a fan of having a boss. Hope this helped.
@@gasclutch6280just checking in on you. I assume you graduated. Where did you land? 👍
Your wise beyond your years. Better to have it and not needed it than needed it and not have it.
exactly! and that comes from being thrown to the wolves by my dad lol
5:20 just watch out some states don’t allow down payment or deposits of more then 30% up front. I don’t hear of anyone complaining though. Just hit them with a bill of materials instead of saying I want half down right now. If the customer doesn’t know you they won’t trust you just like they won’t trust them. I’ve seen many times where people pay upfront and then they disappear after some work is done. It is really important to get some money first since people will hose you. It happened to my father once and only once in construction.
I'm 37, going to welding school starting in March for a new journey in life. Structural and pipe.
That sounds like great advice. My wife freaking loved it.
Hey brother I just wanted to appreciate your videos brother I’m in psl and from west palm beach and I’m a master electrician working my ways to a mobile welding business for myself I’ve been learning and learning and I’ve watch a to. Of your videos brother. Your real about shit and us florida people in the service business appreciate that and it’s funny as fuxk to😂. Anyways man just know the stuff your posting is helping people and for that I appreciate you and you going out of your way to make content. Trust me I know how hard it can be to film in the field with customers around lol
Always take more than you need. Site work always throws the unexpected
"Son you need 4 wrenches. One for the bolt, one for the nut, one to lose and one to cut."
Thx for the advice Anthony you should get a universal electric fuel pump on hand that would keep your little bobcat going.
Very very good points. Wrote them down.
This is all good to know. I’m glad you break down the ins and out of this.
Absolutely fantastic!
Myself, personally, I have 4 pairs of gloves and stocked on consumables.
Thank you for the wisdom and information, Metal Man!
😃👍 Very good advice Anthony
Good advice! I won't accept credit card payments at all. Cash or BACS transfer only.
Same.
Keep on keeping it real.
Great Tips, I carried multiple of everything, plus 6 grinders each with it's own wheel, 2 -100% argon tanks, 2 -75/25co2 tanks. My first welder 180amp Belco, generator/welder, burned out right at the start of a job, luckily I new the guys at AirGas, I got a new Miller Trailblazer 301g the next day. I got screwed making a small fence, then couldn't get paid so I told him, you have till Friday to pay me. I guess he thought I was kidding, when Monday came I went over there with a 20 ft chain and hooks and ripped it out of the ground and left it all bent up for him to cut it up and scrap it. GREAT VIDEO THANKS
Great advice Anthony! 👌🏽 I’ve come to learn some of these things the hard way as well. Hopefully this video finds up and coming welder/operators
Awesome advice.Thank you.
Thank you for sharing!
love the outro lol
Good video man, definitely agree on credit card part. The bigger the job the bigger the hit you'll take if you don't charge that fee.
Great channel, hope you get mainstream. I share your vids all the time
Great advice
Hey man, love your honesty it really helps those of use that are trying start our own truck. Best advice I got from this one goes in line with what the Marines taught me. "One is none and two is one" keep getting after it bud looking forward to learning more 🤘
one guns is no gun. thats why I got 2 rigs lmao
Hey man, I'm a Marine as well. Going to welding school this March. Rah!
Just found this channel last night and this guy is awesome,. Great videos!!
Good advice
Extra grinder? I use 5.
Don't like to constantly change disc types.😁
Great tips Anthony! You've motivated me to make my business successful. I've been welding professionally for over 8 years and decided to go on my own a couple months ago. It's been very difficult picking up customers but I'm hoping business will happen soon.
Hey man I just turned 20, I’m in welding school and taking SMAW TIG MIG Flux core and pipe. I graduate in May but I don’t know where to go after. Should I join a union? There’s a local pipe fitter union near me. I’m in the Bay Area. Advice? In the long run, I don’t want to be the average welder with average pay
@@gasclutch6280 there are pluses and minuses to union jobs. Lots of guys who want the big bucks go the oil pipeline route which is good money when oil prices are high but can find themselves out of work when prices take a dive. Personally, I'd look into a boiler service company. If you can pass an open root 6g pipe test they will train you/certify you along the way for everything else you need to know/do in the industry. Starting pay will be better than your typical shop job and in 3-5 years you'll be close if not at 100k a year. I was with a company for a 1 1/2 years as a boilermaker apprentice, loved the work but was starting a family with my wife and didn't want to travel as much so I took a different job that I knew I'd be home every night. But if you're a young guy that's willing to learn and work a ton and don't mind being out of town sometimes it's a good industry to get into. Between doing repairs, new installs and services you never get bored with doing the same thing everyday.
Thanks MMA, this is all very good for the future.
That's some fantastic advice. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I totally agree with you I got screwed by a deacon of a seventh day Adventist church here in L.A. after the job is done the crook came with a lot of shit just not to pay now my policy is anything more than $150 dollars no matter how well I know you I take half down as deposit and churches is3/4 down no exception
Up front do you take the cost of materials plus 50% of the labor before starting the job? How do you factor in gas and other consumables in to a bid? I hear some people say they just charge an extra 10% to cover this. Just curious...
Class video anthony
Thanks for the good advice
Thank you for the advise.
and number 7 (on a t & M job add travel time)
Awesome advice
....love your videos
Fantastic video. Thanks for the excellent advice! Now I Gotta do is figure out how to wear this video as a hat
Or have it as an audio clip when you need reminded of things.
MM77 Approved 👍🏼👍🏼
Love it
Thanks for the advice
What if you changed the credit card fee disclaimer to make it say something on the order of.... " 3,5% discount on cash." That way the customer doesn't feel punished when paying with a credit card, and feels extra happy when he pays with cash. Maybe structure the billing such that you can offer a higher rebate for cash...
Super cool vids. Big fan of yours. Did you ever get a chargeback with a credit card transaction.? Your customers would ask their bank to reverse a credit card transaction maybe because of services were not as described etc Your bank will help you of course. If you ever get a chargeback hit me up. I used to work in the field and it would piss me off if someone ever did that to you. Keep it up buddy!
I had this happen in my other business. what I learned was make sure the customer signs the agreement and have picture of the work. a picture with the customer in it is even better
Absolutely fantastic video your advice and tips is priceless all of these videos are helping me to start my own welding business.massive thanks and full respect ✊ 👍👍👍
Good jop boss
Where do you get your invoices from?
I looked up the Texas Tig, is it something you run into often, or just every now and then like with the boat hauling frame?
to be honest some times I go months without using it. Ive used it twice in the last month
i love you bro
#1 take the time to actually figure out your business numbers do you know what to charge to not be steeling from yourself 👍🍻
MMA!
Why
Good vid Anthony! I'm new to the industry and work on the equipment sales side of welding. Do you have a video on the PPE that you use and why? I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts!
me and Paul Brown will be making one this week! Paul has 30 plus years in the industry
@@MeltinMetalAnthony Awesome! I'll keep an eye out for it! Keep it up!
Crazy because by using credit card the card holder can charge you back a year later and just take the money out without telling you anything. Have to have two separate accounts one for the credit card money to go into and get transferred out of to the regular account
excellent idea! im gonna use that!
👍
That just happened to me. We agreed on the job I said would buy the material and fab it at my shop. No problem, until I fab'd about 75% of the project and reached out to him to go install and never heard from him again. So it left me out about $250 in material and 5 hours of my time. Even tho this Is side work for me I will be from now on getting money up front from New customers for material. I learned the hard way lol
dang my video was too late!
@@MeltinMetalAnthony only if you posted it a month ago 🤣🤣
@@MeltinMetalAnthonywhere’s a good state to find work for a mobile welder in the winter months I’m a Hoosier and last winter was super slow it was my first year but still super slow I enjoy what I do and can’t wait to be able to stay steady bowed up thanks for the knowledge
Do you buy pre made invoices or print your own?
I have my own custom made.
👍👍
Telling my mom of this video will not help, as she is not a welder 😂
you can apply this to any contracting service
You forgot number 6 (add 10% to your total Bid) just because
can't give it all out in the first installment!
@@MeltinMetalAnthony so true
Just a suggestion maybe invest in a better mic for these types of videos.
you buy it 😉
Trusts in the King of kings and The Lord of lord Jesus Christ Amen.
Weird. Not that I would but there’s no dislikes. Is this china? What’s going on.
👍👍👍