How many are getting killed in a lowest bidder market?

I also want to tell you none of my clients are " American" which is very alarming! Americans are not filling these jobs , people from over seas are!

Don.t know what you do or where you are located, but in our business we had for over 20 years. Location predicted how good of business you could have. We had our business in Edmond Oklahoma a pretty nice little city for the state of Oklahoma.

Just look at the entrepreneurs pour in this thriving economy

I'm a "end user" and deal with it everyday...pride in workmanship has gone in the crapper....

here is the current ploy, bid low and try and make it up on "change orders"

It's a sad,sad day GT, a sad day :(

I agree my friend! Thank you for post!

What business?

Irrelevant to thread!

^^^ This.


:privsector:

Answer above and , very funny pic! So true!

Ummmmmm no it isn't

If you think that then you won't stand a chance in any market

I would also like to add after " re-selection" my business dropped 50% the day after and that's the truth!

Read thread title!

You can thank the reich wing traitors who sold our country to China.

I think I already have my answer! I think it might be time to come up with a new business idea or work on a new résumé!

I completely agree , I know the deal ! I just wanted to talk to folks and here ideas , victories or solutions!

You can't.
Well done for spotting this.
Know how it's funded? Not through them being big.

Government. Government is big business. Your taxes (and now stolen funds eg. QE) are funneled to private entities to enable them to beat their competition. Then once the competition is gone they can start to make profits.

Nice world they've engineered isn't it.

It's all over, Construction mainly but also affects service industry and restaurants...and known to few but also Food stores....oh, you didn't know that the manufacture of food is bid out? well, it is.

Yes it is , but I have always had a special forces mind set!

But now I'm being kicked where it hurts , in the wallet!

Thank you for post!

We are doing okay. But that is the exception. By okay, I mean that having a process serving business in Delaware is a good idea. Lots of corporations are based here, even if on paper, and this is where they get served with legal papers.


Find private clients is my only advice. Find someone who almost has you on retainer.

We know a construction guy that did that, basically. He found one guy to work for. the market for smaller jobs (like ours had been) was drying up.

Good luck to you always!

Get used to it.
You have 3 more years to survive before anything will economically change for the better.

For now.....this is the only change you should expect.

I here you , I walk by tables at restaurants and see where the public leaves a 2 dollar tip and I am completely shocked!

Service is in bad shape!

Yes, it is ridiculous out there. I ws a General Contractor in Florida, some of my competition ended up being guys that would go buy a $25,00 "handyman license" and then go contracting for $25-$30 per hr. My overhead was $50 an hour- to break even. I am done with that and am watching the Pacific waves break in Ecuador right now.

Thank you Beeches

Mine doubled after the second selection, then doubled again after Sandy Hook.

Do you have assets that can be used for other business purposes?

Some are really good for a different business, such as big printers, think posters, packaging, art etc etc

Tools like Lathes CNC machines etc, you could make anything for any market.

Bingo ! Those kind of prices are what I am facing ! At about 75 bucks an hour I'm making money ! Same dilemma! And I know my wing nut competition is working for free to keep it going until straight into a brick wall!

Five, of course.

Saw a thread responding to this thread. Wonder what that was, but ANY small business is going to have to rethink almost every few months.

The economy is like sand eroding under our feet at the beach when the water pulls it back out to sea.

We have a guy who helps when I cannot. He is a huge help. I have no idea what he gets a year, but it is worth every penny. To serve process, once you have the papers, you need a driver and a good knowledge of the escape routes in an area.

That is my job- wheel man.

When I can - I have a daytime job as well, and that is where the other guy comes in.

A good sideline for anyone who knows an area inside out.

No, one man show and completely state of the art!

That's the good news , if I do throw in the towel losses will be very minimal!

Thanks Beeches!

GT.

I work for a massive company, so my view point will be a little different than yours. Although, my customers are frequently small independent contractors. The issue I see them running into is that the pay for the job doesn't provide enough for the proper equipment. The companies giving out these contracts pay so little I've felt obliged to talk them out of taking the job.... I'm not encouraging people not to work, but just not ultimately find themselves in a i bind because they will have to start using personal funds to keep their business flowing.

However, whats odd about my competition is they're the ones with the low prices. I can't compete against their low overhead, so they do have a slight edge there... but they are really, REALLY limited as to how big they can get because they don't have a big company bank account to go and procure so much new equipment.

So, from every direction the big companies really are crushing the independent ones. I try to run my local office as a small business, so I do tend to target small, locally owned business. I have the backing to go after any business but I appreciate working with the people who understand that old saying... "You get what you pay for"

I know it's not relevant to the convo, but I'd be interested in what industry you're in. I have a feeling we may be doing something similar...