DEVELOPING A CUSTOM PORTABLE SAWMILL ENTERPRISE

Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service Cooperative Extension, 2007. Paperback. New. 10x0x0. Brand new copy! Discusses business-plan development; determining rates; writing contracts; marketing; product and service diversification; safety issues; insurance and liability; financial analysis; purchasing and operating a sawmill; grading lumber; sorting and stacking wood; specialty cuts; equipment maintenance; and more.If you like working outdoors and are thinking of starting your own business, a new book, Developing a Custom Portable Sawmill Enterprise can help you make an informed decision about your future. Today, portable custom sawmill businesses are flourishing, in part because technological advances by equipment manufacturers—over 70 of them now operating—have made it possible for a one- or two-person operation to produce high-quality lumber economically. Another obvious plus is that the demand for these services is growing.Developing a Custom Portable Sawmill Enterprise, NRAES–134, reviews key considerations for those investigating options to develop a portable sawmill enterprise. It provides an overview of what is involved in lumber production and touches on all aspects of starting your own business, including determining rates; writing contracts; identifying a niche; marketing; product and service diversification; safety issues; insurance and liability; and financial analysis. For those who know little about wood or what is involved in becoming a sawyer, this guide can serve as a primer through inclusion of such topics as grading lumber; types of sawing; sorting and stacking; equipment maintenance; dimension lumber vs. specialty cuts; and much more. It also provides a wealth of resources to help you find in-depth answers to your specific questions.This 36-page guide begins by explaining how to develop a business plan—a must for those who have never operated their own business. One important aspect is deciding whether your enterprise will be a sole proprietorship, a partnership, a corporation, or a limited liability company. The next consideration is selecting and purchasing a mill. Will it be a bandsaw or a circular saw mill? Will it be a lower-end model requiring more manual labor, or a high-end, more automated model? New or used? With so many choices available in today’s marketplace, selecting the right model may require some research. Contact information for 27 sawmill manufacturers was included to help with this effort.Developing a Custom Portable Sawmill Enterprise was edited and coauthored by Jonathan Kays, Extension Specialist, University of Maryland. Authors include Gary Goff, Senior Extension Associate, Cornell Cooperative Extension; Steven J. Milauskas, former Applications Specialist, John Deere Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division; Mike Greason, consultant forester, Catskill, New York; John E. Wagner, Associate Professor, The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry; and Hugh Canham, Professor, The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. ContentsIntroductionDeveloping a Business Plan Sidebar: What’s in a business plan? Organizing Your Business Sidebar: Where can I find help with developing a business plan?Selecting and Purchasing Your Mill Sidebar: Bandsaw or circular saw mill?Efficient Production The Product Sidebar: Hardwood grades The Process Sidebar: Types of sawing Maintenance Backyard Trees and Foreign Objects Sorting and Stacking LumberBusiness Considerations Product and Service Diversification Sidebar: Vertically integrate your business Marketing Sidebar: Developing leadsSafety Sidebar: Think safety: think aheadInsurance and Liability Worker Compensation (WC) Business Insurance State Unemployment Insurance CostsFinancial Analysis The Spreadsheet Portable Sawmill Profitability Spreadsheet—Annual Profit Report Annual Income Sidebar: Determining your effective hourly rate, if you charge on a board-foot basis Annual Expenses Variable Expenses Fixed Expenses Net Annual Cash Flow Three Scenarios ConclusionsAppendix A: Information References and Sources of Assistance Magazines Publication Resources Sources of Assistance and Web SitesAppendix B: Listing of Commercial Portable Sawmill ManufacturersAppendix C: Sample ContractAppendix D: Glossary