Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

sandblasting a good business?

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 23 Posts
J

jordan_6767

· Registered
Joined
·
7 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
i was looking on the internet this weekend about new jobs and i came across this guy that wants to sell his sandblasting business.

it is a turn key business with everything needed to start blasting right away, he only does this part time because he works full time at a power plants and makes really good money. i was wondering if it is a good business to be in, there is only one other sandblasting business in my town of Bismarck, ND. He says he gets good REGULAR business. he has over 1000 clients (some are only a one time deal though). right now he said he has enough work to last 3 full weeks and he doesnt even advertise his business. i am just wondering if this is a good idea to buy, he is asking 75,000 for everything (the clients, web address, and the name and all) i believe the compressor has like 8000 hours, i had a meeting with him but dont remember all of the specifics since i didnt really understand anything that he was saying in the first place ha.

if you need any other information or have some insight for me it would be great!!

thanks much,
Jordan
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
here is his ad, and yes i was about to go and work on the oil fields since there is a huge boom here in North Dakota.


Owner is too busy and wants to spend more time with the family. Turn Key Business(Start making $$$ tomorrow)! 100% Portable! No need for expensive shop or lot rent! Comes with all equipment. Largest number of accounts in Bismarck/Mandan. Also accounts in Oil Field and Out of Town. Commerical Blasting of Baking Soda or Sand. 1000's of applications. Log Home Restoration, Brick Building Restoration, Graffiti Removal, Smoke and Fire Cleanup, Automotive Restoration, Surface Prep, Oil Rig and Tanker Blasting,
Concrete Prep, Powdercoating Prep,
PowerPlant Shutdown and Outage Blasting, Mold Cleanup, + Many More Applications. Work for yourself and have proven potential to make 100's of thousands of $$$ a year. Complete business for sale and all equipment, supplies, domain addresses, contacts. Proven History! $75,000 (Completely Portable No shop needed, Includes all Tools, Blasting Pot, Hoses, IR 250 cfm Compressor, Enclosed Trailer, and all accounts). Will also provide On Job Training with purchase. Be Your Boss. Will possibly consider trades for partial payment.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
i was mainly wondering if his post is correct? can i really make 100's of thousands of dollars a year, putting in a 40 hour work week? (i would do more like 50-60 hours a week at least) i didnt know if that was true.
 
#6 ·
If he doesn't advertise he doesn't have a brand which means all you are buying is his equipment. I bet you could get the gear for much much less than his asking.

He'll say he is giving you his customers. If he gives up and you adverstise in an unsaturated market then the customers will be yours regardless.

Businesses are usually bought roughly upon their sales (other factors would be inventory, branding, market share, and DEBTS). Offer to sign a non disclosure and ask him to open the books and see what he's actually making. This is pretty standard practice. Also call him anonymously and ask for a quote on some common project and see what ballpark #'s he throws at you and see if the books jive with the actual sales.
 
#7 ·
jordan_6767 said:
i was mainly wondering if his post is correct? can i really make 100's of thousands of dollars a year, putting in a 40 hour work week? (i would do more like 50-60 hours a week at least) i didnt know if that was true.
Click to expand...
Write this on the chalkboard - If it's too good to be true...

Easy money ain't easy.
 
#8 ·
I'm writing a script for my next infomercial right now...

"Do you want to make 100's of thousands of dollars from the comfort of your own couch? Buy my DVD and get started making eeeeaaasy money with your very own sand blasting business today!!!!"
 
#9 ·
It's hard work for the money..
40 hours a week....?
Some weeks we work 20
Other weeks 60+

Depends on the economy, location, jobs available, ...

Just cause you buy his business it doesn't mean there customers are going to follow.

If I had him blasting for me, I know that he has had time to learn everything. How his equipment runs and works etc.

If I heard someone bought the business out, and was new, didn't know the ropes of blasting.. I'd think twice about hiring you.

I'm going to feel like I'm paying you to learn, and time is money.


Don't take this wrong, that's how some customers feel.
Most guys have done sone blasting before, or they start fairly small and work up. With the business he promises, it would not be easy to jump in and run to make over 100 $$
 
#10 ·
I have a lot of down time. Making a potential of $100's of thousands a year, how much is he "really" making?

And if he's making really good $$, why is he not hiring someone to run it for him?

Lots of hype out there. I'd shop equipment before I walked into anyone's
business that I did not know for sure was rock solid.

You could go out on some job sites with him and see what he is really
doing?
 
#11 ·
run the #'s, the hard #'s. lets say you can bill $100.00 per hour of actual blast time< meaning actual time the machine(s)are running and you are pulling the trigger. to bill a $100,000 = 1000 hours. do yourself a favor, pull the trigger for 8 hours and everything involved before and after the fact, and let us know your thoughts. You should have a true understanding of this industry(small and large) and a passion to be a viable resource in market place, before entering into the blasting biz. It's not for the "average joe" and should be taken seriously. me personally, I've been in the application side for 20+years and have a certain respect for "taking it off" verses putting it on. We, my son and I are starting off slow, doing what we are capable of and will grow accordingly. be leary of "existing" business. put a $ value on the equipment, any real estate, but dont be sold on a "customer base" that you dont know and cant control. just my two (sunday afternoon, redskins won) thoughts)
 
#12 ·
You can't sell good will. If you buy a Subway sandwich shopp you keep most of the customers. He has no brand to sell.

he will not train you in any way after the sale. You will never see him again if you buy.

You can't suddenly learn this business.

Even if he showed you bank statements you can't know which money came from what source. He can make any tax return he wants to show you. It may not be what was submitted to the Gov.

Walk away.
 
#13 ·
Running blast equipment is exspensive

Grit cost
Diesel fuel
Gas to get to a job
Helper pay
Equipment wear and tear replacement cost
(hoses, compressor break downs and service)
Insurance for commercial (at least a 2 million dollar policy to step on commercial property)
Taxes at the end of the year
Book keeper cost
Advertising

And more

Check into it before you jump in :blink:
 
#16 ·
You could take probally 15k and start a small lil blasting business. I wouldnt waste 75k. You can find deals, find a nice air compressor, a multimedia blaster and try it out. Atleast 15k you could recover if you didnt like it almost. 75k is a big deal. It might take you years to even be busy.

I am still small. Ive been doing it for less than a yr now and i only make side money right now. i got lucky and got some nice deals on my soda blaster and my sand pots. But their is deals out their, used equipment that is fine to purchase.
 
#18 ·
Rather, I think someone is playing you if they said they paid five bucks. Think about it. It didn't happen. It cost more in fuel and who the heck needs five bucks enough to blast anything for it. Maybe five a piece if it was an employee stealing the use of the equipment for free.

As far as the $75,000, unless you have the cash to blow you can't get a bank to loan money to a person with no blasting experience let alone to purchase this Craigs list guy's un provable business so it's a non issue.
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
Betterblast said:
Rather, I think someone is playing you if they said they paid five bucks. Think about it. It didn't happen. It cost more in fuel and who the heck needs five bucks enough to blast anything for it. Maybe five a piece if it was an employee stealing the use of the equipment for free.

As far as the $75,000, unless you have the cash to blow you can't get a bank to loan money to a person with no blasting experience let alone to purchase this Craigs list guy's un provable business so it's a non issue.
Click to expand...
what are you talking about it the first half of your post?
 
1 - 20 of 23 Posts
About this Discussion
22 Replies
12 Participants
Last post:
Dyer
Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum
posts
3.6M
members
169K
Since
2003
A forum community dedicated to professional construction and remodeling contractors. Come join the discussion about the industry, trades, safety, projects, finishing, tools, machinery, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Discussion Tools & Equipment Business Painting & Finish Work Decks & Fencing