I have been a field service technician for a raymond dealer for about 2 years here in NYC. I never really wanted to be a forklift technician just fell into it. I was a aircraft mechanic until 9/11 but i really like the freedom i now have being a feild tech. Now i have established several contacts with techs from several companies and some large customers who wish to hire me to service their equipment. How difficult is it to start a forklift service company, besides the obvious of buying parts and such. any info would be great. thanks
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Read your post about starting a folklift. If you have experience you can always start that. But before starting it you must confirm that you have enough amount of capital and confidence in you. Plan the business. Best of luck.
Ed,
Thanks for your support.
Regards,
Kevan
First question. Do you have business management experience?
Second Question do you have enough reserve liquid assets to sustain your life style for at least 1 year.
Third question. DO you know a really good tax lawyer.
Fourth question. You state you have 2 years experience in Material Handling equip. Do you feel fully qualified to service all makes of forklift equip, supply replacement parts suppoort. Supply full technical support.
Fifth questions. Do you have a good network of competing equip dealers to draw upon their rescources, in all areas of an equip dealership. That would be Capital sales, Parts support, Rental support and last but not least service support.
Sixth question. Can you attract and retain qualified employees to propagate and support your business.
I would suggest you do a market survey and put together a business plan prior to terminating your employ with the Raymond group.
Wish you the best of luck on your venture, this business need good independents to shock it out of it's corporate greed.
Regards,
don't forget if your going on your own you will need a healthy rental fleet to keep your customers going if doing major repairs on customers units. like the previous poster commented majority of new trucks today require diagonistics software which is expensive and difficult to get.
Just remember most everything has its own software nodays.Unless your dealing with old equipment,cust. who dont want to update.Your services will be limited.Most softwre is controlled so its a pain to get.
First of all you need PLENTY of capital. Plan on being strung out 60 to 120 days from your customers. The cost of putting a fully equipped service van on the road is very high. Liability....be well insured as any accident will dig up service records and the attorneys go after anyone who has worked on the unit. These are a few of the negatives, but the rewards are high if you can make it through your first year
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