Starting a commercial structured cabling business? Advice welcomed..

[KernelMayhem]

Hello, i am looking into starting a commercial structured cabling business and wanted to know if anyone has gone this route or offer it as a service in your MSP business. My core services would be to offer data cabling, CCTV/IP security camera setups & wireless AP setups to small/mid size business in my local market. Medical, law and any general offices would be my prime clients.

Texas doesn't require a license to do low voltage cabling but i would need a permit to provide my CCTV/IP security camera services. Initially to keep start-up cost low, i would be working out of my house and keeping my tools and supplies either in my garage or at a storage unit.

Any tips or recommendations are welcomed.

 

[trevm999]

I think this is great idea. Lots of MSPs like to outsource this because it's not a part of their expertise. And it is also hard to train someone on it if you're not doing an apprentice-like setup (and thus if doing this without an apprentice setup, then the cabling guy gets sent on his own too early, resulting in some really expensive mistakes).

Also, electricians cost big $. So an experienced cable runners that doesn't cost as much as electricians are in demand.

I don't see any reason not to work out of your house unless you get really big. Or your spouse wants their space back.

 

[trevm999]

Make sure you get enough insurance. I read somewhere that a jack-of-trades guy ran some cable for a non-profit on their new building as a favour and ended up ruining the structural integrity.

 

[KernelMayhem]

I think this is great idea. Lots of MSPs like to outsource this because it's not a part of their expertise. And it is also hard to train someone on it if you're not doing an apprentice-like setup (and thus if doing this without an apprentice setup, then the cabling guy gets sent on his own too early, resulting in some really expensive mistakes).

Also, electricians cost big $. So an experienced cable runners that doesn't cost as much as electricians are in demand.

I don't see any reason not to work out of your house unless you get really big. Or your spouse wants their space back.

Thank you for the reply.

I first got the idea while working at a MSP almost five years ago and did not act on it. From what i have be researching, electricians are not really the go-to guys for this because many are not aware/don't follow ethernet and fiber standards. Plenty horror stories on this issue.

I will continue researching this business idea.

 

[trevm999]

Thank you for the reply.

I first got the idea while working at a MSP almost five years ago and did not act on it. From what i have be researching, electricians are not really the go-to guys for this because many are not aware/don't follow ethernet and fiber standards. Plenty horror stories on this issue.

I will continue researching this business idea.

Electricians are good at running and phishing wire. Half of the time they are just glorified cable runners. However, most of the wire they work with day-to-day is very bendable, and thus they're used to a lot of tolerance for kinks in wire, etc. Also, they're not specifically trained in terminating communications cable. However, they should know enough to try to avoid interference. If they're running ethernet cable with the electrical cable then they're just being sloppy. Unless it's an electrician specializing in communications, chances are they would run the cable, and someone else would terminate. A person can make a career out of just terminating fiber.

You would pretty much be offering the best of both worlds. Cheaper cable runs, and no hand off between the runs and termination. And you're specialization means that you would be doing it right. Less chance that after running cable in a new build, and it is already finished and drywalled, it turns out one of the ethernet cables doesn't work.


P.S.
When I was in electrician apprentice schooling, our communications training lab was making 1 ethernet cable. They only have 2 RJ45 jacks per student, so if you messed up it was "oh well"

 

[Diggs]

I have a good friend that did this several years ago. He and a friend started up doing just cabling. He is a millionaire today. One of their biggest customers was/is Walmart stores in the Midwest.

 

[trevm999]

How much cable running experience do you have? (are you looking for any tips specifically to running cable?) Do you have any construction experience?

Invest in a cable certifier. That will immediately set you apart from the guys doing it that only operate on the basis that if the cable 'works' then everything must be fine. This way you can assure your clients of quality.

 

[KernelMayhem]

How much cable running experience do you have? (are you looking for any tips specifically to running cable?) Do you have any construction experience?

Invest in a cable certifier. That will immediately set you apart from the guys doing it that only operate on the basis that if the cable 'works' then everything must be fine. This way you can assure your clients of quality.

I learned how to do it on the job while working for a small company that had a tight budget (about 120 drops during the weekend). Each classroom required 6 drops and a few IP-based cameras and AP throughout the hallways. My co-workers and i did everything from running the cables, installing j-hooks, apply fire barrier sealant anytime we went through a wall and terminating the cables. We even rented the Fluke Network cable certifier for a week. All in all, the cable was the most expensive material and we probably spent $1,000 on all the tools required. My co-worker and i probably saved our employer over 10k doing that task in-house.

I already own a pick-up truck and predicting that its going to cost about $7,000 to start this up. Initially, i plan on renting a cable certifier, purchasing bulk cat 6 cables etc..

 

[trevm999]

Good luck. I think there is definitely lots of market for it. I used to be an electrician apprentice, and I did lots of cat6 drops for my previous employer, but I'd still rather hire someone else to do it. Running communication cable is really a different discipline than IT, and I'd rather be doing IT work.

@Markverhyden and others here offer the service and @YeOldeStonecat has a good cabling guy he outsources to. So there are multiple levels of insight here that others will hopefully chime in with.

 

[Markverhyden]

Thank you for the reply.

I first got the idea while working at a MSP almost five years ago and did not act on it. From what i have be researching, electricians are not really the go-to guys for this because many are not aware/don't follow ethernet and fiber standards. Plenty horror stories on this issue.

I will continue researching this business idea.

That's not really an accurate assessment. This stuff has been around many years. Sure, in rural areas, you may still find electricians that don't know how to do proper 568B or A terms. In populated areas even the small shop owners know how to run and term. But many just use those blinky light testers, which are really just continuity detectors. Where I find added value is to roll in the cabling ad/or terms with device installation and testing. I've done plenty of work, in new build outs, where the electricians have made the runs and I come through to install devices and system testing.

The biggest problem in my area is this is a mature technology. Most places already have Cat5e run. Even though it's over 10 years old it still does the job. Most of my work is IMAC related or repairs. That, and everyone wants wireless. Of course fiber is something completely different.

 

[KernelMayhem]

That's not really an accurate assessment. This stuff has been around many years. Sure, in rural areas, you may still find electricians that don't know how to do proper 568B or A terms. In populated areas even the small shop owners know how to run and term. But many just use those blinky light testers, which are really just continuity detectors. Where I find added value is to roll in the cabling ad/or terms with device installation and testing. I've done plenty of work, in new build outs, where the electricians have made the runs and I come through to install devices and system testing.

The biggest problem in my area is this is a mature technology. Most places already have Cat5e run. Even though it's over 10 years old it still does the job. Most of my work is IMAC related or repairs. That, and everyone wants wireless. Of course fiber is something completely different.

Do you think offering ethernet/fiber installs, CCTV/IP camera installs & wireless setups would be a good set of core services?

 

[Markverhyden]

Do you think offering ethernet/fiber installs, CCTV/IP camera installs & wireless setups would be a good set of core services?

Sure that's a viable mix. But if your going to do CCTV, IP cams, WAP then you need to include the edge devices as well. Meaning routers and switches as well. Focus is important. Pick a vendor or two to work with. Ubiquiti has good selection. Personally I've only worked with some of their routers and WAP's. But they do have camera offerings and others have used them so maybe they'll pipe up.

 

[trevm999]

I've been very happy with Ubiquiti cameras. However, I would sell them as your low end, but reliable option. And then you could so Axis for high end.

They have fantastic networking equipment though, no real reason to offer a different brand for "higher end" equipment there.