A reliable, well-planned portable workstation is a boon for any farrier.

It stores your tools, equipment and supplies. It’s a rolling billboard that promotes your business. Simply put, it’s your office and it needs to serve your needs efficiently to maximize your income potential.

While the price tag is considerable, there are a number of options from which to choose. If you plan to trim horses, a compact car and a minimal set of tools will do the trick. Like most new farriers, if you have a modest client list, a slide-out workstation under a truck bed cap or tonneau — a waterproof metal cover for your truck bed — might fulfill your needs. If you use your vehicle for purposes other than farriery, a trailer might be your best choice. Or, if you are fortunate enough to have a healthy client list, your practice might demand a full-size pickup with a customized body.

With so many choices, here are some questions to ask yourself before committing to such a large investment.

1

What Do I Really Need?

It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of the “dream rig” that’s fully stocked with top-of-the-line tools, inverters and stereo systems. However, you should ask yourself an important question.

“How much do you really need to do your job?” asks Al Creekmore, sales director at Extendobed in Boise, Idaho.

It’s…