So what are your business goals for 2018? What's in the pipeline?
More commercial? More encap work? Less time on the truck and more time doing biz dev work?
Good theme! I plan on doing more commercial work.
Have had a good year but would like to get more work during the week cause most commercial jobs are on the weekend.
Learned a lot the last year and would like to give up some work to a full time employee for weekend work.
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More commercial is a great goal!
How are you planning to target your new accounts?
And by the way, you're in Germany; what types of accounts are you mostly focusing on?
I'm assuming you mean my business goals for 2018. I doubt anyone wants to hear about my weight loss goals, needed projects around the house, etc.
I spent 1994 to 2008 in the ChemDry system. Re-started as an independent in mid 2009. Best year income wise since the re-start is 2013. Then for some reason sales dipped 12% in 2014 and 12% in 2015. Sales then increased 20% in 2016 and around 15% in 2017. However the numbers work out percentage-wise 2017 was just a few hundred less than 2013
So I'm hopin to maintain the 15% growth in 2018. Trying out EDDM this year while maintaining my FB/Yelp/Website/Repeat customer postcards/reminder calls - - marketing efforts.
I'm like 98% residential carpet cleaning. I also do tile and upholstery. If I had my druthers I'd just do carpet cleaning. Although I can most of the time make slightly more per hour doing tile or upholstery, at my age I'm happy with my $PH carpet cleaning rate, and it's just sooooo easy and kickback to do carpet cleaning.
No major equipment purchases planned. Got a new van last year.
Here's hoping it all goes as planned!
Onya Barry, & also for your weight loss, I'm trying to lose more weight, but I seem to find the weight that others lose.
Guess I'm a picker upper, & not such a loser after all.
On the biz; side, here's an upset.
I'm looking at getting out of carpet & upholstery cleaning within the next two years.
I want to do this before I turn 75.
Our area has had a significant downturn in overall work in the last 7 years with many bankruptcies.
Many tradespeople such as builders, plumber, electricians, etc; have left the area.
The bottom of the barrel low-ball carpet cleaners have moved into town from down south to make a killing.
They're welcome to it.
However, we do have plans in store for a much smaller business which will include carpet work such as stains, etc; as well as leather cleaning, etc;
Intentions are a three day work week & many long weekends + travel
I'm 61 and still in relatively decent shape - Thank goodness! I have no intentions of growing into a multiple truck biz. Been there/Done that. My wife is 9 years younger than me and plans on working until at least 62. I'll work as long as she does - actually longer, I don't see myself stopping until I can't physically do it. I do see myself slowing down eventually to perhaps 1-2 jobs a day maybe 2-3-4 days a week.
Like you, I'm in a very economically challenged area. ( a county in Southern California.) This area has been at or near the bottom economically for all the things they measure the economy by for over a decade now. This county has not enjoyed whatever upturn the country has had over the past few years. It certainly does affect business in many ways.
That's my retirement plan - unless of course I win the lottery. Then everything is WAYYYY different!!
I like your goals Shorty. At 73 the fact that you're still going in business is encouraging to all of us. Trimming back some sounds like a natural fit. I'm sorry to hear about how your local economy has taken a hit. I hope you can slog your way through that. It sounds like you have a reasonable plan in place though to try to keep things simple. Simple is good.
Barry your numbers look like you've been on a steady track. Nice! It seems reasonable that your numbers this year will continue on the same course. And you may even be able to shed a few pounds. Nancy and I have been tightening up our diets even further lately, going mostly vegan in fact. I'm liking the change, feeling good. But when I hop on the scale the numbers are the same.
I like the K.I.S.S. principle.
Keep It Simple Stupid.
I fit the category well. ;-)
I wanted to follow in my mates footsteps, Ray (Rambo) Moody, who retired at 75, but is now back training others in McDonough, GA 30253
But I'm no trainer, I'se a worker.
I'd love to see what others have in their plans for the coming year.
Shortwun.