What do you NOT like about being a business owner?
 

Our latest electric bill just reminded me of something that really irks me about running a small business: staying on top of things that you shouldn't have to. Seems our service has been sold to the highest bidder a few times over the years and our current electric bill proves it. $302 of actual usage and $385 of "delivery", that is the cost to send us electricity. 5 years ago our total bill was $422, now $687. Because deregulation I guess. Our new "electric company" is in Oklahoma which makes perfect sense.

Can prolly run a diesel generator for cheaper....

I am fairly certain a solar array on the roof will pay for itself in 2 years and be profitable after that. Really have to look into one.

Partners...

When a client didn't go along with my design concepts. I realize it's their property but some of these people were their own worst enemy.

Trust me, I was very good about explaining in detail the purposes and reasoning behind my designs. Fortunately, most were smart enough to let me do my thing......

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law makers and changes in regulations without asking YOU.

As a contractor, i realize people are totally clueless what things cost and how long it takes.

Employees

If they are paying for it, then you are ripping them off.

Retiring from it.

What do you mean? I watched an entire episode of flip or flop where they completely remodeled a home in one episode then sold it for huge profit! Why can't every contractor get something done in 1 hour?

Hint...they have a special guy that comes in does the really hard stuff during the two minute commercials.

About the only thing I can think of is working late at night or on holidays to get a project finished. Getting up at 2:30 AM to check the computer ready to go to the next project to meet a crazy deadline.

Everything else is great. Especially depositing large checks and watching our company checking account go up is fun.

Slow paying customers is likely the worst thing.

I am working on a project today that my partner flew yesterday. We have all we can do finished, but the surveyor client has yet to get us the precise location of the ground control targets. Until he sends us a text file with the precise X,Y & Z locations we can't finish. Of course as usual he is in a hurry to get a final orthophoto.

Without a doubt ... EMPLOYEES
Clueless customers I can and do deal with, but clueless employees who don't give a sht about losing and breaking things, quality of their work and timekeeping just wind me up.

1.) Staff/employees, although some are great but the bad ones really make it bad.
2.) You are never really "off" until you retire/sell.

Everything else isn't that bad.

Absolutely. I am working today finishing a proposal that is due Monday by noon. I "sprint and drift" on proposal writing and I am almost done. My wife will review it in an hour or so then I'll sent it to my partner by 1400.

Pretty neat concept: A submarine launched UAS that goes flying. While the proposal isn't classified, there are requirements that are.

Should be a hoot.

3) cell phones. On call 24/7.

4) Partners. Even with partnership agreement, a disgruntled deadbeat partner can make life hell for years. (my ex-sister's husband)

Often takes me longer to get a permit released than they do an entire remodel. I haven't seen an inspection/local official on one of those shows yet.

We are currently 12 weeks for kitchen cabinets, used to be a week, and 3 weeks for countertops from template, used to be days.

Agree about not getting a day off now and again. So hard to find techs who can do this work. Until another magically appears, Sunday fun, at least weather sucked so that's good. Now off to dinner and movies.

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DAMMIT! Now you've ruined it for me.