I can tell by your comments that your classmate has a good business going and gives his customers a job well done. I think that’s a huge part of the concept. You could have all the equipment money can buy, but if you aren’t good with it first and foremost, you’re going to run out of work. As folks have mentioned, there are many, many jobs a person could do with a skid steer and a mini excavator. Be good at them, don’t gouge people, and you will always have work.