[Grumpy]

I did my billing the other day. I paid out every penny I owe. Right now my company owes nobody nothing, but I have a large sum left in the bank and a decent receivables. So the question is what to do?

I recently hired a full time repair guy and a salesman. I want to hire another salesman and am currently interviewing.

Saturday the 30th I am going to buy some (at least 2, maybe 3) new-used company vehicles at auction.

May 1st or 15th (depending on circumstances) I move into my new office. (Away from the home YAY! I hate working from home!!!) The office is small but adequate, slightly larger than my current bedroom office though.

I'll still have some $ left to pay myself some money to go towards the down payment I am saving for my next house.

 

[Teetorbilt]

Tom, sounds like you have 'made it', and in record time too.
Make sure that you have enough liquid $$ to get over any rough spots and keep on truckin'.
Next time, you can spend a month in the Bahamas. When you are ready, let me know and I'll tell you where I like to go. The REAL Bahamas.

 

[Tom R]

I liked 'Paradise Island', - - but that was over 30 years back. Don't know what it's like now. 'Nassau' was happenin' too.

 

[Teetorbilt]

Tom R, When I lived there, Paradise Island was called Hog Island and there wasn't much there. The Paradise Island Club, the Collin's house and the lighthouse was it. I went to school with the lighthouse keeper's daughter. Access was by ferry or personal boat. Merv Griffin (Hotels International) turned it into Vegas-on-the-beach, truely screwed up a perfectly good island.
I only go to the out islands now.

 

[Glasshousebltr]

Glad to hear your up and running Grump, but I'd take Teetors advice to heart, this dam biz can be a hell of a roller coaster.

Bob

 

[Teetorbilt]

Things also happen in unexpected ways. Most of you would think that I was getting fat off of hurricane damage when nothing could be further from the truth.
The first rush was and is exterior damage, roofing and walls. Then there was interior damage and mold was the #1 subject, takes specialists. OK, now we are enclosed and mold free. We can now wait for the ins. co's to process millions of claims before proceeding.
I am now booked to the hilt and am having material problems. It's going to be a long summer.

 

[Mike Finley]

If I could resist the temptation to go back on vacation, I would re-invest it into advertising.

 

[Grumpy]

Me vacation? I could resist the temptation to go on vacation for the rest of my life. I'm not one of those kinds of people. As far as advertising goes, I actually had to CUT it down a bit. I was way toooo overwhelmed, that's why I am hiring sales people.

Paradise Islan is almost completely built with hotels/resorts, time shares and multi million dollar vacation homes.

Teetor I have some upcoming LARGE expenses with the name of INSURANCE. October is gonna be a killer and then winter will come rolling along shortly after. I want to have $20k in my corporate savings account by September to cover those two items. Assuming this year stays as profitable as it has been, that shouldn't be a problem.

 

[donb1959]

Grump,
Congrats! ....Now, hmmm,ahhhhh.....can you spot me 5K till I can see better? :Thumbs:

Way to go.

 

[Glasshousebltr]

Wow, I just ran into a fella who's grandmother needs surgery really bad. He's been left with no other choice but sell the family bridge.......it's in England......London I believe.......any takers?.........Grump?

Bob

 

[Teetorbilt]

20K, Grumpy? I have to assume that your salespeople are all working straight commision with no bennies. You're not going to breed much loyalty that way.
I've had 2 of the salespeople that gave me quotes on my roof e-mail me with offers from companies other than the one that they originally did the quote for.
If you're hiring independents, they will go where the most money is. Trust me, ol' #2 is one of them.

 

[Grumpy]

Currently they are straight commission with no bennies and currently that $20k is based on current overhead values.

You gotta earn your bennies around here No seriously I do whatever I can... as I can. I'm picking up health as soon as I pick up one more employee (totalling 4). I cover all expenses as well including gas and provide a coompany cell phone. I am hopefully picking up a truck for one of my sales people at auction Saturday the 30th.

I pay my sales people VERY well, they will not find anyone coming close to the commissions I pay out in my area. Let 'em try. That's why they are all applying to work for me while currently employed by someone else. That kinda thing pisses me off, I know these people are not loyal to me and might never be, BUT they use me while I use them. Symbiotic relationship.

 

[Teetorbilt]

Sounds like you've got a handle on it!
Retaining employees is job 1. Training batch after batch can kill your biz.

 

[Mike Finley]

Me vacation? I could resist the temptation to go on vacation for the rest of my life. I'm not one of those kinds of people. As far as advertising goes, I actually had to CUT it down a bit. I was way toooo overwhelmed, that's why I am hiring sales people.

I would still spend some of it on advertising - new advertising that you haven't explored yet that is. This is the perfect time to throw some money at something and see what it does. Even if you have more biz than you need now, you might discover a new advertisement process that could return you big bucks down the road. It just becomes another tool in your marketing tool belt that you know about and can use later if you need to.

 

[Grumpy]

Training batch after batch can kill your biz.

Part of the reason I left my last job. My boss didn't feel he could afford very much and the workers left.

 

[Grumpy]

I would still spend some of it on advertising - new advertising that you haven't explored yet that is. This is the perfect time to throw some money at something and see what it does. Even if you have more biz than you need now, you might discover a new advertisement process that could return you big bucks down the road. It just becomes another tool in your marketing tool belt that you know about and can use later if you need to.

Brilliant idea. I can keep the other stuff cut, and try a few new things. I have been wanting to try movie theater screens... Ya know all those adverts you see while waiting for the movie to start.

 

[Mike Finley]

How are you doing with the church advertising? Getting any leads, any good ones or anything at all yet?

 

[Grumpy]

Wasn't this post originally in the private forum? Who moved it? I could have sworn I placed it in the hard hat zone.

Nothing at all yet Mike It's still early so I'll keep ya posted.