need help with a niche

[SapperJohn]

So here's my situation...I just got out of the Army, and am currently attending school at Universal Technical Institute in Norwood MA for diesel and industrial technology. However, I'm next in line on a very long list for an interview at the Plymouth Fire Dept. While i am very much enjoying school, ideally its serving as my backup plan. Providing i land a job at the fire dept, their schedule is 48 hours straight, then 5 days off.

In the meantime, i just bought an acre of land in a gorgeous location 30 seconds away from plymouth beach on which, by Spring 2016, I will begin to build my shop with a living space on top. I've owned, operated and maintained a bobcat t190 for 9 or 10 years now.

Im just trying to decide/discover any markets out there that are conducive for making side money with the spare time il have. i want to work on equipment maybe refurbishing/repainting machines for resale? i have extensive hand tools and know how. what tools i dont have could easily be gotten through a VA small business loan. basically im going to build an extremely large shop and im having trouble thinking of what to do with this oportunity

thanks for any ideas/brainstorming, guys.
John

 

[pi_guy]

Marine fabrication and repair.
Put your living space away from the shop.

 

[Okie Pete]

Thank you for your service.
Make sure you get paid before releasing repaired equipment back to owner.
Where I live there were 2 very talented mechanics that were very reasonable on the shop hourly rate . Because a few no pays they have shut their doors and now work for someone else .

 

[SapperJohn]

thank you, and sorry to hear about your friends misfortune, good advice. pi_guy i would prefer to seperate them but il be building it using the va Home loan that requires i occupy that space i intend to build

 

[jd_1138]

It's important to always save a nest egg for unforeseen hiccups/emergencies. Like the guy above who mentioned the shops closing due to a couple of no pays.

 

[SapperJohn]

i was thinking maybe buying salvage trucks, pulling, and overhauling the engines for resale

 

[SapperJohn]

or refurbishing/cleaning bobcats and mini excavators for resale

 

[Zeke]

Best lesson I ever had in life when considering a business model was to find someone else doing what you want to do and do it better.

Unfortunately I don't always follow good advice. However, you can.

 

[SapperJohn]

that is excellent advice! broad, but pertinent.

 

[SapperJohn]

would it be feasable to do machine shop work on the side?

 

[rsanter]

General repair
Welding and fab
Buying,fixing,flipping cars
Woodworking

Lots more

Bob

 

[Streetbu]

first off thanks for your service. I was in for several years also. Second, wait until you get the fire dept job to figure out a second one. Most full time fireman have side jobs. It would be worth talking to them to see what they do, how they do it, and any other info you can drag out of them. Many are electricians, plumbers, site excavation etc in my area.... Best of luck!

 

[ihrescue]

I am now retired from the FD and knew guys that did all sorts of shop related things for part time earning. Several I knew did car detailing and one did motorcycle detailing. There's always someone out there that cannot do their own work for one reason or another, or don't want to.