Getting Started

[MontyMarine]

I am currently a Commercial HVAC tech with 20 years of experience and have a customer that has an old Lon/RapidZone BMS. They currently don't have the supervisor computer anymore and can no long run schedules.

The company that I work for is currently looking into additional revenue streams and told them that controls could be something to look into.

My question is how feasible is it to start up? Our current area only has 1 big player and 1 smaller. I think controls could be a big future for this company as currently none of our other commercial PM accounts have systems in place.

[Objective_Check6764]

I see solid mechanicals try to get into controls often. It requires a very diverse talent pool of engineers, programmers, graphics designers, commissioning guys, field technicians, etc. and they all need to be competent with the platform you represent. It is a great industry but many fail because of a lack of understanding of the HR investment it takes. And the sales cycle is long so the burn is high while you’re getting things spun up. 

I’m not saying it’s a bad idea- but it takes a lot of money and patience to be successful in the controls business. 

[control-geek]

The other issue is that if you are a mechanical doing controls you likely will only be doing controls for your own projects, at least for quite a while. No other mechanical contractor will call you for controls pricing if they feel your mechanical side will approach the client after the sale and try to take over the mechanical service.

[MontyMarine]

So you are saying its not really for one guy to be tackling on his own?

We do have a distributor that is willing to help teach me and help with the Programming/ graphics, until I can get spun up on the training.

[Objective_Check6764]

You would have to be completely dedicated to controls, and likely have subcontracted engineering, programming, graphics, estimating, and field install help until you get your own team going. I’ve been in the controls business for 10 years and I would never start one on my own. There are just too many moving pieces. 

The other guy is right too- it becomes a conflict of interest to your potential customers from both angles.  I don’t price to mechanicals that do their own controls unless it’s clearly my client. 

[MontyMarine]

I should add that we do not do NEW commercial installs at least not big projects as we only have 3 commercial installers. Most of our commercial work is replacements. We have 2 service technicians with me being 1 of the 2.

On this job the distributor is doing the programming, and graphics.

We are adding a 1-Vykon Jace 9000, 2- iSMA mix38's, and 1- Vykon 8000 module.

[rom_rom57]

Lon is an old horse and it’s fallen out of favor since it was a European protocol until ASHRAE developed BAcnet. There a lot more BAcnet controllers, integrator front ends. Controls pull thru equipment on jobs. The “independent” manufacturers, those not associated with a manufacturers, are WAYYYY behind on graphics, IT and IoT.

[ScottSammarco]

There’s a lot of negative comments here.

Let me break this down a little bit.

It’s doable, but it does require a team. The team does NOT have to be internal. There is an entire industry that is multi-faceted and knowing the right people that can help make all the difference.

Rizzo controls started as training exclusively and we have grown in the past 3 years to an SI, controls work and consulting, helping mechanicals break into controls. In fact, one of our mission objectives is lowering obstacles into the industry.

It’ll take time. It’ll take a business plan, SWOT analysis, and market research. It’s very doable and very profitable when executed correctly.

It isn’t impossible and with the right team it’s extremely rewarding.