Turning Your Passion for Welding into a Business

In 1966, after fleeing Cuba in search of freedom as a 15-year-old, my father, Carlos M. Nuñez, finished high school in Miami Beach, Fla. He came from a long line of sugar mill industrial workers from Matanzas, Cuba, who specialized in welding and fabricating. Not knowing what to do after graduating, he decided to follow his family’s legacy in the United States. He worked at Tracor Marine, a local shipyard in Port Everglades, Fla., where he moved up from an apprentice to a welder and eventually to a project superintendent.

In 1988, the shipyard moved its operations to Norfolk, Va., leaving my father with a hard decision: move his young family to Virginia or stay in South Florida? Family was always important to him, especially after being separated from his own at such a young age, so he chose to stay. Only knowing the trade of welding and fabricating, my father started a business to provide for his family while building a better life for us. In 1988, CMN Steel Fabricators Inc. was born from a vision of continuing his family’s legacy.

Now in its second generation, the company has built a solid foundation, earning the South Florida Manufacturers Association Breakthroughs Manufacturer of the Year Award (for 21 to 75 employees) in 2024 and maintaining AWS Affiliate Company Member status. That foundation continues to support our growth through changing times.

Based on our experience building and sustaining a manufacturing business, here are five effective and efficient tips for starting and operating your own business.

1. Follow Your Passion and Develop a Business Plan

If welding and fabrication are your passion, follow that up with a clear business plan. Identify what industries are active in your area and what types of services you are going to provide as you start your business. Remember to maintain an open mind to the possibility of other kinds of industries and services so you do not limit yourself. Have a flexible mindset to understand the needs of those industries and to pivot when necessary.

2. Identify Your Ideal Customer Base within Those Industries

Go out and introduce yourself to companies within your targeted industries. Use available resources to tap into connections and make as many contacts as possible. Once you have your foot in the door, it is crucial to build a solid reputation based on integrity, quality, and reliability. Keeping your word and your deadlines are key elements in building that reputation.

Create a culture based on a simple principle that we use daily at CMN Steel: “Quality means doing it right even when no one is looking” (Henry Ford). In addition, know that errors and mistakes will happen along the way, but what defines your company is how you respond to those errors and your desire to repair them. Each experience is a lesson. This will show your customers that you value their satisfaction with regards to your product or services.

3. Watch Your Money — Build a Financial Budget

Creating an atmosphere where a budget is in place allows you to track goals and spending. When starting up a business, it is essential not to treat your business accounts as a personal checkbook. Keeping the money in the business and investing in it will eventually lead to growth over time. It is hard not to spend money when things are going well, but understanding that work ebbs and flows is one of the most important lessons for an entrepreneur. Exerting self discipline in this area will give you the cash flow you require to survive the inevitable ups and downs.

4. Invest in Your Greatest Assets — Your Employees

Once you are on your feet and can hire more employees, it is imperative that you invest in them. You can help improve their skills and make their work experience a great one by building a culture that emphasizes skills training, safety training, and equipment acquisition. This allows an employee to feel confident in their ability to complete the task and understand the scope of work, resulting in a quality product and service for your customers.

For example, skills training can range from taking technical AWS courses and blueprint reading classes to learning soft skills, such as arriving on time, being dependable, and having a team member mentality.

Additionally, safety training is essential in an industrial world. Training can consist of taking OSHA ten-hour courses, holding weekly tailgate safety topics and/or biweekly safety meetings, and participating in a safety committee. This investment in your employee will always help increase your productivity and, inevitably, your profitability.

5. Keep Up with the Evolution of the Industry and Its Needs

From welding techniques to the latest piece of equipment, the evolving world of technology enables employees to work smarter and achieve better results. Staying set in your ways may impede the growth of your business; therefore, attend conferences and seminars to keep up with the industry and how it is evolving. Understanding which tools are available, what the latest software is, and the potential and use of AI in your industry can help your business reach the next level, giving you a cutting-edge advantage over competitors who may not have a flexible mindset.

Final Thoughts

I truly believe that following these steps will help you achieve your dream of starting a business rooted in your passion. We are now in our 38^th year servicing our community and realize that the key to success is building those solid relationships with your customers — establishing a reputation known for reliability, dependability, quality, and commitment to excellence — along with having a team around you that’s happy to come to work because they feel confident in their abilities, are seen as individuals, and work well together.

With strong values in your start-up, the possibilities are endless. Keep your passion going, start something for yourself, and have the flexibility to create a new life for you, your family, and your employees.

This article was written by Marisa Nuñez Perez (vice president of operationsat CMN Steel Fabricators Inc.) for the American Welding Society.