Beth n Rod

Oh yeah! I remember... -17*. Cold enough for ya?!? Get well. Rod!~ btw vote for...um...er...eh....um....what he said.

bad painter, no stir stick! :lol: Rod!~

I am like you but with a different perspective. I don't readily buy what is handed me and chose to be a skeptic as long as the government continues to operate without the people. I am not the popular opinion here but I never try to be. I am what you see. btw. history is written by the winners. My lesson in history is not to become a part of it. Rod!~

My response are in blue. I'm surprised Jeff and Philip haven't jumped into this one. It's right up their alley. Rod!~

My responses are in blue. Here is the post Rick is referring to. I quoted it here for ease of viewing. Ok Rick...what other questions ya got for me? Rod!~

Rick, He's enjoying your lively discussion so much it warrants it's own thread! See how inspirational you are? ;) Beth

Doom and gloom. That is a catch all phrase towards people who speak up about the things others do not want to hear. Employing ignorance as a guide would be foolish for me to do so. My perspective: We have a family which relies on the income of a significant business. That business is subject to the trends, restrictions and devices of government action. Currently that government is in debt to the tune of billions resulting from overspending. Where do you think the next president will look to get that paid down? Taxes! Who pays them? Not just the private citizen but the bulk is placed on businesses. What impacts do you think that will have on them? I see; unemployment rising, downsizing, cutbacks in spending...what was that? Cut backs in spending! Now who do you think will feel that? Do you think that your customers will be able to continue spending at their current rate if their financial condition deteriorates as a result of an impact from a business they work for, own, or have investments in that is forced to take these measures in order to stay in business. It's called depression. After all the inflation, it is inevitable and a probability analysts and economic coordinators have been trying to avoid. Here's another indicator; A report was released showing that americans possess an average of 5+ credit cards and that most are living well beyond their means. A great number are taking the earned income credit and not getting as much back at tax time. This is what fuels our season. Tax refunds! When they are low, so is the seasons business. We are a growing company and have plenty of repeat clients along with new ones. But the trend over the past couple of years is that people are wanting to do less during each service than in years before and spreading the services out over longer periods. What this tells me is that money is getting tight. Current Bank prime is at 8.25% and new home purchases are declining. T'bills are down which means less money to draw from in lean times. Oil prices have just fallen again so the dow goes up. This is a false reading. As we all see each spring, the price of gas at the pump skyrockets with the temps. That cost goes into the food people buy, travel expenses, shipping costs etc. It doesn't take a degree in any field of finances to see that the economic outlook is shaky. Good that you are comfortable with your finances, but the stability has been like you pointed out subject to economic stresses. That is that part I am talking about foremost...neither you, I or anyone else is in complete control of their finances. It is a fact that is sobering and keeps me aware. I am not saying doom and gloom, I am saying: Don't get complacent. Don't get comfortable. Change is certain. We agree on one thing...the media hype is bs. Rod!~

Rick is an intelligent guy and I respect what he has to say. My perspective on the economy remains. With respect to others here, I think I took this thread off topic. My apologies. Back to deposits anyone? Rod!~

Saturday: Tom's class and my class start at 9am. These two classes are being held at the ACR shop. Jack & Matt's class starts at 7:30 from what understand. I do not have the location info on Jack & Matt's class. The pig roast is Saturday night, and comes as part of the Sunday event so it's worth coming in early for this fun social evening! Sunday: Check in is 9:00 am sharp! Breakfast and lunch are included along with a great speaker line up. It will go until it's done....these things usually last into the late afternoon 4-6 ish as I recall. Beth :groovy3: :cup:

Everyone please welcome Jarrod as a new forum leader here on TGS. :cheers: Jarrod, thank you of lending a hand and helping others. It's very much appreciated. Beth :groovy3:

I am serious about it. We are on shaky ground and it isn't getting better with consumer confidences running so low. Don't even get me started on the billions in deficit dubya got us into for his war of retaliation. He is trying to get another going next door to Iraq. We could probably go round and round but from what I see in the business section of the post, well, you go see...:) Rod!~

***** joins “Entrepreneur Expo” on March 15 – 16, 2007 Round Tables on March 17, 2007 Fort Worth, Texas ***** ( www.*****.org ) joins “The Entrepreneur Expo” (www.TheExpo.org) and co-sponsors “The Cleaning Zone”. Entrepreneur Expo offers outstanding resources, education and networking to small businesses so they can succeed in today’s competitive marketplace with four workshop tracks: 1) Rx for Starting a Business, 2) Growing a Healthy Business, 3) Business and Professional Image Check-Up, 4) Seeking a Healthy Lifestyle for You and Your Business In addition Baylor All Saints Medical Center in Fort Worth is sponsoring “The Healthy Retreat” -- an extensive array of interactive health services for Expo attendees. This includes free health checks and more. Planned screenings are: 1) Behavioral health assessment/education (depression/anxiety inventory), 2) Blood pressure, 3) Bone density, 4) Breast cancer risk assessment, 5) Cholesterol, 6) Diabetes education, 7) Exercise options, 8) Glucose, 9) Office ergonomics (correct chairs, desks, computer placement, lifting belts, etc.), 10) On-site skin cancer checks, 11) Preventing back injury, carpel tunnel and other potential harmful office /warehouse activities, 12) Prostate blood test, 13) Risk assessment, 14) Mammograms on site ***** and MOPS is sponsoring “The Cleaning Zone” with the following pre-paid seminars: The Cleaning Zone is a special part of The Expo designed to assist entrepreneurs in the cleaning services industry wanting to fine-tune their currently operating business. For those considering going into the cleaning services business, the Cleaning Zone offers information and lots of support. For 2007, the United Association of Mobile Contract Cleaners (*****) joins Ministry of Property Services, LLC (M.O.P.S.) as a Cleaning Zone sponsor and is offering several fee-based ***** Certification classes in conjunction with The Expo. Seminars are also being offered in conjunction with The Expo on a variety of timely topics important to cleaning services. The Cleaning Zone will also have an exhibit area in the Exhibit Hall. Please review registration information for details and pricing. Course Schedule Thursday, March 15 Certification Classes Go to for Class Descriptions Entrepreneur Expo: : The Cleaning Zone 8-9:30 a.m. PW112 IKECA Kitchen Grease Exhaust -$845 PW102 Advanced House & Building Washing-$345 PW106 Advanced Truck & Fleet Washing-$345 PW108 Advanced Awning Cleaning-$345 10-11:30 a.m. PW112 IKECA Kitchen Grease Exhaust PW102 Advanced House & Building Washing PW106 Advanced Truck & Fleet Washing PW108 Advanced Awning Cleaning 1:30-3 p.m. PW112 IKECA Kitchen Grease Exhaust PW102 Advanced House & Building Washing PW106 Advanced Truck & Fleet Washing PW108 Advanced Awning Cleaning 3:30-5 p.m. PW112 IKECA Kitchen Grease Exhaust Friday, March 16 Seminars These classes are included in registration fee (i.e., free with registration) 8-9:30 a.m. PW105 Truck & Fleet Washing PW111 Kitchen Grease Exhaust Cleaning 101 VL102 Pricing Jobs for Profit AD101 Air Duct Cleaning Business CC101 Methods of Carpet Cleaning 10-11:30 a.m. PW101 Pressure Washing 101 VL101 How Does an Income Statement/Profit & Loss Statement Help my Business? CC102 Residential vs. Commercial Carpet Cleaning 3:30-5 p.m. PW103 Environmental Power Washing Update PW107 Awning Cleaning 101 JA101 Starting a Janitorial Business101 EL101 Equipment Purchasing & Financing IN101 Insurance for the Mobile Contract Cleaner For more information and registration go to : www.*****.org and www.theexpo.org , or call ***** at 800-211-0290. Hotel: The official Hotel for ***** is the Country Inn and Suites, phone number 817-831-9200. Cost is $85.00 per night (ask for the ***** rate) which includes shuttle service to “The Entrepreneur Expo”. Reservation cut off date is February 15, 2007. ***** Round Tables The ***** Round Tables will be held at Steamaway, Inc. (Steamaway - Your Image Is Our Business - Truck Wash - Fleet Wash) on Saturday March 17, 2007. For details go to www.*****.org

See that's the cool thing about this, you make a decision that works for your company...and it's really a great feeling when it works for you. There is nothing wrong with either approach. It's all good! :groovy3: Beth

Scott, Check with your local state and see what your consumer affairs office has in the way of verbiage that is accepted where you are. In Maryland there are certain things we have to say, in order to be compliant with the law. If you are following the laws that govern the consumer affairs act you can't go wrong, since you will have communicated to the consumer the way the law says you must. That's the best suggestion I can offer. Beth

Don't stop posting....a lively debate is always welcome, but we just have to be careful no to bash people...or orgs.... There is plenty else to talk about, I think. Beth

Welcome Jack! Glad you found us. :) Beth

I find that no matter how dependable a company may be in fulfilling it's part of the contract, there is the other half of the equation which involves the customer to fulfill their obligations. Ever get these types of responses?(commercial accounts do this to us) We don't pay for 30, 45, 60 days after the work has been completed. We haven't received your I-9 We don't have your insurance certificate showing our company as other insured All this regardless of "Payable upon date of completion. No net terms extended." written on the contract. This is for first time contracts until credit is established. It is not a given. They never make these requirements up front but as a dodge to stave off payment. Not a good business practice and one I will not do business with again. Most new commercial accounts have breached the contract payment terms despite our responsiveness and proficiency on the job completion. We operate with the same regard as retail. You want it...you pay for it before you go out the door. This saves us money in collections, staff time, communications costs and helps us to keep our costs down. It is responsible business. Bearing in mind that we are expected to pay given the terms to which we have agreed, I don't consider it a stretch to ask the same of anyone we do business with. We extend net terms to those who have shown financial responsibility and those are a relative few in which we have ongoing business relations. They call, we do, they pay. It's that simple. While I can see others points here about not requiring any down and the possible benefits. Thats fine to operate without a net. Just wait till you get burned. I feel that placing any faith in our economy is a huge mistake waiting to happen. I for one will not allow our company to be vulnerable to an ill turn in it. Cash accounts only. Rod!~

Light reading : ) How to Manage Your Small Business Cash Flow Effectively And there are a bunch of things here... Improving Cash Flow, Accounting/Bookkeeping Article - Inc. Article Beth

Another way to look at it, is that when you have to outlay money for materials prior to starting a job, you are using working capital to do it. If you collect a deposit (of an allowed amount) you are eliminating the need to tap into these funds. If you have say two weeks of solid work on the books and can purchase a bulk of supplies at a discount for example based upon jobs booked and deposits collected, to me that is just smart. These are just some points to consider folks. But then in our area, the vast majority of home improvement contractors asks for the deposit. People around here are used to it, and it seems to help other contractors in various fields we know here. Beth :cup:

Glad you are better Jeff! :) Hope you have a great season! Beth

For Sunday only, yes! But don't forget the pig roast Saturday Night is included! Beth

Threads like this one always scare me - I hate the thought of downtime and expensive repairs or replacements at the start of the new season. Beth

Hey I thoughts it would be cool to start an avatar thread. Who has the most fun avatar? Post here and tell us whose you like best? Beth

Thanks Russell. Rod!~

Ok, saw the pic; as an avid user, how long was the dwell time? I am trying to avoid this condition when using efc-38 and given the proof it helps to know how to instruct my crews so they don't strip wtw unintentionally. Rod!~