Combines custom cutting insurance

Red, Custom harvestingIJ Are you crazy or what! Maybe just a little but if you insist on doing it don't leave home without at least a million dollars of general liability and a million dollars liability on your trucks, service truck, and trailers. Workmans comp. on all your employees is a must also. I usually insure my combines through Case IH when I buy them but either way is alright as long as you have full coverage. Forget the idea to charge less than anyone else. That will put you out of bussiness quicker than anything. Do a good job, and charge the going rate. A lot of harvesters say finding good help is the worst part of custom harvesting. Not if you start early. If I didn't have my full crew coming back next year I would be looking for and interviewing prospective employees already for next summer's wheat harvest. I know harvesters who wait till April to start looking for help. That's okay if you want to get the bottom of the barrel. If you call larry Minner at Goodland KS. 800-537-2594 he can quote you insurance cost. Good luck. K.A. P.S. The first money you should spend as a custom harvester should be a membership in U.S. Custom Harvesters. Email me and I will get you signed up.

hey unit 2 thanks for your advice what does it cost to put all that liability on your equipment. the reason i'm thinking about charging less is because i don't plan on having brand new machines and trucks. maybe a couple 1480's or l2 gleaners. I'm not trying to be a prick. i am just wondering why you think that by charging 10's or 11's would put me out of business faster than anything. what can you tell me about the U.S. custom harvesters what are they all about can i do a web search on them. well thanks again Red

Red, I can't tell you what it would cost to insure the equipment you plan to purchase, I only know what it cost me for my equipment, that's why I gave you the name and number of an insurance agent in your part of Kansas who sells insurance to a lot of harvesters. Again I'll tell you that you do not want to cut for less than other harvesters, rather try to do a better job than others, that will always get you invited back by farmers you cut for. Have you thought of going to work for a harvester who wants to retire in a year or two and than take over is operation. There are harvesters retiring every year looking for guys like you. The link below will get you to the U.S. Custom Harvesters web site. Good luck! K.A.

Unit 2 its not that i intend to do inferior work for my customers at less cost. but i cannot afford to buy brand new equipment. i think that even though machines that come from the early 80's are older they can still do a good job if they have been well cared for. also i think these machines can be had at fairly reasonable prices. i am not really color blind as far as equipment goes i just look at the machine for what it is. i have looked at most shades of paint and have seen advantages in all of them. but anyway the reason i have been thinking about cutting for less is because i will be using older machines. and i think that most people want the brightest baddest machine in their feilds. i'm just asking what causes me to go out of business by cutting for less. i think if i am not making payments on a $125000 machine but paying for 2 10000 dollar machines i could maybe cut for less what do you think. you probably think i'm a hopeless moron but hey join the crowd. but anyway thanks for your advice i do appriciate it and will think about what you have told me. Red

Red, I do not think you're a hopeless moron. look at it this way, if your're using older machines your repair bills will most likely be higher than someone with new machines, and since you are just getting started your customer base will not be very large so you can not afford to leave money on the table and that is exactly what you will be doing if you cut for less than the going rate. K.A.

unit 2 with older machines do you think i could get jobs at the going rate with the older machinesIJ what do you work with whats your operation like and where do you operate i would go on a bit but i've been out being a college kid and i need to go to bed i do appriciate all your help thanks again Red

Red, Email me. That's my email address just above.

Red, hey, just a couple words of advice and encouragement. first, alot of liability insurance is a must! workmans comp is also. as far as cutting rates, charge going rates, for several reasons. first, until you build a customer base, no matter what type of machines you run it will be hard to make ends meet. second, other harvesters are your best freinds, even in finding work, and in a lot of matters, and frankly, and people who cut cheap get a bad reputation fast. finally, do a good job and the customer will be happy. as far as finding jobs with older machines, until a couple of years ago (2000),my dad and i ran 3 860 masseys (85 and 86 models) we found that as long as your machines looked good, did a good job and were dependable it was not hard to build a good reputation and find jobs, we are still running 1 860 (85) this year and probably next and it does not seem to scare off customers. my last piece of advice in if you are looking at l2's and 1400 series internationals, go with the rotor for capacity reasons. we have found the only reason to have a conventional is to acomidate straw baling. if you have any more questions do not hesitate to email me (bradh_44@hotmail.com). good luck and join uschi!, brad