Congratulations! You’ve decided to join the fastest growing segment in the finishing industry. With advances in technology, an ever-growing potential customer base, color choices galore, and information at your fingertips…..there’s no time like the present. Have you ever heard that a goal without action is simply a dream? Without movement, you’re bound to get hit by the train. So congratulations on being part of the top 2%, the ones that don’t talk about it…they DO IT. But what steps do you need to take to get started?
What it takes to get started powder coating really depends on what your goals are. Are you looking to start a full blown business or do you want to powder coat as a hobby? It’s quite possible to powder coat in your garage with hobby equipment and put an acceptable finish on your motorcycle frame, etc. It’s difficult, however, to turn that into a highly profitable powder coating business.
How do you define success? It all comes down to what your definition of a successful powder coating business is. Do you want to make enough money to pay the bills while working a full time job, or are you looking to start a $20,000 – $50,000 per month business that will become a full time venture? Both choices have merit and neither choice is for everyone. You need to sit down and paint the picture of what your future looks like 3 years from now. How large of a powder coating business do you choose to own? What type parts will you be coating? How many people will be working for you? How much money will you pay yourself? What will your businesses reputation be in the community?
Once you clearly define what your end results should look like, it’s easy enough for reputable companies like Powder-X to create a custom solution for you. Together, we can decide what size oven and powder containment you need. How you will clean and pretreat the parts for a finish that is top quality, and will have the corrosion resistance powder coatings are known for? What sort of gun set up will you need to create that quality finish, knowing that you’re only as good as the tools that you use? These decisions require experience and knowledge that most people aren’t exposed to.
It will also be very important that you take advantage of hands-on training so you can hit the ground running and lessen the mistakes. Not all training programs are created equally, simply learning how to apply powder is fairly easy (with the correct tools). Do you know how to cost jobs (how much will it actually cost you to do the job)? How much should you charge your customers (considering cost, your location, and what the market will bear)? What about shop set-up? How will you market your business? Time and mistakes are money, you want to be sure to take advantage of every tool possible that helps you make more money.
Keep in mind when deciding which path to follow, remember that price and value are VERY different. Do not create a business that is based solely on being the cheapest. You want to create a situation that gives the customer the most for their money, thus the best value. You are creating a top level business and no smart business person buys based on price alone. Let your competitors sell an inferior service for a basement price while you offer quality at a good value. Their business will never survive in the long run and you will reap all of the rewards.
Would you drink a gallon of milk that someone sold you for 10 cents? Probably not because you assume there’s something wrong with it. The same idea goes with your business. Someone coating a motorcycle gas tank in their garage and baking in Grandma’s old oven isn’t going to charge what a professional coater charges, but they also won’t provide the same quality and durability. The same holds true when starting your business. You can buy very cheap inferior equipment and supplies from online auction sites or somebodies garage, but you can’t create quality results with inferior components. You also have to make sure that the equipment and supplies you are purchasing are from reputable companies, and will pass all the codes required by your local authorities as well as your insurance company. Thousands of dollars in fines potentially await those who take short-cuts. You would be amazed at how many products have very slick ads and websites that are actually illegal to operate in many areas. By the time you figure out that the items don’t work, it could have already crippled your business. It’s a mistake that most companies can’t financially recover from.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK. You are making decisions that affect your future and the future of your family. Don’t make them lightly.
Finally, make sure to find the correct resources. From this, I mean the right people. There are plenty of sales people around, but how many of them are an actual resource? Once the check clears the bank, how much help can they provide you 6 months down the road? What about 5 years from now? Can they answer the hard questions and give you details or are they simply reading from a script? Finding the right resources can be the difference in a business that fails and a business that changes your future. Surround yourself with those that know what they are doing and can shorten your learning curve. This includes: accounting and tax support, equipment for your business, job costing, sales and marketing support, and basic business advice. The more you can depend on experts to help, the more quickly you can start to reap the benefits of owning your own business.
So, back to the original question: where do I start? A great place to start is by attending a Powder-X class. This isn’t simply a “how to apply” class, but more of a powder coating business seminar. The instructor, Joey Golliver, has done over $50 million in the industry. He has owned powder coating shops, and has made mistakes that have cost him tens of thousands of dollars – lessons that he shares to help you avoid those mistakes. Helping teach the class is also the top technical advisor for Powder-X, Jeff Neison. Jeff conducts all on-site training for Powder-X, does all oven start-ups, and has designed guns and booths in the past – his technical knowledge is unsurpassed. You will also have access to some of the top oven and booth sales persons in the country – people who help others set up their businesses on a daily basis. The class also features access to one of the top digital marketing minds in the industry. She is there to help answer your questions, as well as provide advice on: AdWords, Facebook, Google, and other aspects of growing your business.
For more information on classes, visit https://powderx.com/training/ or call 888-326-4840. The schedule can be found online, but remember that classes fill quickly and seats are limited.
You can either start working to build your dreams or keep working to build the dreams of others. What is your choice?
