Small Sawmill Workshop

[bugdust]

Just back from the Small Sawmill Workshop sponsored by NC State at Princeton,WV. There were 20+ attendees from far reaching areas (Indianna, UP Michigan, PA, VA, NC and who know where else. Lots of great information was shared, along with Marty bringing down a new WMLT40HD Super. Several attendees were already small sawmill business owners, but like myself, others attended searching for possibilities/encourgement of starting up a new business. One thing confirmed, it's a very difficult time to begin a new business unless there is a good business plan layed out. Financial support is tight, so you had better have cash on hand that understandably could blow away with the sawdust. Small sawmills probably have a better chance of surviving due to the lack of competition (some areas), and other opportunities are available to help support the sawing business when things get slow. Bottom line ..... you have to have money to make money AND have a good business plan.  pc_smiley

[Bibbyman]

Bottom line ..... you have to have money to make money AND have a good business plan.  pc_smiley

Good thing we didn't know that you needed these things back some 16 years go.   :D

[just_sawing]

I havew tried to corner the market on mistakes but new ones just keep croppping up.
What I have found is that the typical person that wants to start a business wants the business to clean up their mess. That is not fair to the business. I started my business with a 10K investment and now have assets that makes me shake my head. The other thing that I see is that as soon as business is started the owner wants to assume the CEO status not the slave out working everyone else.
If you want to be a business the sound business plan is not the plan that has you head over heals in debt. Most of the debt that I had in younger years with in a year I would have been happy to swap the debt for what I could not do with out and went in debt and reduced my families income. If you want your mill you will have to be out side the box and be willing to do what it takes. IS it easy sure after you do it.