I am interested in inupt on the concrete pumping industry as a potential business to enter.  I am the financier and administrative side of several small companies in SC heavy in construction and I am trying to determine if concrete pumping might be a good fit.  Anybody got any opinions? Potential gross incomes in the southeast? Average salary of a hired operator? Anybody in the southeast looking to expand?

You're out of your mind to enter this business. Though if you have lots of money laying around you can get some great deals on pumps right now, and when the market comes back you could stand to make a bundle. But on the flip side, anyone who has lots of money laying around can find a better investment than pumping concrete. Just my opinion.

Really W.

Buy something safe like

Annuities from AIG ;~)

It sure can be a rocky road.

Considerations would be this

Pumps being in area

Marketplace

Upcoming consruction work (projected)

Type/size pump and purchase price

To be honest (Todd,not political) I'm scared to death of what's before us.If one is financically able to weather the upcoming storm one could be a surviver.This is not an occupation for the weak of heart and and operating in the black could be interesting.

Good Luck

ol wilbur, listen to what these guys have to say. the people on this board know concrete pumping better than almost anyone. make wise choices!

johnny come lately. so in the last eighteen months there is three more line pumps into the market, that is up a third and we never needed them. now business is down. better to find a product to sell that will gross bigger dollars. we operate like tow trucks, the customer only calls because they are desperate. ha ha 

The old saying want to make a small fortune in concrete pumping, Start with a large fortune

I thought that things finally slowed down in SC. I worked around Charleston for 3 yrs. Your 19 yrs late.

not the best time to be in business,but its a great time to buy pumps

There is much to be said about the pumping industr right now.  Many here have offered up some good information, but I feel there is more to it.  We all know the residential market is at it's lowest point in many years.  I have been involved in construction most of my life, and most of that time has been in concrete.  I owned a pumping company for 8 years.  I pumped for another company for a couple of years after that.  Just getting too old for what this business requires.  Anyone who has operated a pump knows what I am saying.  It is very demanding and forget about a personal life.  But it can also be rewarding.  I have even worked for a pump manufacturer.  Now I have my own business here in NC where I sell parts and services to the pump companies. 

Having said all that:  I have seen both sides of this big fence.  Those companies who only pump concrete are in a big hurt right now.  I doubt there are many who are running in the black.  Those who have diversified are doing better.  Some of the larger wall contractors have purchased pumps to cover their own work and save them money.  They are doing alright.  There are some pockets out there where a few pumpers are doing pretty good, but I fear that the bigger companies, who are in a financial hurt, will intrude on them and drop the prices.  Seems to be a common approach for some of these big companies.

If you have the money to invest and you can "weather the storm", you may be in a good situation right now.  This is because there are a great deal of fairly new pumps on the market today that have been repossesed and they can be picked up for a very good price.  There are some smaller companies out there who would sell out right now.  Several pump companies have gone under these past couple of years and I expect more to go before the housing market comes back.  By then there will be a small number of pump companies left. 

If you start small you could make it.  Just do your homework first.