09', how'd yall do?

J

jim454

Participating member
Location
The land of Utopia
09\', how\'d yall do?

Geeze!
Just finished up with my accountant, man I took a hit big time, about 25% under what I did in '08, granted '08 was the best I've had in 20 years.

I'm really beginning to wonder what 2010 will look like. I hope you guys did better than me.
 
Re: 09\', how\'d yall do?

2008 and 2009 both sucked. Financially I did fine in both years, but so many bad things happened in the last two years I am still treading water. I keep investing in my biz, though, which is part of the reason I'm broke. Cash-wise, anyway. Looking forward to an uneventful year.

-Tom
 
Re: 09\', how\'d yall do?

I wasn't talking directly about work. Like I said, work was good, money was good, but so many bad things happened, I'm lucky to be where I am now.

-Tom
 
Re: 09\', how\'d yall do?

Kind of like watching some of the families on T.V., who this Winter - lost their homes and everything they owned to fire. They're being interviewed, manage even to smile a little, and all state pretty much the same thing: "At least we have our lives".

I got to remind myself often of those dire moments. Certainly losing everything you've worked for and more...can and will change what we measure as a life. But that bottom line, those thanks, wow.
 
Re: 09\', how\'d yall do?

The year was ok. I kept busy for most of the year. Sometimes the work I was relying on for supplemental income became the only income but it's all good.


2010 is so far a good year. Busy, busy.
 
Re: 09\', how\'d yall do?

Moneywise, so-so. I missed some of the summer season since I got married and honeymooned. Still short on cash in these early years of self-employment. The recession sucks. More jobs going to illegal operations and dangerous operations. More going to "if it cheaper to cut it down..." than preservation with follow-ups over the years of having a beautiful tree.

Had some crew changeover and re-training costs, but have two competent employees, one of which is learning to climb, one has Ddrt experience, each are playing with SRT and spikes for removals. Good judgement so far. Each might go for CA cert in time. Both interested in proper arboriculture and safe work practices.

Hoping for less stress in 2010.

Had two repeat customers call for work this last week, and new customers as well. I know that building up a good customer base that can count on us for honest, quality, dependable work will pay off later.

Tornado work this summer, largely insurance work, was a huge help.

Optimistic about 2010. The only way to be, while planning for the worst, as they say.
 
Re: 09\', how\'d yall do?

Our 09 was pretty good. We blew our 08 numbers out of the water.... that might be because we were not a company in 08. We started up last March and actually did pretty good considering we were not even in the phone book until August. Many people told us that we were crazy to start in this economy but I am glad we did. I have no regrets..... yet. I am looking forward to a better year in 2010. Good luck to all.
 
Re: 09\', how\'d yall do?

Our 09 was fair at best. Down considerably from 08.
Less work all around and Lowering prices to stay competitive are a big portion of that issue. I am positive that this is all part of the ebb and flow of things. It will get better!
We did start a firewood supply last year, which I had opted not to do in the past due to the logistics. With this years cold snap here in sunny FL there was some good supplemental income for the normally slow holiday season.
I am now working on marketing strategy for the Spring "push" that is right around the corner. Lets go 2010!
 
Re: 09\', how\'d yall do?

Sales down 25% in '09. It was expected......we had horrific ice storms in '07 and '08. People are totally sick of spending money on their trees right now, and I knew all along there was no way we could keep pace with those 2 years in '09. With that said, our profit percentage was about the same, and if you take out the storm damage work, we were up considerably in regular pruning and removals. I really hope that '10 lets us ramp back up close to the numbers we did in '08.
 
Re: 09\', how\'d yall do?

Sales were up 29% for the year. But I have to attribute that increase to a funnel cloud that wrecked havoc in one of the towns we are well known in. It couldn't have come at a better time. It was july 31 and I had just finished the work day headed into the weekend with no work for the following week. First time all year I had ran out of work and next thing you know we were working round the clock for the next several weeks and didn't stop til a noreaster snow storm gave us 2ft of snow about a week before christmas.

Noel, I see what you say about the following year after storm work. Its almost impossible to match those numbers given the extrodinary circumstances. Other wise our year was almost the same in sales for 08'.
 
Re: 09\', how\'d yall do?

last one, but I could go on and on.
 

Attachments

  • 213168-Strafordemergency017rs.webp
    213168-Strafordemergency017rs.webp
    77 KB · Views: 92
Re: 09\', how\'d yall do?

This one gave me a good laugh. I guess she got tired of everyone knocking at her door to see if they could have the work. This was the house of the last picture I showed. We did the tree for the town.
 

Attachments

  • 213170-StratfordEmergency2003rs.webp
    213170-StratfordEmergency2003rs.webp
    108.5 KB · Views: 99
Re: 09\', how\'d yall do?

Not bad especially nothing in the phone book until Dec., went full time with this biz in July. the first three months great the rest was not so good. We had an ice storm in January that was a plus. Over '08 it was was off the charts especially since I started doing a LITTLE side work in July word of mouth only.
Money wise a little more gross than last year but also bought a chipper, chiptruck and stump grinder last year. So more expenses.

Looking forward to '10 to see what it holds. That is soon as things pick up for spring!!!!!!!!!


O and working with you Noel was GREAT last year too!
 
Re: 09\', how\'d yall do?

'08 was my best year ever. '09 was disapointing, down about 15%. The bright spot is that in the fall '09 business picked up nicely. Spring and especially summer of '09 were dismall.
 
Re: 09\', how\'d yall do?

I went down slightly from 08 to 09. I'm not terribly upset though, because that hit was partly due to eliminating a bunch of customers, and services that were not profitable. I know I worked less this past year, but my dollar average per job was far above what they were for the previous year. Hopefully 2010 will be a good year with plenty of growth.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom