How To Start Your Own Mobile Welding Business

Posted on Jul 25 2017 - 11:41am by Editorial Staff

A portable welding business is a great opportunity to anyone with manual abilities to get their feet wet in the entrepreneurial field with minimal investment. Mobile welding businesses offer their services to companies and individuals who lack the expertise and equipment. However, as easy as it may sound, many independent welders end up going belly up by making crucial mistakes. In this article, we’re going to lay down the exact steps anybody should take before they start their own mobile welding operation.

Get Certified

The first thing you should do is get the proper certification from an accredited school in your area. Most states will not allow you to work as an independent welder without certification. Finding an accredited school is fairly simple. The AWS (American Welding Society) has a directory of accredited schools anyone can consult.

Get Your License

The next step is to obtain your welding license from the licensing board in your particular state. To do so, you’ll have to pass a welding exam, which will gauge your level of expertise. You will be tested on your knowledge of welding equipment, security procedures, welding processes, and the repair and fabrication process. Contact your state’s licensing board for an application and schedule your exam. You should also apply for your local business license.

Buy the Proper Tools and Equipment

Without the proper set of equipment, you won’t get far as a professional welder. Make sure that you don’t go overboard at first so you don’t go over budget. Also, identify what market you will be serving so you can buy the proper set of equipment. Depending on the market, you might have more demand for stick welders over MIG, even though MIG is more popular. It all depends on who you will be serving.

However, if there’s one area where you shouldn’t cut corners, it is safety equipment. Welding can be very dangerous if the proper precautions aren’t taken. Make sure you invest in a good fire proof welding suit and helmet. A miller welding helmet from http://www.weldingoutfitter.com/collections/welding-helmets/miller is all you need if you’re getting started, as they are affordable and offer all the protection you need. Suits can also be found online for a reasonable price if you’re just getting started.

But once the ball is rolling, you have to make sure that you upgrade your equipment so you can compete with the other major players in your sector. The quality of your equipment will dictate the scope of the jobs you’ll have access to. It would be wise to at least seek financing after a certain point, so you can invest in more machines and access more contracts.

Conclusion

The welding business is very promising and the sector is thriving at the moment. However, before you start, make sure you have all your ducks in a row first. Make sure that you are certified and licensed, get the proper equipment, and make sure you understand the needs of your market.

About the Author

Editorial Staff at I2Mag is a team of subject experts.