Looking to start Bobcat Servies company

Hey Awsome fourm, lots of great info. Im looking to start my own company, really enjoy the long hours and operating. I have operated a skid steer for about 4 years, mainly in the last year did I learn more and get better and more hours operating. Ive considered taking some courses up here in Alberta to gain some more practice and confidence for operating. I have a decent amount of experience and am very confident operating one, I can load, spread, grade, snow clear, tow/haul, secure, change attachments, use forks, fix the machine ect... I would get into snow removal in the winter and in the summer offer general bobcat services, maybe even a dump trailer aswell. I have found a good deal on a 1997 Scat Trak 1500c (which I learned on) low hours, looks brand new, not the biggest or nicest machine but its a good start that is a tough machine that wont break every day. Now I know I will WCB, insurance (need help on that one, know I need it for digging, on machine, anything else), truck and trailer (allready have truck, machine comes with trailer), advertising and contracts. Anything else?? and what would you charge, old boss charged 100 bucks an hour for snow removal with bobcat. Basically looking for advice on how to get started and what I need. Here is that course I was looking at, do you guys think it would be a good idea to take?? http://www.bobcatbootcamp.ca/courses.html Thanks in Advance for all your help. Kyle

Welcome Kyle, and you are right. this forum is great with alot of info. I am in southern AB myself, and while I cant comment on specific Skid Steer Business needs, I would encourage you to set up your company as a limited liability company. You can just get a GST number and go to work as a sole proprietor, however, if things go wrong and you are ever in a lawsuit, a LTD company secures your private life home etc ....just a thought. Good Luck!

coreya3212 said:

Welcome Kyle, and you are right. this forum is great with alot of info. I am in southern AB myself, and while I cant comment on specific Skid Steer Business needs, I would encourage you to set up your company as a limited liability company. You can just get a GST number and go to work as a sole proprietor, however, if things go wrong and you are ever in a lawsuit, a LTD company secures your private life home etc ....just a thought. Good Luck!

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Thanks, I have read around and saw do I need to have my ticket/certified?? Ive been operating them for 4 years and never needed it but if I go out on my own do I ?? And what kind of insurance would I need for someone else to pull my trailer and run my machine the ODD time?? I know there will be times that I will be away and need some to clear snow, ect... and have a freind who runs hoes and other heavy equipment that said he could help if im in a bind ect.

coreya3212 said:

Welcome Kyle, and you are right. this forum is great with alot of info. I am in southern AB myself, and while I cant comment on specific Skid Steer Business needs, I would encourage you to set up your company as a limited liability company. You can just get a GST number and go to work as a sole proprietor, however, if things go wrong and you are ever in a lawsuit, a LTD company secures your private life home etc ....just a thought. Good Luck!

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Hey Corey, just found you were from Calgary to, do you run a Cat Track Loader and Cat hoe??

kyle22 said:

Hey Corey, just found you were from Calgary to, do you run a Cat Track Loader and Cat hoe??

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Not me. I have an old 825 just for acreage use. i dont work them comercially.

coreya3212 said:

Not me. I have an old 825 just for acreage use. i dont work them comercially.

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Does starting a company now and working part time till june seem possible??

kyle22 said:

Does starting a company now and working part time till june seem possible??

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Well current plan is to get hired on as an O/O with a company that offers bobcat services or needs bobcat work. My big problem right now is that I am finishing my Gr.12 year of highschool so cant go full time for a few months. Anyone know about this being certifed?? Never had to even running a machine all last winter and full time in the summer.

kyle22 said:

Well current plan is to get hired on as an O/O with a company that offers bobcat services or needs bobcat work. My big problem right now is that I am finishing my Gr.12 year of highschool so cant go full time for a few months. Anyone know about this being certifed?? Never had to even running a machine all last winter and full time in the summer.

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To the best of my knowledge you do not need any certification to hire yourself out as an owner operator in Canada. I work in BC and have owned my own Bobcat business for seven years and no one has said anything to me. Certain companies in AB might require it but generally speaking all you need is a business number and some insurance. Did I mention insurance? I backed into a building once plowing snow and did 4000.00 damage in less than 30 seconds. Last winter I had my brand new (less than 600 hours) S205 two speed and trailer stolen. Insurance saved my ass in both circumstances.