Suggestions on where to locate my mobile business

rjletravelers · December 02, 2022, 02:20:54 PM

Been lurking on the forum for several months and have to toss out a huge thank you to those of you putting your experiences on here. It has given me a ton of great information on starting a part time milling business that I can roll into my retirement. Hope this question is in the correct thread...

To the reason for my post.
I live in Boise, Idaho and my home is in a residential zone. I have found out that to get a business license in Boise I have to run it off land zoned light industrial and or commercial. Having done a tone of looking into available property I seem to have come to a dead end as I can find no contractors yard space in a reasonable distance that isn't less than 2500$ a month. Given I want to do this as a part time gig until I retire from my teaching job in a few years there is no amount of milling I can do part time that would pay for the required zoning space each month.

My intention is to provide a mobile milling service that is done primarily at the customers location milling their lumber into what ever their needs are. So I don't have need for a large space to lease. Problem is, there is no space small enough or cheap enough to lease. I have contacted a couple of commercial real estate company's and they have been super polite but have let me know what I am looking for just doesn't exist in their reality.

So, I am looking for suggestions from any of you that have started your own business on how to find a place to run my business out of. I want to do it legally so running out of my home doesn't work. One person I spoke to suggested finding a contractor with yard space I could sublease. Anyone done something like that? Willing to entertain any ideas or suggestions or questions.

Thank you!
Rich in Boise

Andries · December 02, 2022, 03:06:18 PM

Welcome to the Forum, Rich.
If you're wanting to set up as a mobile sawyer, you might be ok based from home.
Whats the difference between having a boat on a trailer, or a mill on a trailer?
I've seen videos and photos of many mobile sawyers on the Forum, with their mills located in a residential area.
on the other hand, for locating away from home, Tree Service companies generally have a bit of land to take care of chips and trunks.
Try phoning some of them to see if any of them are interested in a co-locate.

mudfarmer · December 02, 2022, 03:20:03 PM

A lot of corporations and companies are "run out of" mailboxes, even UPS store type po-box type things. These are normally shell/holding corps but I don't see the difference in your case. Something to consider if all you have to do is store your mill at home and not actually use it there. The business address is "123 Big Commercial Building St Suite 10, Boise" and it just happens to store an asset in your back yard. Nobody cares or knows if 123 Big Commercial Building St is just a UPS store.

Note: I am not a lawyer. This is not legal advice. At All. :P

Magicman · December 02, 2022, 05:52:43 PM

You said "mobile" which indicates to me that you will be sawing at the customer's location. I realize that Idaho ain't Mississippi, but I have been operating a portable sawmilling business for 20 years. The sawing is done at the customer's location and my truck is my office. All mail and sawmill parts/blades are delivered to my home address. Between jobs the sawmill is parked in my drive or side yard. If I will be idle for much more than a week, I park it in my Son's yard simply because he has more room than I have.

Ianab · December 02, 2022, 06:35:25 PM

Is there any dispensation for "mobile" businesses? Lots of other small operations are home based. Lawn mowing for example? Do they have to have a "commercial" base to operate from?The city officials may not volunteer this sort of loophole, but if it's there it should be able to be used.

maple flats · December 02, 2022, 06:47:24 PM

Another idea, try working a deal with a local farm. Farms do not have the regulations. Maybe you can even work a deal where you do some sawing f their logs as rent. There must be a few farms within 3-5 miles.

terrifictimbersllc · December 02, 2022, 08:34:20 PM

You would not be running the business out of your home location, to just park your mill at home. The business activity occurs at the customers property. You would not have customers coming and going at your home.The rule that might govern could be just what vehicle(s) are permitted by your zoning regulations. In interacting with your officials I would make it clear that what yiu would like to do should not be any different than for example a person who has a business van or landscaping trailer that he keeps at home and takes to customers properties. Study your zoning rules and see what they say.

SawyerTed · December 02, 2022, 08:38:30 PM

I had an agreement with a friend/neighbor/farm owner that I could saw on his farm. My "rent" was a few hundred board feet of 2x6 and 2x8 every couple of months cut from his logs.

My mill spent most of its parked time over 4 years under a shelter at his farm.

All my business was conducted from my residence.

Resonator · December 02, 2022, 09:13:35 PM

If you haven't done so already, you will need to find a good lawyer. They should be able to walk you through what's required in your area. I set my business up as a LLC 5 years ago, and my lawyer handled the articles of incorporation. Also you'll need a good accountant, this is a MUST if you're not proficient with legal tax requirements and business deductions.

rjletravelers · December 04, 2022, 11:15:55 AM

Morning everyone,
Thank you all a tone for the information. A lot of great ideas. Sorry for the late response, I was busy with the family yesterday. So, here is the information from the city of Boise zoning.

Contractor's Shop is defined as:
"Contractor Shop: A building or part of a building or land area for the construction or storage of materials, equipment, tools, products, and vehicles. Parts and equipment are generally not displayed or sold on-site for retail consumption, but if so, they are a subordinate part of commercial or wholesale sales. Typical examples include air conditioning service, plumbing companies, electrical companies, rental stores, or any area upon which materials are stored for use as part of the business or from which service crews are normally dispatched in service vehicles."

Based on the first sentence above, because you are storing the materials and equipment on site, this use would be considered a Contractor's shop, and is only allowed in a few zones.

I hope that helps,

To get a business license in the City I have to have an address located on zoning that is light industrial or similar.
I will look into the mention above for a dispensation but given my discussion I am doubting it. Though, it may very well be one of those situations where if they don't ask don't tell. So will give it a look.

Several great suggestions. The most likely will be looking into a company that has the space to sublet to me potentially. We do have many a local farm so I will look into that option as well. There are several farm supply stores I can post information in and look into that option as well. I have a couple of neighbors that have a landscaping business and the other a tree service. They will both be on my, talk to sooner rather than later list.

Beyond that I want to give a huge thank you to several of you who posted above. I have been reading many of your posts prior to making my own. The community on here is helping me realize I am making the best decision for myself.

What I want to create is nearly identical to Magicman and I have read dozens of his posts. Thank you! And thank you the rest of you as well.

If anyone has any further ideas that come to them please reach out.
Thank you,

Rich

YellowHammer · December 04, 2022, 02:07:07 PM

I don't know, I think you probably qualify for a home business. According to the Boise Small Business planning documents,

https://www.cityofboise.org/media/3862/010-small-business-owner-guide.pdf

I don't see you violating these requirements. You will not be changing the character of a dwelling, and would not be adding additional pedestrian traffic. You won't even be conducting business out of your house unless you dedicate a room as an office.

In your example, I got the feeling it was to dissude junkyards, sign shops, warehouses, etc and other home businesses that are heavy on equipment or hardware that is stored and resold besides the examples they gave. I personally don't see how they would apply to you.

I googled and found at least one mobile har dresser that appears to be conducting business for their home as far as I could tell. Typically, home hairdressers or makeup people are used as the general example of an acceptable and no load home business that doesn't require rezoning, at least in Alabama.

I would also equate your mobile sawmill business to be equivalent to that of a professional bass fisherman. They fish tournaments as a business, but come home and park their bass boats at their house between tournaments. In many ways, that is exactly what you are doing. I doubt Boise would tell the pro fisherman that he couldn't park his boat and trailer at his house, and I doubt he would need a business license, either.

My take on it....

red · December 04, 2022, 02:31:29 PM

I know a local tree service that the town was telling him he could not park his chipper at his house. He hired a lawyer and the town agreed he could keep the chipper at his house only if it was hitched to his truck.

dougtrr2 · December 05, 2022, 08:38:10 AM

I would try to set up a face to face meeting with someone who is knowledgable and sympathetic to your goals. You cited a section of regulations regarding Contractor Shop. While you could make an argument that a mobile sawing business fits there, that may not be the right rabbit hole to go down. Sometimes when dealing with regulations you have to step back and look at the whole body of material. You may not even be in the right chapter. A face to face meeting with someone willing to figure out "how to make this happen" as opposed to "here is why you can't" is crucial.

Does the Boise Chamber of Commerce have a small business advocate? Most cities have someone trying to encourage business growth. That would be someone to talk to. If all else fails, maybe talk to a lawyer familiar with small business, he may have a better read on all the laws. But I thing you should be able to find a "free" civil servant that can help you navigate.

Could you rent a space in a self storage unit and meet the requirements?

Doug in SW IA

WV Sawmiller · December 05, 2022, 09:33:41 AM

I was thinking along the same lines as Doug. I would go to the county office who issues licenses and permits and such and describe what you want to do and simply ask them what you need to do to be legal. Before I got started in my mobile sawing business I talked to the license people and we determined what kind of license I needed. Then I talked to the tax people and learned what sales taxes and such I'd have to collect and how turn in to them. Everyone I talked to were very helpful and cooperative. In most cases their goal is to help small businesses.

If you are talking to the zoning people they may have a different perspective but the ones who do the licensing and taxing and such are probably more likely to be on your side.

Southside · December 05, 2022, 09:39:35 AM

If you hit a brick wall, and it sounds like you might, you can always look to set the business in a different town via a registered agent, or if necessary incorporate in another state and operate from home. You won't be running the mill there so nobody will be the wiser.

If all else fails there is a lot of timber in Montana.

WV Sawmiller · December 05, 2022, 09:46:03 AM

BTW - are you a veteran? If so you might talk with the VA and they might be able to be able to offer advice and grease some skids for you.

SawyerTed · December 05, 2022, 09:47:06 AM

I have found asking upfront "how do I do _____" of the building inspector and others responsible for regulations gets me a long long way to getting what I want.

Have you had the conversation with those who do the regulation/permits/licensing yet? We may be reading in too much of an adversarial situation before it has reached that point.

WV Sawmiller · December 05, 2022, 11:05:00 AM

Another good feature about asking up front is if someone starts to challenge you later you can always tell them "I talked to _____ before I did this and they told me I was in compliance." Officials don't like to get in disputes with their counterparts especially when they find the OP has already cleared it with the cognizant offices.

barbender · December 05, 2022, 01:31:15 PM

I am much more of the "it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission" persuasion on this kind of stuff. All you are doing at your residence that would be business related is getting mail and parking the mill at night. Why would you even need a license for that?

Sedgehammer · December 06, 2022, 09:55:24 AM

Drive around , if you see any commercial vehicles parked @ their house for the night , you have zero to worry about

I'm like bartender , forgiveness is almost always better . You just might be opening up a huge can of red worms you don't want to eat by contacting the city prior to

SawyerTed · December 06, 2022, 01:44:27 PM

The OP said "legally". The ask for forgiveness approach doesn't fit with his original question.

rjletravelers · December 06, 2022, 01:57:22 PM

You all rock!

Great information that I can take several different directions.
I do know a few people that work for the city of Boise. I will reach out to them and see if they could put me in touch with the right folks so to speak.

There are generally speaking a lot more people to talk too beside the one person I spoke to in the zoning office. Boise has a small business association that has a lot of resources available to people starting their own businesses. I have sent several former students to them. Don't know why I didn't think of them myself. I am not a vet so that option isn't a line I can take.

In regards to what I see parked on the street around Boise. Literally next street over from me is a guy who parks a tow-able crane and chipper at his house. He also parks his large truck for the chipper on the street. Think I will go chat with him. He may have plenty of information he could share. As well as a potential lead on jobs and such.

I have a lot more options to look into.
Thank you all!

rjletravelers · December 06, 2022, 02:05:48 PM

@ Yellow Hammer

Funny you mention the professional fisherman. One of my co-workers is on the US National fly fishing team.

Admittedly, I don't have any idea how a mobile band sawmill is any different than most of the objects I see parked in front of homes in Boise. Huge outdoors man state with fishing, hunting and recreational opportunities galore. Why can't I park my mill on the side of my house when there are dozens of other things city wide parked on the street. Camp trailers, boats and rv's everywhere.
Thanks.

barbender · December 06, 2022, 02:10:12 PM

ST, like I said, I wasn't suggesting that the OP break any laws. This strikes me as a very, very grey area where you could pay all kinds of fees and for licenses that you don't legally even need, but they will still let you pay for them. If I were that concerned about it, I would consult a business attorney in that area.

Ianab · December 06, 2022, 02:24:15 PM

I wonder how it's different from say a tree service, who has a commercial yard as their registered place of business, and log / firewood storage. But the crew boss takes the truck and chipper home at night, and drives directly to the job site and home again.

They have the "commercial yard" requirement covered in the permit, but some equipment gets parked at home most of the time. Is there a specific regulation about parking light machinery at home?