THANKS FOR TUNING IN! WEBINAR RECAP

"[What is] the demand for these services?" - Rocco M. 
"What are the opportunities in Maryland?" - Michael G. 
"What are the different demand areas?" - Jami E.
"Where do I prospect for new customers?" - Kevin M. 
"Canada market?" - Matthew M.

If anything is painted, rusted or dirty, there is a need for this equipment. Many businesses are outsourcing all of their sandblasting needs or they are doing everything by hand with a grinder that takes forever. The best way to see the demand in your area is by looking at this Demand Checklist and calling around to local businesses to see who might need your services. A lot of our machine owners get on sub contractor lists to stay busy, or contact their county to see if they can restore local parks, fire hydrants, etc. If you want to start your marketing prior to owning a machine to get jobs lined up, that's an option. We do recommend a healthy Google Search Ad spend the first 6 months of being in business to generate leads. Our advertising partner, Digital Assembly, can assist with that.

"What kind of financing is available? - William L.
"Best way to get funding to start if a loan won't work?" - Robert J. 

We partner with a few third party lenders. Most require at least a 650 credit score unless you have a healthy down payment. Terms range but are average of 48 months. Your interest and down payment amount will depend on your application. The lowest down payment available if you have great credit is 10%.

We're here to help. Call us if you'd like us to further explore your specific situation or submit your financing application here.

"[What is] the maintenace and upkeep of equipment? I live in OH where there's bad weather" - Sonny V.
"Regular mainenace required of machines?" - Connor C.

The Dustless Blasting Academy is your free resource for all things operation and maintenance. We have an article that breaks down expected maintenance - daily, weekly, and monthly.

https://support.dustlessblasting.com/en/daily/weekly/monthly-maintenance

Here is a quick breakdown of the machine's wear parts. Frequency of replacement will largely depend on how much you're using the equipment and what you're putting through it (i.e. wet "dustless" blasting is much easier on the wear parts versus dry "traditional" blasting).

Blast Pot Items
* Pinch Hose - $30.99 for three
* Air Inlet Jet - $50.49
* Outlet Pipe - $157.49
* Outlet Elbow Insert - $46.49
* Pinch Hose Elbow Adapter - $68.49
* Parker Valve Maintenance Kit - $47.97

Accessories
* Nozzle - #5 nozzle is $148.99
* Blast Hose - 1” hose replacement with nozzle holder and coupling is $361.00 for 50 ft 

Compressor
* $469.24 for 185 CFM 500 hour kit 
* $315.93 Air / Oil Separator Filter replaced every 2000 hours
* $137.62 for a 2.5 gal jug of compressor oil to be changed approx. every three months

Regular maintenance is covered in the operators manual that comes with your equipment. That same information is also available on our Academy.

"Will there be onsite training?" - Juan Z. 
"How do I properly use equipment?" - John D.

Head on down to our facility in Houston, TX for a free, on-site demo! We're open Monday-Friday from 8AM-5PM.

If you can't, no worries! Our Online Academy has over 100 articles and videos that guide you on each aspect of the business - equipment operation, maintenance, blast techniques, and much more. Learn at your own pace and find the help you need when you need it.

Become a customer and our private Facebook community will be open to you. Currently, its home to over 1000 members just like you. You can reach at any time to ask for advice, share leads, find help with larger jobs, and much more.

Our in-house technical support is also available Mon-Fri, 8-5 CT.

"What kind of contractor LLC is needed?" - Michael W
"What are any required license or certifications required - if needed?" - Aubrey H. 

We'd love to be able to give you this information. Unfortunately, this depends entirely on the state you reside in. Some states require specialty licenses if you plan on working in certain fields. You have to find out what licensing applies to the county you will be working in. If you're working statewide, you'll need to contact the state to see their requirements.

Most business owners have general liability insurance with a $1,000,000 policy and insurance for the trailer itself for $2,000-$3,000 a year.

How do you develop repeat customers?" - Steven N. 
"How can I get government contracts for graffiti removal on a dirty building?" - Reynaldo N. 
"My biggest hold up is just trying to find clients." - Brent V. 
"What type of customers are looking for the service? What are some examples?" - Alan C.
"How to find customers other than just sending out mailers?" - Patrick E.
"What's the best way to attract new customers as well as seek out potential new ones if you're just beginning?" - Adrian G

There are so many ways to go about getting customers - reaching out to existing businesses like general contractors, getting on a subcontractor list, using your existing network, and utilizing our digital ads program, to name a few.

Sometimes its better to hear what's worked from other blasting businesses. We've compiled some of their answers in this blog: how to find customers.

"How available are abrasives?" - Connor C.
"Where do I find materials in my area?" - William L.

There are media distributors all over the country. Tru abrasives and black beauty have a distributor locator on their websites where you type in your zip code and it shows you the closest ones around you. You can also buy from our Online Store.

We have a fantastic blog that goes more in-depth on how to find and purchase abrasive media:

Blog: Where Do I Buy Abrasive Blast Media?

"OSHA compliance?" Roy B.

Wet blasting with an eco friendly media is the preferred surface restoration method by OSHA. To quote OSHA themselves:

"Use abrasives that can be delivered with water (slurry) to reduce dust."

Wet blasting encapsulates the spent coating and the media causing them both to fall straight to the ground. This allows you to clean up and dispose of it properly. Dry blasting creates a large dust plume that cannot be controlled without proper containment. If you are blasting a hazardous material with heavy metals or lead paint, you will have to follow your state's guidelines for proper containment and disposal.

"What is the estimated cost to run the equipment per hour? Media, water, fuel, etc." - Marshall F.
"How much of a yearly profit is the average for those using this system?" - Richard S.
"What is the net profit monthly?" - Connor C.

There are so many things that factor into this, let's break down the major variables.

• You can expect abrasive media to cost you about 50$/hr blasting. 
• The standard 185CFM air compressor will run through about 1.5 gallons of diesel/hr.

Some operating costs will vary depending on how you run your business: travel costs, crew, cleanup and disposal costs.

Keep in mind, this business is not a franchise. You're in complete control of how much you want to charge per job.

• Yes, the reported average is $300/hr for blasting, but take note that's across all industries. If you're working in the industrial or commercial sector, you likely can (and should) charge much more than $300/hr.
• Who is your client and how much is the service you're offering worth to them?
• What is your client's budget and expectations?
• Are you offering additional services like priming, painting, or cleanup?

You're also in some control of other operating costs like media and fuel. The savings from choosing a low-cost abrasive like crushed glass (and finding a local source) will add up quickly.

As with any business, you'll need to carry some form of business insurance. Costs can vary but we find the average for our customers is between 2-3k per year.

Looking for operating costs based on specific jobs? Check out our case studies.

"What media is best for each surface and PSI used?" Julian G. 
"How much media will I use on a job?" Julian G.
"Down time in between refilling the pot/water?" Justin M.
"What is the technical information I need for surface preparation?" Aaron R. 
"How do I properly use equipment?" John D.

Like any other trade, all of this comes with time and experience. You'll pick it up faster than you think.

1. To start, we recommend looking at our blasting media guide to see which medias are best for different jobs. Most surface preparation jobs will use a crushed glass because it is environmentally friendly and very versatile. 
2. It is always recommended to start at a low PSI and slowly adjust it higher if you want faster production rates. Call us if you have questions about an upcoming job and need assistance.

After some time, you'll know exactly how far away you should be for each type of job, the right angle to blast from, pressure, abrasive, and more. And what you can't intuit, our resources will help fill in those gaps.

You've got this. Remember, we're here to help.

In the beginning, this is the most challenging part for new business owners which is why we have created several resources to help.

• How to price jobs guide
• Interview: We sat down with a Dustless Blasting business owner to share insights on pricing jobs - watch here.
• FB Contractor group: Once you purchase from us, we will allow you into our private group where all our business owners share jobs they are bidding and how they priced them.

Blasting in the winter months is not only possible but profitable. Here are some tips for navigating the winter:

• Dry blast: our machine can blast wet or dry. Dry blasting eliminates a lot of the extra steps that need to be taken when wet blasting in freezing temps.
• Read this blog to learn about jobs you can pursue in the winter months
• If you need to wet blast in freezing temps, please read this article on how to prep your machine.