Running a Gutter Business. I need some tips. I am in Florida.?

Question

I recently start a gutter business. I bought a truck for $3350 and a machine for $9000. The 1st month of the business, we earned about $5000, but had a little bit over $5000 in expenses..office, material, gas, marketing and such. This second month, we are into the 2nd week, and now we are finally positive $1400, with all expenses paid, so we are now ahead. We charge about $3.75-$4 per foot. Do you think we should be charging more? What can we do to lower our expenses. Where can we get cheaper coil?

Answer 1

We're going to have to assume a couple of things here given the information you have provided. First, assuming since you did not mention in your expenses an SBA loan or some other note for you start-up costs, you are sounding as if you are off to a good start money wise already. If at the end of the 2nd month you have still got cash in hand I would strongly suggest that you put it aside to build a coil purchase fund. The best price on coil comes with a bulk buy. So if you do a little homework, God bless the internet, and have cash in hand to pay for a good sized order suppliers will love you. Second, how much does your compitition charge per foot for the same gutter? You must make sure you are comparing apples to apples, if you are the same or better yet just a bit under and still turning profit, your gold. Third, and probably the most important item for the new business owner. The number one pitfall for you is money. By this I mean having it. When the month is done and you have more than you spent great. Just remember next month may not be so rosey. Decide honestly what you NEED to live on and pay yourself accordingly. The extra will find its use easy enough without that new toy you've had your eye on. Taxes, repairs, accidents and / or property damage on a job will eat you alive if you have no reserve capitol to fall back on. You hold the line and bank your extras and soon enough you will know when you can reward your hard work with a spiff, just don't forget to do the same for an employee, if any, that has busted his or her hump to make you money. In fact, give them a spiff first. It really is all common sense, don't let one or two bucks extra cost you big because you blow it on nonsense you really didn't need anyway just to show some fool that doesn't matter that "Hey I'm successfull and your not." It sucks to have to eat those words a few days later when the truck blow a tranny and your broke with no way to get to the job to get the money to fix the truck or buy materials and suddenly your out of business. It happens every day, you are only one to make it otherwise. Hard work alone will not assure success. Keeping a cool head and watching what every penny is for and keeping a cushion for tough times has got to go hand in hand with the work if you wish to get all you can from being in bussiness for yourself. The rewards are great, but so are the dangers. Good Luck to You, hope you do very well.

Answer 2

Gutter Business

Answer 3

Here in Australia we already do a lot of this, especially in the country. In the last few years we have become much more aware of the need to catch our rain run off. Even some big companies are just starting to get behind this idea and installing tanks. The company I now work for is looking at and has just installed tanks at a couple of their new stores in the northern part of Australia. The waters used for drinking, fire sprinkler systems and supply water to its gardening sections. I'm not sure what else though. but a lot more still needs to be done. We've taken our water for granted for to long. Some governments do give incentives by the way of rebates. But hopefully one day everyone will look at utilizing their rain run off. I've heard that there's a fairly new suburb north of Melbourne Victoria that recycles every drop of water. When the area was designed they planned for it then. What waters not caught in tanks for drinking etc. is caught in a man made lake for watering etc and gardens are watered by treated waste water that's piped through different colored taps for the garden.