What you see in the attachment, my friends, is the bottom line of a 10-month P & L statement for Frank J. Blau, Jr. Associates, the corporation under which I conduct my seminar and consulting business. I lost money.

Plumbing, HVAC and electrical home service contractors across the continent have the opportunity to experience the rapid results of Nexstar® Network, as the trades’ leading business development organization opens the doors of their Austin, Texas Super Meeting September 23-25.

Nexstar President and CEO, Greg Niemi says, “Attendees will learn how to generate more revenue and work more efficiently. They have the potential to return to their businesses and get rapid results, guided by our experienced coaches, surefire systems and incredible peer connections.”

Serendipity: The faculty of happening upon fortunate discoveries when not in search of them.
I love the moments that take me completely by surprise. When I expect one thing and find another. The other day I received a call from a woman named Cathy…

“Hi Ellen, I read your article in the local business journal and I would like to invite you to our association meeting.”

“Well, how thoughtful of you,” I replied. “What is the name of your group?”

Proudly, Cathy answered, “The Home Based Businesses of the Ozarks.”

Immediately, I pictured a room full of good ol’ boys in overalls. “Hi I’m Billy, owner of Hillbilly Billy’s Moonshine. Try a snort of this!”

I collected myself and replied, “Gosh, thanks, Cathy. When do you meet?” I was stalling for time, trying to think of a gracious way to decline.

“We meet the second Tuesday of every month. In fact, Ellen, we would really like you to come and speak to our group about how to make more money. Profitability is always a hot topic in our break-out discussion groups.”

Now, I am all about helping people make more money. Cathy was asking me to do just that. Sigh. I agreed to go to the next meeting as a guest, and get a feel for the group. I could do my presentation the following month.

“OK, Cathy, I’m in. Where do you meet?”

“You know the Smitty’s grocery store at the corner of National and Republic? There is a little coffee shop in there. That’s where we meet.”

Sure it is.

For too long, service and repair contractors have been “winging it” by charging for time and materials based on the going market rate. As a result, our industry has one of the lousiest profit margins of any in the business world – an average of about 3%.

But the NAPHCC Service and Repair Calculator is designed to change this sad situation. This revolutionary workbook helps you earn high profits by forcing you to sit down and determine what it costs to run your business.
Let’s face it – it’s a lost cause trying to determine your overhead costs by following the blind competition. You have to figure out your own overhead costs, and the Service and Repair Calculator is a tool that shows you how to find out your actual cost of doing business.

Ellen Rohr
Contributing Writer
Bare Bones Biz

When I was a college student, I got an ‘A’ in my Accounting 101 and 201 classes. Then I entered the “real” world and almost SUNK the family business because I had no idea what I was doing with the “real” accounting. You see, the examples in the college text book used financials that were correct. That means, the dollar amounts in the accounts could be trusted, and were assumed current and accurate.

The “Real” World…

Well, when I took a swing at entering my accounting data I made a big “Slinky knot” mess out of my Peachtree accounting file. Ooops. I didn’t learn how to FIX my accounting in college. That would have been useful! I learned what I know from falling in holes and climbing out of them.

Your trucks pass hundreds, if not thousands, of customers and prospects every day. Truck graphics provide a wonderful opportunity to generate brand awareness. Your truck graphics can make consumers familiar with your logo, company name, services and contact information.

Just adding this information to your trucks, isn’t enough. Put yourself in consumers’ shoes. Are they staring at your trucks, hanging on every word, the same way you do? Sadly, no. Some are engrossed in their radio programs; many are distracted by street signs, billboards, store signage; and a scary number are focused on their cell phone conversations. The point is, to get the most out of your “moveable billboards,” you need to think carefully and creatively about your truck graphics.