HVAC TECH TO A EXCAVATOR OWNER OPERATOR. 3 YEAR UPDATE. $48K ANNUALLY TO $250K ANNUALLY

[@BillTalkington-g5r]

I've owned a truck repair business for the last 12 years. I started acquiring machinery 3 years ago. I do land clearing on the side. I love it. I soon will be 62 years old. Will do it as long as I can.

[@MORE_DIRT]

Love to hear that!! Keep at it sir

[@jejoko]

I'm almost fifty and just started with a 19 hp lawn tractor and drag attachment to do driveways.

[@tristardiggin]

Hey Cole, That is a great story how you got started to where you are now. Your hard work and drive is what it takes to get the business rolling. Haven’t heard of the Excavator Academy. I will have to check that out.

[@MORE_DIRT]

Appreciate the comments sir! Would love to collaborate one day if you ever need help. I want to learn all I can!

[@EarthServe-tk8tm]

Thanks for the inspo buddy! Part timer currently, FT employed in a completely different industry, but love dirt work and would love to do it full time... Subscribed.

[@MORE_DIRT]

Thank you for watching! We all start somewhere! Appreciate you subscribing

[@ScottFeken-g6x]

Thinking about doing something similar but don’t know where to start! I know a little bit of everything but haven’t specialized in one thing long enough to be comfortable knowing what I need to bid to be profitable

[@AnthonyUnderwood-ze7ff]

Wow! What a phenomenal story. Thanks, Cole. Keep improving your skills by leaving your comfort zone.

[@Poppyblockhead]

Love the content. Maybe stabilize the frame a bit I’m gettin dizzy but I’m still watching 😂

[@CurtisLandworksVT]

Awesome journey. Your attitude is obviously one of your best assets! Thank you for sharing. I am over here in VT working a desk job full time in the winter and doing 24 hours a week at the desk in the summer and those 2-3 day jobs excavating the rest of the time. Some day I would like to make the jump, but I am the sole breadwinner for my family, so it is scary. My currently plan is to use my excavation profits to pay off my mortgage over the next 3 years, and then I will have zero personal and zero business debt. From there, I can decide what my next step is, and if I want to go full time. It is really hard to balance the two careers at once!

[@MORE_DIRT]

It’s extremely difficult! Put God first and the rest will follow if it’s suppose to! You sound like you’ve got a game plan. Keep the goal and keep the faith!

[@briangammons8242]

It’s awesome what you have done. I’m on that journey. Still working full time but wanting to do dirt work and working weekends etc. like you were talking I’m still not that confident in bidding or doing bigger jobs. I’ve reached out also to local guys and I feel the same way I don’t want them thinking I’m trying to take anything from them. Most of the time that’s the attitude I get though. But it’s alright I understand. I’ll have to check out that excavator academy and see what it’s all about.

[@MORE_DIRT]

It’s a super unique situation that most don’t understand! The excavation academy and their dirt work marketing class was a legit cheat code. The live zoom meetings are so helpful.

[@briangammons8242]

@@MORE_DIRT it may be legit. Price kinda surprised me

[@jejoko]

Brother, you have to give glory and honor to God. Because they way you are describing your journey, it is like it was set up for you to just show up and get to work. I have a similar story. I started with $3000 doing driveways with a 19hp lawn tractor that I took the mowing deck out of and a drag behind attachment. Now I have a sandpro and a heavier pull behind. I'm still not as big as you, and I still need to get my first dump trailer and skidstreer, but God is putting everything in place.

[@MORE_DIRT]

Appreciate you watching! God is 100% the only reason I’m in this situation. I personally need to be better about realizing it though. I still struggle with daily struggles and anxiety that comes with business.

[@kaic9712]

@@MORE_DIRThow do you deal with the anxiety of doing jobs you haven’t done before

[@MORE_DIRT]

@kaic9712 100% faith in the good lord. I try to research everything I can and go into it with a positive attitude.

[@chriscaldwell9601]

Congrats buddy!! Im literally in the same boat and this video was very helpful!! Thank you!

[@kelly-k-dub]

So proud of you, Cole!!!! I always knew you would succeed at whatever you put your mind to!!!!

[@MORE_DIRT]

Thank you! I appreciate that so much

[@kelly-k-dub]

@@MORE_DIRT you’ll always be one of my fav country boys!! Tell your bro I said Hi!!!!

[@MORE_DIRT]

@kelly-k-dub will do! Get a hold of me if you ever need anything!

[@DukeofBarrence]

Great story Cole. I'm just surprised you only got $18 an hour as an HVAC tech. All the ones I know make at least double, usually more than triple that. Was your dad exploiting you? I also worked for my dad as an underpaid tech for a long time, but I did well water pumps and filtration systems. When he retired I bought the company from him and did it for about 3 years. Made really good money, but in my field, everything was an "EMERGENCY!" and the stress of it got to me, so I resold it. It was also nearly impossible to find potential employees, as it's such a niche field. I kinda like the idea of doing some small side work running machines, but not letting it get to the point where I'm super busy all the time.

[@MORE_DIRT]

I ended up making $29.00 an hour, I was still 110% sick of the hvac life. Mini splits ultimately made me quit.

[@PremiumFuelOnly]

Have you considered getting your CDL as the next step? That way you can drive dump trucks and tow simultaneously.

[@MORE_DIRT]

I absolutely have! My plan is to get them soon as I can.

[@uncledrewbee1029]

Great story love watching videos like this with experiences you’ve had and lessons learned. Keep em coming man

[@MORE_DIRT]

Appreciate you watching

[@charlesjacksoniii8787]

So cool I am a carpenter and I would like a mini ex to dig footings, driveways, etc.

[@MORE_DIRT]

It’s a blast but boy it’s a learning curve!

[@charlesjacksoniii8787]

@@MORE_DIRT Ya thats what I heard I have a former community college classmate who has one maybe he can teach me to use one.

[@taylorhansen2619]

Great video Cole, loved the information and your backstory!

[@HunterMayfield-ek4wb]

Hey man im a young buisness owner in a successful mowing and landscape buisness. But I've always wanted to run equipment full time. I have experience on skidsteers and excavation. But looking for advice on what to buy as a first skidsteer?

[@Spooky_Gregg]

Awesome freaking story. you need to get this video out further to encourage others,to grind and hustle like you did. Keep rocking 💯💯

[@MORE_DIRT]

I’m trying ! Would appreciate all the help and shares I can get. Thank you for watching!

[@HortonHill]

Well done!

[@MORE_DIRT]

Thank you

[@Jreddygo]

Great info sir and thanks for sharing your experience with us. I want to ask you about how much does it cost for the construction insurance yearly? Thanks 😎👍🏽

[@michaelbacile8439]

Hey man, I’m in my second year of my business. Not dirt work but I do interior demolition on the side, I work as a floor installer as a full time job. I’ve got about 15-20 jobs under my belt. A hand full of pics and vids. When you advertise on your personal fb page how do you set up the post? Do you ask for people to pass on your info or is it more of asking friends and family if they need anything? Thanks in advance, I’m subscribed and your channel has been a huge motivating factor for me

[@livewire500]

Great info man, how do you bid on jobs? do you have a formula that you use. thanks

[@MORE_DIRT]

I use the templates I got from the Excavation academy! www.loom.com/share/c569e63bf25641f19165d9f58b5eae64

[@kenman200]

Very cool

[@blakebakalar]

So with having work line out for over 3 months how do you keep them in order and on time like say u have a big clearing job but unsure of time frame to be done how do you keep each job in line if that’s makes sense

[@MORE_DIRT]

It legit changes week to week. I’m in contact with my customers often. Most of the time they understand the situation. I always put a section in my contract “scope of work is estimated to be completed in this time frame”

[@sethcastro65]

Looking to get into a dirt work business with a skid steer and a dump trailer. I'm in small town iowa and I work as a heavy equipment operator at a mine. I want to start but I don't know who to contact.

[@MORE_DIRT]

Message me anytime! Would be happy to help steer you in the right direction.

[@Ben-jz4ke]

For those of you that are new. No shame in renting the equipment and doing jobs until you get the capital to purchase equipment. Too many times I see 40k skids on fb market place because people lose interest or it isn't for them. And if that mfer breaks and it wasn't obviously u messing up they fix it. Buy the dump trailer first its cheap and ez to unload if it goes south.

[@MORE_DIRT]

Solid advise!! Exactly how I started

[@Ben-jz4ke]

@@MORE_DIRT Hell ya brother. Keep the pedal mashed!

[@GroundLevelDirtWorks]

Man i would love to book a call with you that would be helpful

[@GroundLevelDirtWorks]

Bro your going to have a major company

[@MORE_DIRT]

Email me [e-mail]

[@mattgardner3763]

great voice buuuuuut you really need a tripod or tracking mount for your camera. i can listen but i cant watch because your frame is shaking so much

[@MORE_DIRT]

Appreciate you watching! You got any setups you recommend? I’m a hillbilly man I’m pretty clueless on good camera setups 😂

[@mattgardner3763]

@ doesn’t have to be anything great or special just a stationary mount. I’ll post an Amazon link give me a min or two.

[@shanebiggers8437]

Well I’m guessing your wife has family insurance if not what are you doing about that? Any recommendations? I’ve been doing this couple years with plans to leave my current job just still scared about it failing or ending up broke.

[@MORE_DIRT]

Yes sir, we have insurance through her work. She’s a teacher, although I have buddies who do have their own health insurance doing the same work we do.

[@jmillz8783]

Did you start out renting equipment before owning? If so, was it profitable?

[@MORE_DIRT]

Yes and yes. Just inconvenient

[@zackzander425]

I would have kept the F-450. It would have helped scale the business when you get heavier equipment. A single rear-wheel F-350 with a short-bed and aftermarket rims doesn’t look professional 😂. I’m calling the guy with the white F-550, tool boxes and commercial plates.

[@MORE_DIRT]

Those rims didn’t last but for a month. I like the stock look 😂 the f350 keeps me from getting bothered by DOT also.

[@zackzander425]

@@MORE_DIRT If your truck is capable of weighing more than 10,000lbs you need a DOT number. I have a F-350 and even without a trailer on back I need a DOT number. Lots of guys run without them but usually everyone in construction needs one unless they are a handyman in a S10. If you haul anything with an engine, even a weed wacker, you also need MCS-90 endorsement for hazardous materials. If you’re making money with your truck the Troopers will bust your ass when they see you going down the road with a mini-ex. Welcome to business ownership.

[@MORE_DIRT]

@zackzander425 farm plates. YOLO. Is it the best way? No. It works for me with pulling a 9000lb machine. 99% of us small guys can get by with it

[@grizzrider09]

If you can't tow it with a 1ton single wheel you might as well be using a dump truck. Also no one wants to drive around a truck with a flat bed or utility boxes when they aren't at work 😂

[@zackzander425]

@@grizzrider09get a Lexus or something to drive around when you’re not at work. Then he can tell the IRS that the truck is used for 100% work purposes. A 450/550 tows so much better. Night and day difference.

[@jaredgoogoo5852]

Excavation Academy?

[@MORE_DIRT]

Yes sir! It’s literally all the tools you need to scale. They didn’t exist when I started. From bids to taxes. They cover everything.

[@jaredgoogoo5852]

@@MORE_DIRT they got a website?