Woodworking Business

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

Selling Shop/ Consultant Fee

4/7/19       
Ross

For the past twelve years I have been the sole employee in a custom wood shop. The owner is retiring. He offered to sell me the equipment and lease the shop but I declined. My responsibilities at the shop where, pricing, ordering, and manufacturing.

The owner has an interested buyer and they have approached me about consulting them. The potential buyer and I recognize the value of my experience with the building and equipment. The question I have is how do I put a number on my knowledge? I want to help them and see them succeed but also don't want to give twelve years of toil away for a song and a dance.

The shop.
panel saw
36" wide belt
16" joiner
22"planer
horizontal boring machine
two 7.5 h 1 1/4" spindle shapers
two table saws
band saw
vacuum bags

Thank you in advance for any insight,
Ross

4/7/19       #2: Selling Shop/ Consultant Fee ...
Paul Downs

Questions: 1) What is the buyer actually buying other than the equipment? Is there an ongoing source of orders that this person will be able to manage? A product line? Or just a rolodex? 2) Is the new owner in the business already, and this purchase adds volume to their existing operation, or are they hoping to take the place of your boss and run a similar operation? 3) Why are they offering you a consulting gig instead of continuing employment? 4) If you decide to be a consultant, are you ready to assume responsibility for your own taxes and benefits? 5) How much are you paid now? 6) Who else in your area would hire someone with your experience? What would they pay?

It's hard to offer much advice without more information, but if you can give us answers to those questions you will surely get some useful feedback.

4/7/19       #3: Selling Shop/ Consultant Fee ...
Ross

Paul,
Thanks for the response. Clearly, you have more experience then I do.
Here are the answers to your questions.1) they are buying the building and equipment. Nothing else. 2} The purchaser is in business already and this building and equipment is a large upgrade for them. They have their own clients and are not getting ours. 3) They may offer me a job but I am not interested. 4) Yes I can deal with paying taxes. 5) I was making $27.50/hr at the wood shop. I interviewed with three other shops. Two offered $18/hr and one offered $25. I turned down all three and am working as a on site (custom homes) finish carpenter for $27.

Thanks again for responding,
Ross

4/7/19       #4: Selling Shop/ Consultant Fee ...
Harry DeVrieze

Ross; I've been at this 36 years this June. My gut says this. If the purchaser already has a shop and this is an upgrade they need you for??? Nothing. Nothing except the image of someone all the existing customers know . They're not getting your clients?? They most certainly will. Where do you think they will go ? vanish? The new owner needs your face. Period. You already have another job at 27 /hr? so don't look back. Look ahead and move on.

Regards Harry DeVrieze

4/7/19       #5: Selling Shop/ Consultant Fee ...
rich c.

Does the new owner know your present responsibilities at the shop? Won't hurt to have a sit down with them so they can lay out what they expect and what they want you to do. Can't believe that your consulting time would be worth more than your current salary. You won't be bringing anything else to the table will you?

4/8/19       #6: Selling Shop/ Consultant Fee ...
Paul Downs

Sounds like you should stick with carpentry if you like it and your body can take it.

4/8/19       #7: Selling Shop/ Consultant Fee ...
Alan F. Member

The value of the business decreases some amount based on what the new owner can't do without you.

At some point the value is don't buy the business or hire someone. Maybe he needs you for 3 months, maybe 6 months.

Your value affects the price, why not ask the new owner what he thinks that value should be and see if you are interested.

It will affect the final price one way or another.

4/8/19       #8: Selling Shop/ Consultant Fee ...
BH Davis  Member

If the new owner wants you as a consultant then you should receive consultant fees.

Any previous business owner should be charging between $50 and $100 per hour in consultant fees within the industry. Since you are not the previous owner your rate would need to be lower. I would suggest in the $35 to $50 per hour range.

The job of a consultant is to give advice and guidance to a business owner. The more experienced the owner the less advice and guidance they would need.

Given that the new owner is expanding and not starting from scratch so to speak they are probably already pretty strong in general woodworking knowledge. That would mean they want you for knowledge of the equipment or knowledge of the customers. My guess would be it is the customers unless a CNC is involved and you are the one that programmed and ran it.

If you have a strong relationship with existing customers then they are paying you to continue those relationships to counter act their not paying for the customer list. This has value to them and your time might be a solid investment for them.

So my suggestion is $35 to $50 per hour and stick to your guns.

BH Davis

4/8/19       #9: Selling Shop/ Consultant Fee ...
Alan F. Member

Bruce,
Depending on where he is I would think 36-37 (1.35*27) is break even to the $27 he was making.

This is a job that will end sooner the better job he does so to me $50 or a flat rate for 1-3 months with limits on time.

A-

4/9/19       #10: Selling Shop/ Consultant Fee ...
rich c.

After Ross' second post, I have no idea what consultation is needed. He said the purchase was for real estate and machinery, no customers involved. So why would anyone need a consultant to buy a building full of machinery? Something doesn't make sense here with all the speculation.

4/9/19       #11: Selling Shop/ Consultant Fee ...
Ross

B.H. and Alan,

Thanks for the responses. Like I said, this shop is a big step up in equipment. Maybe "consultant" is too strong of a word. I was going to show them where the grease zerks are on the cyclone separator (they are not easy to find), the fine tuning of wide belt sander, the best way change the knives on the planer and joiner...you get the picture.
They are enthusiastic to have me pass on this information.

Thanks again for your responses,
Ross

4/9/19       #12: Selling Shop/ Consultant Fee ...
BH Davis  Member

Ok..........I understand.

I guess then I'd look at it in terms of whether you are going to be a temporary employee on their payroll or an independent contractor.

If you are temporarily on their payroll then perhaps $25 to $30 per hour would be reasonable. If you are an independent contractor covering your own expenses (taxes etc.) then I'd say $35 to $40 per hour.

This is for machine knowledge only. The minute it turns into customer relations along with the machine training the price goes up to at least $50 per hour as an independent contractor. I wouldn't recommend being an employee in this scenario as it will likely turn into more involvement than you indicate you would like.

Good luck,
BH Davis

4/10/19       #13: Selling Shop/ Consultant Fee ...
Scott

Sounds like they will only need you for a week or so, you should be able to show them what they need in a couple days, there is not much for equipment and most is fairly standard by the sounds of it?

I would agree with others, the information you have is worth at least $50 an hour, otherwise figure it out on their own. There is really nothing in it for you for very long.
Make hay while the sun shines and move on.

4/10/19       #14: Selling Shop/ Consultant Fee ...
Ross

BH, Scott,
Super helpful. Thanks. I've never done something like this before.
Ross

4/10/19       #15: Selling Shop/ Consultant Fee ...
rich c.

Maybe it will be a recurring job, like every time the cyclone separator needs grease.


Post a Response
  • Notify me of responses to this thread
  • Subscribe to email updates on this Forum
  • To receive email notification of additions to this forum thread,
    enter your name and email address, and then click the
    "Keep Me Posted" button below.

    Please Note: If you have posted a message or response,
    do not submit this request ... you are already signed up
    to receive notification!

    Your Name:
    E-Mail Address:
    Enter the correct numbers into the field below:
     

    Date of your Birth:



    Return to top of page

    Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

    FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)


  • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)