June 29th, 2005 
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Setting up a welding shop isn’t as easy as it seems. People who want to enter in this business should possess technical expertise in many welding practices, know the basics of running a service-oriented enterpise, and, most importantly, understand the importance of following safety procedures. A good welding shop not only protects its welders and employees, but it also looks after its customers by not exposing them to possible hazards caused by welding sparks.
Here are a few tips on setting up a good welding business:
Build a good welding space. Choosing a good space is very important for a successful welding business. Welding is a serious activity and your surroundings should be controlled as much as possible. A good welding shop should be spacious enough that it can store a number of pieces of small and bulky equipment that are necessary for welding. Besides a working space, you’ll also need a specific area for storing materials such as steel and aluminum, as well as welding tables, drill press and saws, and other tools.
Buy the necessary welding tools and accessories. After choosing and setting up a working space, you will need to purchase all the necessary power tools and welding accessories. Welding tools such as angle grinders, metal benders and band saws will come in handy in most welding projects. Other important tools include magnetic clamp, C-clamp, drill press, corner clamp, cold chisel and hacksaw. This is not a complete list of metal working tools but is basically a good place to begin with.
Your welding equipment should match the kind of welding you intend to do. Not all welding equipment are created the same. The type of welder you need depends on the kind of welding projects you intend to do. TIG welding, for instance, provides splatter-free and welding welding of sheet metals like aluminum. Electric arc welding is very handy for repairing a number of metals. MIG, on the other hand, is usually used in joining metals with a rougher weld. Take note that welding machine may come with different functions and utilities, so selecting one is a matter of understanding your intended client base and your skills as a welder.
Safety equipment is also important in welding. Follow all the safety measures to protect your workers and clients. Stock your shop with an ample supply of welding safety gears such as helmets, leather gloves, welding sleeves, boots and aprons. An emergency medical equipment is also essential in case of accidents. Keep one or two fire extinguishers on hand too. The welding area must always be equipped with a fire blanket and a well-stocked first aid kit.
Do some marketing and advertising. A good welding business must be able to keep the cash flow coming in. You should strive to track of old clients and try to gain the trust of new ones through referrals and advertising. Distributing posters and flyers is always a good idea. You can also post advertisements online. However, the best form of advertising is still through referrals. If you have customers that are satisfied with your work, ask them to refer you to other prospective clients.
Watch the video related to welding business
find out how you can get involved. While still in high school, Maria and her sister, Elvira, took a welding class sponsored by CARE. They liked it so much that they were inspired to take additional CARE offerings on technical and business skills. As the only female welders on their side of town, the two caused quite a stir! When Maria decided to start her own welding business, she was turned down for a traditional bank loan. They said she was too young and had no collateral. But CARE …
Help answer the question about welding business
I am opening a new small business, its a welding business. need help getting a contractors licence?I am opening a new small business, its a welding business. need help getting a contractors licence. where can get one? and does anyone know what else i need to start this business? any type of license? what do i do to get a contractors license? any thoughts appreciated. thank you.
About Author
Andrei Smith writes for Midwest Metal Products, one of industry’s leaders in providing quality and custom wire-formed and metal fabricated products such as wire fan guards, wire displays and recycling bag stands. For further information, please visit www.midwestmetal.com
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I have had an ESAB Waterjet for 8 years now and have several issues with the controls. I have spent countless hours on HOLD waiting for Service Rep to answer the phone only to be told they’d look into it and call me back. The calls never get returned. The machine is awesome however and very little problems with the mechanicals of the machine. As far as this video goes, they should have had two people with more personality make it along with a better script.
Esab are mixed up with the US Military Industrial Complex, there is more money to be made from ripping off the Tax payer than making good products for the buying public.
Contact your state contractor's licensing board.
Hi there, i have found a website with detailed info on starting a small business. I hope u find it usefull
http://smallbiz.co.nr
pfuzi!!!!
try to talk to friends and ask them if they can help you out…
they may know some people who can help you with your business
When you have a mobile shop you need to consider time on the road and your hourly rate.
Trip Charge + Hourly rate x amount of time on job = total job.
Many services start with a trip charge of $25.00-$50.00. I've paid a welder $25.00 per hour or by the piece. Piece work is more profitable if you are fast and good at your job. You can only weld so much in an hour.
Google "Free __________ Plans" (fill in your blank)
http://www.championtrailers.com/UTILITY_TRAILER_KITS.HTM
Thanks for posting this. It was very informative!
pfuzi!!!!
pfuzi!!!!
First of all it depends on what type of welding you do, like do you have portable self contained welders to do welding out on a job site or do you only do in-house (your place) welding.
Second it depends on what type of businesses are in your area like Farm Implement, Auto, Machine Shops.
Third to advertise it's either door to door or your local news paper, which can be expensive.
Unless you are extremely the best most weld only businesses fail. You have to have a niche. Hope this helps.
How bout The Tie that BINDS… lol j/k i don't know
If their business is turning to producing junk like the MigMaster 203 I just purchased, buy Lincoln or Miller stock instead.
my husband is too! 20 years! Right now though he's gone back to school for a BA in chem…his neck wore out!
while reaching for that degree he's done work on the side for local companies when asked. It's just about getting your name out there and then asking for referrals. If this is something you want to turn into a business then yes inc. it and you'll sleep better at night. Louisiana is right now attracting welders like crazy from all over the country for the new natural gas shale they are mining there, they are building pipelines and from what I hear from my Father n Law on the ground there it's a boom town! This is in Spring Hill LA, so if your husband doesn't want to travel and be part of that…and wants to work on building a biz locally…
do the cards, do the slicks(fliers), do the local chamber of commerce to network. You should go out and visit 10 businesses per day in your area, deliver your card and explain you've just opened for full time work. Have a list of former companies he's worked for and his certifications and those "coupons" you know they have to do to get rated! All this on a nice letter head, and I've often tried to convince my husband to open a welding school because there is a need….so take a look at that too!
I've forwarded your question to him so I hope he can respond directly he's such a great welder! 15 years in the shipyards and then another 5 on the road as a journeyman welder, he's so excited about he Nuclear power plants and the work that could bring! …..
Good luck and much success!
Reasonable rates: Make sure you charge enough to cover all of your expenses such as consumables (rods, wire, grinding discs, etc.) fuel for the welder, travel expenses, and your pay. If you don't have a good feel for this, think of a couple common type repairs and call a couple of competitors. See what they tell you they would charge. Their rates are going to ultimately figure into your prices because you need to be competitive.
Advertising: Word of mouth, tell friends and family to tell people about your new business. Websites such as Craigslist where you can post your services. Get cards or flyers made and leave/post them at local businesses. Think about places people that need welding done might be… farm and feed stores, marinas, etc. As your business picks up, build from there.
Do's: Have good insurance protection. Service, service, service. Be where you are supposed to be when you say you are going to be there! You will not have a life while you are trying to get the business up and running, because it is all about being available at any time to help your customers. Get agreements in writing. Keep excellent records. You are a welder by trade, but record keeping can make or break your business.
Don't: Start the business in debt. Don't bite off more than you can chew, build the business slowly. Don't underestimate the value of your services.
Good Luck!