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How's Business?

lbhsbz

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Sooo.. not being facetious… but how many are actual owners of “how’s business going”
Not, I work for, or “we” etc..etc,..
I own my job (not sure I’d call it a business…the boss ain’t supposed to work this hard).

Auto parts, specifically, niche and performance market brake caliper components and rebuild kits.

I’ve been bumping prices because why not…everything else is going up. I want a piece of that action…lol
 

zhandfull

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Took the wife to breakfast this morning. Small local sit down diner chain with several locations. Overheard staff talking about how slow it’s been and hours being cut. This is in Southern California.

My fast food lunch orders during the week have changed from a combo to just a single item. Has me back under $10 per day for lunch instead of $15 plus. A child’s meal at Wendy’s I found is just over $5. I give the toys to my adult daughters. I think they like it. 😁

Busy as hell at work in PW construction. Contractors seem to be more motivated to starting new projects.

I heard election years are supposed to be good for economy.

Something feels different last several months. What’s your take?
 
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JFMFG

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Depending who you talk to industries getting slow. We are fortunate and still busy but I am seeing a slight slow down. Election years are always weird imo
 

lbhsbz

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The first 4 months of the year was nuts.....record sales month after month, then may kind of shut off, I was down about 30%. This month is looking a bit better, but it's weird, some days there is literally nothing, then the next day it's crazy busy.

Speaking with others in the automotive aftermarket, the first quarter was dead and now it's starting to pick up.

Who knows.
 

JFMFG

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Whoever did not stack cash for the rainy days to come is gonna be in for a world of hurt. With that said. Something is brewing for sure. Take the biz while we can and live your life but do it responsibly.
 

Snorre

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I run a bus workshop, we have a lot of work but the expensive spare parts or unavailability of spare parts and I lack a master mechanic with 3 mechanics to implement something properly
 

NicPaus

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Just left the construction dump. It was pretty empty in the trash area. Packed with metal recyclers in line.

Stopped at my Sunday lunch spot and only customer. Yesterday picked up a breakfast burrito at his other restaurant and it was slow. Burrito was $18 and change could be part of the reason.


My work has never been busier. I can't keep up. Working late 7 days a week. Have to lay out a foundation today for a addition. Measure for a roof and insulation delivery for Tuesday.


Some say its slow but from what I see. They are bidding high and not motivated to work. It's not like 2 or 3 years ago. But there is still a lot of work out there.
 

arch stanton

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Last week my wife was driving by a Mc Donald’s in Escondido about 11:45 and there were no cars in the drive through, she was at a red light so just a 2 minute snap shot
Also in Escondido I talked with a guy that hauls trash from the Escondido transfer station to the land fill and he said they were not receiving enough trash to keep those trucks busy
My trucking business is still busy once the rain stopped
 

thetub

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the food places being empty might be a false alarm maybe cause of all the graduations going on ?

went to InnOut yesterday and it was empty usually cars around the corner and the block in the drive through. Yesterday ghost town was gonna take a video couldnt belief it. but worker said due to graduations it been ghost town...
 

lbhsbz

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maybe cause of all the graduations going on ?
I'm thinking this plays a role....school out means people are traveling. Dunno, I don't have enough history in business to establish trends yet....Election year, schools getting out, summer starting...kinda figuring things to be a bit fucked for a while at least. My business is certainly strange.....sold 4 cars worth of caliper rebuild kits with pistons yesterday and today for old Volvo P1800 w/ 3 piston Girling calipers.....haven't sold more than 1 set in a 3 month period before. I keep trying to find justification for what's happening but none of it makes any sense.
 

OldSchoolBoats

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We have almost 6 figures in AR right now. Insurance companies are ridiculous and we are actually considering putting in a policy to to not accept anymore claims from State Farm because it is so insane trying to get paid from them.

Having serious cash flow issues right now because of it, but we are busy. I don't want to pay the interest / fees for working capital or invoice factoring so we are just not feeding our kids.......🤣🤣
 

DWC

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Gotta believe food places in Ca are in a world of hurt. Most tried their best to absorb the wage increases on top of skyrocketing food costs. I used to chuckle when I’d grab a soda/rock star at a hotel because the prices were ridiculous. It’s the same way at most fast food now. The trickle down to sit down restaurants and every other labor intensive business in Ca is just starting.
 

ChumpChange

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We have almost 6 figures in AR right now. Insurance companies are ridiculous and we are actually considering putting in a policy to to not accept anymore claims from State Farm because it is so insane trying to get paid from them.

Having serious cash flow issues right now because of it, but we are busy. I don't want to pay the interest / fees for working capital or invoice factoring so we are just not feeding our kids.......🤣🤣
I had a customer carrying mid 8 figures in retention for a couple jobs. Eats into profits quickly when the rates shot up over the last few years.
 

Done-it-again

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We have almost 6 figures in AR right now. Insurance companies are ridiculous and we are actually considering putting in a policy to to not accept anymore claims from State Farm because it is so insane trying to get paid from them.

Having serious cash flow issues right now because of it, but we are busy. I don't want to pay the interest / fees for working capital or invoice factoring so we are just not feeding our kids.......🤣🤣
That sucks. We had some of our big customers push 90 days. Made big issues with engineering for new projects, no product procurement and delayed jobs without deposit for 90 days. It’s been changed back to 30 days.

I know it’s different for you. It does suck that they have billions and they stretch out the little guys.
 

JFMFG

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So everyone is still busy no need to hold onto my hat yet?
 

shintoooo

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Gotta believe food places in Ca are in a world of hurt. Most tried their best to absorb the wage increases on top of skyrocketing food costs. I used to chuckle when I’d grab a soda/rock star at a hotel because the prices were ridiculous. It’s the same way at most fast food now. The trickle down to sit down restaurants and every other labor intensive business in Ca is just starting.

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YeahYeah01

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We have almost 6 figures in AR right now. Insurance companies are ridiculous and we are actually considering putting in a policy to to not accept anymore claims from State Farm because it is so insane trying to get paid from them.

Having serious cash flow issues right now because of it, but we are busy. I don't want to pay the interest / fees for working capital or invoice factoring so we are just not feeding our kids.......🤣🤣
Yup, we stopped working with SF. Even with an honest and accurate and backed up with everything required you still don't get paid on time and in full.
 

NicPaus

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I have been going to El Torito a lot lately as they are one of a few restaurants in Torrance open until 10 weekdays since covid. Working late everyday and don't feel like cooking. They just fired the manager of 40+ years. Employees told me they are chopping all the long time Employees at each location to save money.


Starting Tuesday they will extend happy hour until 9pm in the bar area as it's been so slow. Incentive to start stopping work earlier. $4 Modelos instead of $7.25. And the papa's Calientes for $4.

Tonight probably hit Fanoos for dinner. They are usually open until 10. Beef Koobideh plate.
 

OldSchoolBoats

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Yup, we stopped working with SF. Even with an honest and accurate and backed up with everything required you still don't get paid on time and in full.
Only thing they pay on time is packouts right now. Got a mold invoice for $5k that is over 90 days and a mitigation bill for over $20k that is the same. Can't even get adjuster to return a call and we follow up everyday. Even zeroing out to get someone on the line isn't working anymore.

One thing we have learned with USAA, is the service members rank makes a huge difference in getting paid quickly. Just did a job for a Marine Master Sargent and literally it was paid immediately via direct deposit.
 

monkeyswrench

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Seems like foreclosure fillings might be ticking up in some areas. Hang on to that hat.
I'm wondering if I'm in an area like this, or if people with rentals are trying to get out. Wife commented last week that there seems to be more houses for sale. These would be the mid-range homes here, maybe 4-500k? More of them with signs and up longer than previous years. On the other hand, my friend put up his house one the other side of town, 1.1m. Very nice home, under 3000sqft I think. It sold in 3 days.

Contractors here are catching up with back logs, and more guys return phone calls. Not grinding to a halt, but becoming more reasonable to find contractors it seems.
 

OldSchoolBoats

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That sucks. We had some of our big customers push 90 days. Made big issues with engineering for new projects, no product procurement and delayed jobs without deposit for 90 days. It’s been changed back to 30 days.

I know it’s different for you. It does suck that they have billions and they stretch out the little guys.
It's insane how bad they try to nickle and dime us. We use their "industry standard" pricing, document everything and use the IICRC standards (which they claim they use) and still don't get paid on time, on top of them trying to cut my invoice by 40% in some cases. It is tough trying to explain to some desk adjuster in Arkansas how much different it is running a business in CA.

We have shifted and with the support of corporate, have landed some preferred vendor relationships. We have an 85/15 split, but are guaranteed payment in 20-40 days from completion so that should help.

We are less than 2 years in and I am literally learning a whole new career from the bottom. Not what I thought I was going to have to do but we adjust.
 

YeahYeah01

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Only thing they pay on time is packouts right now. Got a mold invoice for $5k that is over 90 days and a mitigation bill for over $20k that is the same. Can't even get adjuster to return a call and we follow up everyday. Even zeroing out to get someone on the line isn't working anymore.

One thing we have learned with USAA, is the service members rank makes a huge difference in getting paid quickly. Just did a job for a Marine Master Sargent and literally it was paid immediately via direct deposit.
I even struggled to get paid using there horrible fire and ice system. There is almost never an assigned adjuster, it's a brand new person everytime while working the claim and your told just to email the generic claims address and then get no response. So that's there system, string everyone out and we go away or settle for less. They will also tell you they won't cover something that is and should be covered. It's a joke.

I've only done a couple USAA jobs but haven't had much issues with them.
 

Done-it-again

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zhandfull

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I'm wondering if I'm in an area like this, or if people with rentals are trying to get out. Wife commented last week that there seems to be more houses for sale. These would be the mid-range homes here, maybe 4-500k? More of them with signs and up longer than previous years. On the other hand, my friend put up his house one the other side of town, 1.1m. Very nice home, under 3000sqft I think. It sold in 3 days.

Contractors here are catching up with back logs, and more guys return phone calls. Not grinding to a halt, but becoming more reasonable to find contractors it seems.
Looks like 9 listed in Prescott Valley in pre-foreclosure or auction status on Zillow.
Not sure if any are hitting the court house steps. Think it shows that there is some stress in the market for some home owners. I imagine no options to refinance and rectify these situations. Probably going to have to sell or lose the home in the end for most.

18 listed in Lake Havasu
346 listed in Phoenix

In Zillow just set the filters to owner and other listing. Check pre-foreclosure, foreclosure, auction listings for any area of interest.
 

NicPaus

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Just had a customer text me at 1139 pm. Same customer I asked to stop texting me at 6 am. But they are inheriting 6 properties that they want to develop. So I just reply nicely. Rather get the late texts than be woken up. :)
 

stillhustlin

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Update on working for a home builder in Northern Utah. We do about 150 homes a year and currently only have 1 standing spec. Almost everything we have under construction is sold. We have a huge gap in our pipeline q2 2025 and I think there will be layoffs from lack of land but not from lack of sales. Luckily I work on the development team so I’m busy but we are having a lot of projects push because city approvals are taking too long and we’re gonna miss the pave date for 2024. Every development project we’re looking at has thin margins but that seems to be standard right now. I’m talking 1-3% profit on the development.
 

NicPaus

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Yup, we stopped working with SF. Even with an honest and accurate and backed up with everything required you still don't get paid on time and in full.
Do you put a lien on the house for the balance when the insurance company doesn't pay in full? Or just eat it to avoid negative reviews?
 

Wedgy

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The insurance companies sure want their premiums and increases paid in full and on time, or else. 1% deductibles, if we are lucky, goodbye, going the way of the dinosaurs. Crooked Bastards.
 
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JDKRXW

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Every development project we’re looking at has thin margins but that seems to be standard right now. I’m talking 1-3% profit on the development.

I'm wondering why you'd (your company) would even be doing this at this profit.
And at these margins, you've got to be grinding your contractors to the bone and I'd be worried about quality and code compliance. Just 🤔
 

Ace in the Hole

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Only thing they pay on time is packouts right now. Got a mold invoice for $5k that is over 90 days and a mitigation bill for over $20k that is the same. Can't even get adjuster to return a call and we follow up everyday. Even zeroing out to get someone on the line isn't working anymore.

One thing we have learned with USAA, is the service members rank makes a huge difference in getting paid quickly. Just did a job for a Marine Master Sargent and literally it was paid immediately via direct deposit.
I’ve handled several fire claims with USAA on the solar replacement portion…. You are very correct. However just as a whole USAA has always been very good to deal with even the problem customers.

I would never have a State Farm policy over my dealings with them they can suck a fat dick.
 

Done-it-again

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We are less than 2 years in and I am literally learning a whole new career from the bottom. Not what I thought I was going to have to do but we adjust.
I would like to say it gets easier, but it doesn’t. Once you know the business, then you start learning the tax side so you can keep all the money you can. Then you need to pick up more business cause you want to grow, the you turn around and you need to pay more tax cause, well you had a good year. But in your head you are WTF, then where is the $$$$. So you look for more business so you can either grow more or have the same gross as the prior year.

Then dealing with employees, that can be a pain. I have great guys that are close in the office, but my crew can be a bunch of girls with drama.
 

YeahYeah01

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Do you put a lien on the house for the balance when the insurance company doesn't pay in full? Or just eat it to avoid negative reviews?
90% of the time the Lien is not worth it, unless someone freaks out because of it and pays it but if it ends up in court to actually collect then chances are your screwed regardless. The homeowner is responsible for the costs at the end of the day but if the insurance company screws us we will attempt to settle with the HO just cover labor costs, or we will collect bare minimum from them and continue the fight with the insurance company.
 

Done-it-again

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Do you put a lien on the house for the balance when the insurance company doesn't pay in full? Or just eat it to avoid negative reviews?
Only the trades put liens on. I had an equipment rental company put a lien on a customers building we were working at when the equipment was delivered. Wasn’t in CA either.

It didn't go over to well.
 

YeahYeah01

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I’ve handled several fire claims with USAA on the solar replacement portion…. You are very correct. However just as a whole USAA has always been very good to deal with even the problem customers.

I would never have a State Farm policy over my dealings with them they can suck a fat dick.
The good carries are few and far between from what I can see on my side. The industry all together is a rough one so I can see both sides at times. There a ton and I mean a ton of crooked EMS companies out there that will scam the insurance carries so I can see them not trusting any vendor. There are also preferred vendors that are too deep in the carries that cut corners to keep the carries happy at the expense of the insured. So it's hard to find a balance. We have preferred partnership work and we treat it all the same, if something needs to be done we do it. We get paid mostly on time by preferred work and that is great but I am not cutting corners for anyone but we are also not running up the bill with BS. At the end of the day though, some of the most profitable jobs are the ones you don't take lol, billing does not equal collecting.
 
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stillhustlin

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I'm wondering why you'd (your company) would even be doing this at this profit.
And at these margins, you've got to be grinding your contractors to the bone and I'd be worried about quality and code compliance. Just 🤔
We make all our money building homes. Land development is a byproduct. We’ll break even on development to make 15% on a house. I can turn capital 3 times a year so that would equate to a 45% yearly roi on the home building side. I agree though not fun doing projects at break even lol.
 

JLG614

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I work in the propane business and while business is good and we continue to grow the operating costs have sky rocked. Fuel is a big obvious one but the cost of parts and repairs on our trucks have tripled as well as the cost of buying a new truck. We get to see how alot of other businesses are doing based on their history of how much propane we deliver to them. For now things seem to be steady and most are still taking an average amount of fuel for their use but I have definitely seen and talked to a good amount of customers that are slow or slowing down
 

Albert

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My son works for my company we do TI work w a few reputable large management companies. He tells me lots of empty buildings he doing work on . But profit margins are still good and steady.
 

sandyz

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I'm working on my new business promotion right now. I'm just a beginer but I'm sure good advertaising is crusial for any business. Overall, advertising is a key component of a business's marketing strategy, playing a vital role in attracting customers, driving sales, and sustaining growth. I checked info about programmatic advertising at https://smartyads.com/blog/10-best-dsps-that-define-programmatic-buying demand side platforms. There are best DSPs for programmatic advertising: comparison table.
 

Fastech382

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I'm working on my new business promotion right now. I'm just a beginer but I'm sure good advertaising is crusial for any business. Overall, advertising is a key component of a business's marketing strategy, playing a vital role in attracting customers, driving sales, and sustaining growth. I checked info about programmatic advertising at https://smartyads.com/blog/10-best-dsps-that-define-programmatic-buying demand side platforms. There are best DSPs for programmatic advertising: comparison table.
Programmatic is still somewhat in infancy. Depending on what your end result and industry, you could see better results with ppc or sm advertising. Programmatic still has a high acquisition cost. I have seen about a 10% success rate with programmatic advertising. And 100% of the that 10% was engagement based.
 

BHC Vic

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I work in the propane business and while business is good and we continue to grow the operating costs have sky rocked. Fuel is a big obvious one but the cost of parts and repairs on our trucks have tripled as well as the cost of buying a new truck. We get to see how alot of other businesses are doing based on their history of how much propane we deliver to them. For now things seem to be steady and most are still taking an average amount of fuel for their use but I have definitely seen and talked to a good amount of customers that are slow or slowing down
Hopefully not Amerigas. We just got rid of them and use pacific coast propane now. Much better so far
 
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