Business changes

[SamIam]

I was happy with 2 trucks, running one with a tech and helper running the other.

Couple young helpers decided shaving and haircut s weren't part of the plan.

I said to the mom because they were 2 brothers, can they clean up a bit?

She said good luck finding better help they no longer work for you.

A few months later they try collecting unemployment hahahaha.

Nope you quit.

So without 2 helpers we cut ads and still had 2 trucks sales dropped but so did overhead.

Then COVID hit and my last employee 9 years, didn't want to go into homes.

Business cut into half for a few months.

I ran around like on a raft or little.

I tried getting my guy back after 3 months and he was happier at Walmart.

So my wife decided she was gonna be my helper.

She vacuumed and crb'd and grabbed blowers.

Well it didn't take long for the work to bring to light her sciatica.

Which got progressively worse.

Now she is in constant pain, did compression therapy and chiropractor. Didn't work, next option is epidural, or possibly surgery.

The worst part is trying to get pain meds.

Doctor think everyone is an addict.

But pain makes people more irritated.

I managed 4 stops by myself today for almost 1k.

But I don't usually do 4 we try to stick with 3 a day 5 days a week.

Last two years I've managed about 175k by myself with 1 truck.

This year is starting slower here.

Feels like the start of a recession.

 

[Mikey P]

Well damn..

Hate to hear all that Sam.

Raise your rates, work less, save more, vlm as often as you can, create other sources of income and hold on tight.

 

[SamIam]

Well damn..

Hate to hear all that Sam.

Raise your rates, work less, save more, vlm as often as you can, create other sources of income and hold in tight.

It's been busy slow busy slow.

Just since January.


My personal thought is gas and war are spooking people.

The cost of living here is outrageous.

On a positive note I could walk from my house with 400k .

 

[wilpath]

good for you

 

[Mikey P]

It's been busy slow busy slow.

Just since January.


My personal thought is gas and war are spooking people.

The cost of living here is outrageous.

On a positive note I could walk from my house with 400k .

Id take that 400 and run to Nebraska

 

[SamIam]

Id take that 400 and run to Nebraska

Well the misses is helping her 80 year old mother, and 74 year old uncle.

Both well off, let just say slightly more then I'am worth.

She ain't leaving California until they pass.

Plus my 3 kids are here.

But as it stands I'll be clean img until I'm 65 at least.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

My goodness, hate to hear that. Been there done that. My Babe didn’t start her major spiral until the end of her career. She did have a bone spur, but with orthotics, it repaired on its own. Thank you Jesus! But at 66, it started! You can’t drive them hard, I’m telling you. By the way, your kids will
get unemployment regardless if they quit or not.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

As I said on another post, she did help me on a large church before Easter. She pre sprayed, and that was hard on her for 6 hrs. for 2 days! She’s 71 now, and help is difficult.

 

[Trip Moses]

I paid off a van and a machine last year. Bought (financed) an identical setup the next month. Thought I was ready to be be a two truck biz. Now I just have a really nice back up van. Gone through 6 wannabes in the last 6 months. It’s exhausting trying to find “the one.” I decided to quit looking a few weeks ago. Wow. I didn’t realize how stressed I was trying to hire someone. What a load off…. They’re just going to have to find me. I don’t want hiring advice. I was just relating to Sam’s post.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

This has been my worst year ever employee wise!!! No advice here.

 

[SamIam]

Well my wife got me 35k in pp and grants paid off both my trucks and her car.

She worked for me to pay for the PP because my worker wouldn't come back.

 

[clean image]

i feel her pain. i have bulging disc at l5-s1.

at times the pain is like knives stabbing down entire back of my leg

only muscle relaxers.

my body is healing itself slowly. plus a lot of Mackenzie stretching, even though it may cause a slight pain.

the disc clinic or epidural was next options,,,

 

[darcie smith]

We had two full time trucks running last summer with a guy in training to run the third and then by October it was just Scott and we haven’t been able to hire anyone since. One of my cousins is working with Scott a little here and there and we’re trying to get him to leave his other job but he’s being wishy washy. On one hand, I like Scott having less anxiety not having to deal with employees, but on the other hand we’re booked out way too far and my kid needs his dad.

 

[sassyotto]

funny, there is an owner/operator thats doing TV ads here for helpers

 

[Nomad74]

There's always Beauty School.

 

[Mikey P]

We had two full time trucks running last summer with a guy in training to run the third and then by October it was just Scott and we haven’t been able to hire anyone since. One of my cousins is working with Scott a little here and there and we’re trying to get him to leave his other job but he’s being wishy washy. On one hand, I like Scott having less anxiety not having to deal with employees, but on the other hand we’re booked out way too far and my kid needs his dad.

You know what im going to say...

 

[Mikey P]

But hey, no mean tweets so hip hip hooray!

 

[darcie smith]

You know what im going to say...

Our prices are higher than anyone else in the area. They’re reasonable. He’s just good and in demand.

 

[Jimmy L]

There is a ex meth mobile home for sale right down the alley from me at the trailer park for sale.

 

[SamIam]

There is a ex meth mobile home for sale right down the alley from me at the trailer park for sale.

How much????

I could buy and rent it back to you;

 

[Brian H]

This has been my worst year ever employee wise!!! No advice here.

Last year was really bad for us. So far this year, we are seeing a bit of an improvement. Maybe a light at the end of the tunnel...

 

[Brian H]

Last year was really bad for us. So far this year, we are seeing a bit of an improvement. Maybe a light at the end of the tunnel...

Don't get me wrong though, we had our best year ever revenue and profit wise!! We just had to push our workers harder than I would have liked.

 

[Kenny Hayes]

So did we. The janitor business is good and bad if you know what I mean. I’m so glad I don’t do class A type buildings!

 

[Trip Moses]

Don't get me wrong though, we had our best year ever revenue and profit wise!! We just had to push our workers harder than I would have liked.

Same here. Bottom line was great. But hairline receded.

 

[steve_64]

Covid shut us down. Went from 5 employees to one. 2 very slow years I think due to the covid scare here.
Just hired a third person. Since the news said the pandemic is over the phones started ringing more. It was almost instant.

I'm still working alone though. Getting my health back I think.

 

[Nomad74]

Did 4 jobs yesterday, worked until midnight. Working 7 days a week right now. Exhausted. I might need to head over to the local beauty school and scalp an employee.

 

[DAT]

Did 4 jobs yesterday, worked until midnight. Working 7 days a week right now. Exhausted. I might need to head over to the local beauty school and scalp an employee.

Life is too precarious. It's not worth it.

 

[Cleanworks]

Life is too precarious. It's not worth it.

Yeah but Damon has bills to pay and a corvette to buy.

 

[SamIam]

Life is too precarious. It's not worth it.

Yeah those beauty school employees hahahaha