I am thinking of getting into the concrete pumping buisness and of course of a million questions.

How much of an investment is this? And how long on average does it take to turn a real profit or pay off the intial investments? 

Should one start with a line pump or a boom truck?

What size boom pump would one look at starting with?

What kind of market research should be done?

Any info. will be very helpfull.

Thank you
Andy

I was asking the same questions a few years ago, and your post reminded me of what the local ready mix dispatcher, and good friend, asked me in reply to my questions?      It was, "How long can you go without eating?"

Yes Startup is significant.

These guys are right, you really need to go to work and learn how to pump and see if you even like it. It's great work but hard and mistakes are costly. Do yourself a favor and go pump for 2 or 3 years, learn the trade.

i you cant pump or dont have a lot of money to loose forget it

It really takes alot speaking from experance, just knowing how to pump concrete is only half of it. Gettting and keeping the work is a giant part there are alot of pumpers out there and everyone you talk to already has someone they are using so you have to really have some sales skills. It seems like I have at least 2-3 people try to sell me a concrete pump a week alot of people think it is easy and run out and buy a line pump. Its a hard way to make a buck. with workers comp insurance and 3.00 a gal fuel you better have a few good accounts or you will be in trouble. I got concrete and hydro fluid in my blood i cant get away from it. But i suppose there are better ways to make a buck out there.

Why be so negative???   After all I don't know any one who would go to work not even bring home a paycheck.  The people in the buisness seem to do OK.  Running your own buisness is not easy but can be very rewarding.  If you have done any research you know that startup is big bucks

ok sure, but please learn to pump before you find out what it is like to pound out 200' of 2 1/2 inch hose with a hammer. Or have to paint 15 cars or bla bla bla. Learn the trade. Companies will pay you to train, to learn the trade do us all a favor and learn how to pump concrete. I pumped for 4 years and could of bought 5 pumps but got out. Enough was enough for me. gray hair at 20 if you know what i mean.

Hey Todd what are you doing now if you got out of pumping??  What didnt you like about the buisness??

I own and manage (not so well sometimes) ConcretePumping.com and usedconcretepumps.com and I developed and own Pump Magic which is widely used by companies all over the USA and Canada. (ok what I did not like about the Pumping Industry) I managed a 20 pump company, I worked from before sun up to well after sun went down and sometimes did not even make it to the shower, I would get home open the door and lay down on the floor beat up and tired. Now remember these were all line pumps. I managed and still ended up pumping most every week. It was and still is very hard work. So I think I just got burned out, too many hours, very hard work and lots of stress. The best part of it is that God used those years to teach me about this industry on many levels and helped me to produce a very good software program. I am still involved in this industry and love it very much. So I’m not sure if this is the long answer or the short one but that’s my answer. Thanks for asking. Todd

Go for it!!! We manufacture a whole range of concrete pumps. Almost all new line pumps are sold to a new pumper. We have had butchers, school teachers, house painters, welders ...... you name it, even a guy with one leg, who have entered the industry. They all make it, some do it well, some just get a good wage and the pleasure of "being their own boss" The only failures were a few lazy people and a guy who "shot" the weekly takings up his arm.

In a large city, the startup will be easier than in a small town. Most line pumps here are one man bands and they share jobs around in a group.

Start

Your choice of pump type, start-up costs, probability of success, time to turn a profit, these all depend on the market conditions in the area you are starting.  The first step of the process is to do good market research. It is all about asking the right questions of the right people.

Some of the right questions are:

Is it difficult to get pumping service on short notice?
Is there a shortage of boom pumps or line pumps?
Is the local construction market doing well or stalling?
Are housing starts going strong.
Are the existing pumpers keeping their equipment.

For answers, talk to the Ready Mix companies salesmen, managers, dispatchers.  Locate the yards of the existing pumping companies and drive by midmorning to see how many pumps are still in the yard.  Find jobsites, especially residential, (look for dirt piles) later in the day, and inquire about the quality and availability of the existing pumping service and the type and size of pumps needed.  Visit your banker and ask about construction prospects in the area and suggestions for getting equipment financing.

And on a personal note:

If you are married, is your wife totally enthusiastic about this idea?  Would she agree to a 2nd mortgage on the house to get started?
Do you, and your family, understand that, like any owner/operator business only more so, concrete pumping will totally dominate your life and time.  Family and pleasure time will always come second and often suffer.?
Are you less than 40, in good health, with no back problems.
Do you have enough cash reserves to cover your family expenses for at least 3 months, better yet 6.
Do you have enough cash, or credit worthiness and equity to get financing.
Are you mechanically inclined and experienced, do you know how to weld, are you willing to be your own primary mechanic?
Do you have a place to park, clean, and work on your pump?

 Click on the link to the left, just above Todd's picture, Useful Articles.  Read as many as you can, but especially:

This all might seem like a lot of work and research but eventually you will do it, or really wish you had.  It will be worth it.  If you still have questions after all this, and you likely will, please feel free to call me. 800 635 2365.__ Fred

get 3" to whoop yur arse into shape..

 that 2.5" is for weenies