[vermontpainter]

First quarter is in the books. Wow, that was fast.

Earlier this year we had a "Business Goals" thread. How's everyone doing with working toward the goals?

Are we strategically navigating our way through the tricky economy?

Anyone finding interesting growth opportunities?

What about hiring new employees or subs? Any luck?

 

[BenPaintinTooLong]

I have doubled my advertisment for my painting co and have added a new add for power washing seperate from the paint. I just put the PW add in and it wont start until next week but I will post as to if it generates any jobs.
By running two adds for painting I have generated an extra two jobs for the mo of March. With both adds I am booked until April 21.This spring is far better than last by 75 %.
As for the goals, I had posted that I was starting a new exterior painting co and a yard servise and keeping my one man show as well, I now have added a power washing co to my line of small co's.
I am not going to start up any new co's except the PW until I get transplanted back in Texas hopefully in late May.
I will post as I go along with my plan, and Im stickin to it.
Ben

 

[GMack]

First quarter is over!? . . . I'm still recovering from 4th quarter, 2007!

I can say that I'm concentrating on advertising and sales presentation more than ever, which is easy to do because I've never really given either of these things much thought at all . . . I usually run a small ad or two in the winter and pull them in the spring. This year I'm leaving them in to help us generate more leads . . . I also just got some very pretty job signs made up and a website . . . I just dissolved my LLC and am now a corporation . . . I also have an ad in right now looking for help. I'm not having the best luck there but have talked to a few people over the phone and will set up the first face-to-face interview tommorrow. In the meantime, my one helper and I are working far too many hours.

Overall, business is great but not comfortable and there is much room for improvement. I feel like I'm still trying to get some things in place but, at the same time, am looking to have my best year to date.

 

[MAK-Deco]

First quarter is over!? . . . I'm still recovering from 4th quarter, 2007!

I can say that I'm concentrating on advertising and sales presentation more than ever, which is easy to do because I've never really given either of these things much thought at all . . . I usually run a small ad or two in the winter and pull them in the spring. This year I'm leaving them in to help us generate more leads . . . I also just got some very pretty job signs made up and a website . . . I just dissolved my LLC and am now a corporation . . . I also have an ad in right now looking for help. I'm not having the best luck there but have talked to a few people over the phone and will set up the first face-to-face interview tommorrow. In the meantime, my one helper and I are working far too many hours.

Overall, business is great but not comfortable and there is much room for improvement. I feel like I'm still trying to get some things in place but, at the same time, am looking to have my best year to date.

What is the advantage to dissolve the llc and incorp at this point?

 

[GMack]

What is the advantage to dissolve the llc and incorp at this point?

Taxes. The way my LLC was set up, I still filed as a sole prop which is not a good idea when you start to make a little money. I found this out the hard way this year, the very hard way . . . I think I could have restructured the LLC but decided to incorporate instead.

 

[smalljobs]

1st quarter survived. Its hell in cheeseland. Starting to pickup and hopefully to fast dash to the end of the second and make up. Running 4x6 ad's in the local newspaper. I do business with US Bank and they promote local businesses by having a business of the week sponsered at the location you use. No one wants April so I am business of the MONTH at that branch. I've got my generic trade show table set up with cheap paint utility brushes I give out for free with my logo sticker and coupon sticker attached along with before/after pictures and business cards. Free advertisement what the heck. If any of you guys use US Bank its well worth the time. I also hit all the usual locations with little bags of candy that say "for a SWEET paint job call Caliber Finishes" Women love chocolate...I've found.

 

[MAK-Deco]

Taxes. The way my LLC was set up, I still filed as a sole prop which is not a good idea when you start to make a little money. I found this out the hard way this year, the very hard way . . . I think I could have restructured the LLC but decided to incorporate instead.

Makes sense.

 

[PressurePros]

I had a great first quarter. It took me awhile but after crunching the numbers I came up with $0 in gross sales. Now I haven't completed all the net and tallied final expenses so I'll have to get back to you, Scott. The second quarter looks a little better with $51K booked for April.