No really....:)

Obviously there are a lot of worries involved in running any business, but in particular, the custom business seems to have more than its share. I was wondering what the pros here worry about most while trying to maintain a successful C-business? Competition? Labor? Prices? Marketing? Vendors? Obsolescence? Something else?

I'm interested in running a piece in Custom Retailer on this topic, would love to hear from you guys again. Looking forward to it! Please remember to leave a (real) name if you want to be quoted -- if you don't want it publicly displayed, you can email me.

Thanks,
Ron


This message was edited by Ron CR on 02/03/03 11:05.

3 words. Scheduling, scheduling, scheduling. Because out work always happens at the end of each contruction phase (we wire after the electrician, plumber etc. have ran their stuff, and later on install after everyone else is finished etc.), we always have to wait on everyone else and to add to it hav a much narrower window to do our work than everyone else. It can be difficult dealing with the often chaotic scheduling of construction projects.

QQQ, I agree,scheduling can be a killer. Cash flow is the other. My biz has been profitable since the beginning, but juggling payables and receivables to keep everyone happy has cost me more than a few sleepless nights.

Deco

I have to vote for cash flow as number 1. Scheduling is important, but scheduling mistakes can be compensated for. If you don't plan your cash flow correctly, and a lot of people don't, you can be out of business in no time. E-mail Ron, if you want some specific situations and solutions.

Cash Flow. Don't over-extend yourself. Make sure that your clients are paying for change orders at that time, rather than at the end of a project. They tend to have lousy memories, ebven if you have documented and they signed off on it.

Guys getting into the custom installation buisness that have no idea what there doing, selling customers too small a job, screwing it up and giving the industry a bad reputation.

The little brat below me that dosen't stop screaming all night!!!

Ok, Matt tell us who is the little brat below you ? Are you talking about an adult or an infant crying his lungs out in the middle of the night, come on spit it out, tell us who is keeping you awake at night, besides your businnes !!! We won't tell.
Mister.T

I use to work for a company called Towne Services, we specialized in cash flow solutions. About a year and a half ago we were bought out by the only competitor - Private Business. The system that Towne Services worked well, as for what Private Business has done with it I have no idea. However they might be of usefullness to you guys straining under ar/ap issues. You can find them at www.privatebusiness.com

Well, staying awake at night 'cause your worrying about work is one thing, but being KEPT away by a bawling baby when your NOT worrying is worse.

I know babies cry, sometimes a lot, but this is freakin' ridiculous.

Well, could be worse -- you could be worrying about work *and* being kept up by the baby!

I take it there's no need to install a baby monitor...:)

I live in an apartment.....it's downstairs. LOL

#1 worry.... The customer getting ripped off because they thought all A/V installers are the same. I can honestly say that in this business you get what you pay for.

That opens up many different cans of worms. At this very moment, I'm looking out my window and watching Time Warner's guy on the pole hooking up the neighborhood for digital cable

I know that at least here in the NYC market, third-party TW installation guys are in hot demand for wire pulling and installations, because they're theoretically "experienced." Of course, nobody said how much experience. In my last apartment, TW upgraded the building to DTV and knocked out access for several dwellings by splicing some wrong wires and ignoring some others.

Perhaps figuring out ways to market installation services as qualitative, rather than quantitative, is one thing that makes a C-tailer lose sleep. But I was just talking to the head of HTSA today, who told me, in a conversation about big entities like Verizon, TW, Best Buy, et al, getting into the custom biz -- ..."They'll learn very quickly that they don't make money on labor. It's one of the fallacies of this busines. If you try, you'll price yourself out."

True? If so, I'd be losing sleep too...