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Before you start your own construction, agriculture or landscaping business, learn why a skid steer loader is a must-have tool.
Trevor Chase
Senior Product Consultant
Caterpillar Inc.
What do you need to start a construction business, farming business or landscaping operation?
Whether you’re looking for what you need to start a construction business or a landscaping business, or you’re planning to expand your current operation, there’s no more versatile piece of equipment to start with than a Cat® Skid Steer Loader. With help from Trevor Chase, Senior Product Consultant with Caterpillar Skid Steer Loader and Compact Track Loader Team, this article will run down important tips on how to prepare a new business venture.
Skid steer loaders are versatile pieces of equipment for your business.
Construction business owners want better asset utilization, so the best way to be efficient and productive is to have machines that do multiple things. Your business is going to need to accomplish material handling, earth moving, dirt pushing and load hauling. You want a machine that does it all, quickly and efficiently. Cat Skid Steer Loaders are the workhorses of construction, capable of handling everything from small jobs to large-scale projects. Plus, they’re comfortable and easy to operate.
The best skid steer loader is one that can utilize multiple attachments. Buckets, forks, hammers and saws make it possible to perform a number of tasks with one machine.
“With the attachments available, the possibilities are endless,” says Chase. “If you can think it up, it probably already exists for these machines.”
The term “landscaping” can mean everything from cutting grass to installing lawns. If you’re asking what is the best skid steer for landscaping, it’s the one that can go from grading to mowing in a hurry. With skid steer landscaping attachments, a business owner can more easily put in retaining walls, build patios, complete lawn installations and more. A Cat Smart Grader Blade is a perfect tool for landscapers, as it can be used for cutting, moving and grading a wide variety of materials.
Trevor Chase worked construction and landscaping and ran his own business. He says the best way to figure out which landscape attachments for skid steers you need is to list the tasks you will be performing. “For landscaping, you know you’re going to need things to help you grade, you’re going to need buckets, you’re going to need forks to move pallets and you’re going to need a machine that can run on pavement and grass,” says Chase. “The clear choice is a skid steer loader.”
When starting a new business, you might not have a ton of capital. Getting a machine that can be used for many tasks, with upgrades available, is a smart business choice.
Chase says, “A skid steer loader is a machine you can’t outgrow.”
In northern parts of the U.S., construction and landscaping operations come to a halt in the cold winter months. Luckily, there’s an option to add snowblowers for skid steer loaders and compact track loaders. Attaching a skid steer snowplow or snowblower is easy to do, and the machine is built to handle the basic movements needed for removing snow. Attachments like snow wings make easy work of snow removal. Snow tires are available for skid steers to ensure your machine has traction to be used effectively. A skid steer loader is a sound investment that increases the number of days in a year when you can secure jobs.
The agriculture industry is demanding and diverse. The equipment you should invest in is heavily dependent on the type of farm or farms where you plan to work. Because there are no days off in ag, you need equipment that is powerful and reliable, which is why so many ag business owners start with skid steer loaders. The better the tools are, the more productive you can be, and the best skid steer loaders for agriculture are the ones you can equip with multiple attachments.
A side discharge bucket can be used for multiple tasks, from spreading feed to collecting mulch and straw on chicken farms. Cat Bale Grabs are particularly useful on dairy farms for safely grabbing and carrying baled material. Skid steer loaders are essential tools on both small family farms and large commercial farms because of the range of attachments available.
If you’re not quite sure which skid steer loader attachments you need for your business, you might want to try them out first. You can research skid steer loader specifications and find the machine that fits your business, then try it out to make sure it fits the bill. In some cases, you might only need an attachment for one job, which makes renting the best option. Getting in touch with a Cat Dealer is a first step in the process.
The more credentials you and your workers have, the more attractive your business will be to potential clients. Caterpillar offers skid steer certification for entry-level operators with fewer than three years of skid-steer operating experience, as well as advanced training for experienced operators. In only a few days of skid-steer training, your operators can level up their capabilities in basic operating procedures, safety practices and inspection requirements. Skid steer loader certification can help you maximize your investment and ensure your equipment is always being used correctly.
Your local Cat Dealer is more than a sales rep; they’re a business partner invested in your success. Reach out today to get the information you need to start your business off on the right foot.
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