solo cost for small operation

[steve-o]

this is a list of my expenses for running my business for this season so far. keep in mind my truck, 2 trls. and equipment is paid for so i don't have any payments. also keep in mind this doesn't include paying my own health ins. for the record i own a home and have a stay at home wife/mom with 1 kid still left at home. i use my 21 year old for help.

advertising
books
business commercial auto ins.
business liability ins.
business license
business phone
cell phone
computer line
fertilizer & seed
fertilizer business lic.
gloves & clothing
landfill
marble/rock
mini-storage
mower gas
mulch
office supplies
pesticide lic.
pesticide business lic.
pinestraw
postage
equipment repairs
equipment maintenance
soil samples
supplies
TAXES
tolls
truck repair
truck maintenance
trl. repair
trl. maintenance
truck gas
wages

total expenses january 1 through march 19,2007 = $11,331.04

i hope this will help you other solo guys out there that don't know their cost of doing business and in not knowing so perhaps they might just lowball their prices just alittle bit causing their profits to sink.

for you scrubs out there in "i can lowball cause i don't have some of these expenses and don't have to pay taxes land" SCREW YOU !

STEVE

[MASTERMOWER]

Why would you not include equipment even though it's paid for?

So what if for some odd reason, tomorrow your truck, trailers, mowers, etc, all get up and die?

What now? You replace them, but your cost of doing business rises as well. So would you keep your prices the same.....or raise them?

Better yet, why not include it and deposit that money into a seperate machinery account for when you want to buy new equipment.......wouldn't it be nice to pay cash and not credit on it?

[steve-o]

Why would you not include equipment even though it's paid for?

So what if for some odd reason, tomorrow your truck, trailers, mowers, etc, all get up and die?

What now? You replace them, but your cost of doing business rises as well. So would you keep your prices the same.....or raise them?

Better yet, why not include it and deposit that money into a seperate machinery account for when you want to buy new equipment.......wouldn't it be nice to pay cash and not credit on it?

my point to these guys was even without equipment payments my costs are still very high. from the way i see how some of them determine prices , if i included figures on depreciation of equipment it would just make it more complicated. also my prices are where they need to be if i had a problem.

steve

[boazcat]

Great list. Us part-timers probably haven't taken the time really look at our expenses.

Thanks

[highlander316]

obviously taxes are going to be a big chunk of that, but what else is high cost? I'm just wondering what you have seen to cost the most. Obvisouly as the seasons change, some of that will change.

[highlander316]

whooops double post

[safari lawn]

I started out doing leaves in the fall of 2000,
2 Echo Blowers $350 each - $700.00
48" Exmark walkbehind $2900.00 - 2007 replacement
1 Shindawa Weedeater $265.00 - 2006 replacement on 3rd
6x12 Trailer $800.00
36" Exmark Walkbehind $2200.00 - 2005 think that was with bagger and velke
1 Billygoat 9hp Blower $1075.00 - 2007 replaces 5hp chipper/blower/vacuum
Advertising 3 months $380.00 1st year (only advertised 1st and 2nd year and since word of mouth)
Laptop for business $450.00 Acer w/ cannon printer/copy/scanner
Taxes (Schedule C on 1040) Tax person doing them (H&R Block $225.00)
Business Insurance (Erie 5star 2007 $332.00 premium)
Business Lisc $30.00
Home Occupancy permit from zoning $0.00
Insurance on 2000 Chevy 2500 4x4 $550.00
2nd phone line $35.00 month
Signs for vehicle (Magnetic) $180.00 kinko's makes em
Business cards (Make my own, print page and Kinko's copies $1.00 page color then cuts on card stock 10 per page)
24' ladder to do gutters

(I purchase stuff through the season another post has my toy list all included as business expenses)

Log Splitter $999.00 - 22 ton 6.5 hp (Firewood is free from tree companies, just have to split, good for winter time revenue but lots of hard work)

just a few not going to count duplicate equipment since not needed for startup or the Homedepot Agri Fab for aeration/dethatching used with the Craftsman 42" Riding Mower.

[steve-o]

obviously taxes are going to be a big chunk of that, but what else is high cost? I'm just wondering what you have seen to cost the most. Obvisouly as the seasons change, some of that will change.

i put taxes on the list but don't have a figure as of yet. business auto was $1037.50. business liability was $744.00. both are $1,000,000 policies. advertising so far has been $538.88. i've paid out $2018.00 in wages. mulch so far is $2568.30 and fertilizer, seed and pre-emergence is $1731.72. the rest of the bull**** is $2692.64. i'll probably need a loan from you when i get the tax figure. :laughing:

steve

[MASTERMOWER]

How bout utilities? Though attempting to figure a utilities total from a home-based location would prove rather difficult. Regardless, the additional utility usage for the business would add up, though one might not realize the expense.

Water (for the squirt kool-aid)

Electricity (to provide the lights/stereo in your shop....grinder.....welder....computer....etc)

Gas/oil (perhaps?)

Expenses never end...........

[striper's03]

I'm sorry safari for continually going after you but some of the stuff you write is just down right funny!
Steve, if you want to talk to safari. Maybe he can hook you up with his premium five star Erie business insurance policy for $332. That to me looks like it would save you a boat load!
Where on earth do you get a million dollar liability for $332

[highlander316]

i put taxes on the list but don't have a figure as of yet. business auto was $1037.50. business liability was $744.00. both are $1,000,000 policies. advertising so far has been $538.88. i've paid out $2018.00 in wages. mulch so far is $2568.30 and fertilizer, seed and pre-emergence is $1731.72. the rest of the bull**** is $2692.64. i'll probably need a loan from you when i get the tax figure. :laughing:

steve

ha and to think, I haven't even made a single dollar yet here this year because of the snow still on the ground Hopefully next week

[steve-o]

How bout utilities? Though attempting to figure a utilities total from a home-based location would prove rather difficult. Regardless, the additional utility usage for the business would add up, though one might not realize the expense.

Water (for the squirt kool-aid)

Electricity (to provide the lights/stereo in your shop....grinder.....welder....computer....etc)

Gas/oil (perhaps?)

Expenses never end...........

damn boy, be quiet ! it's hard enough keeping track of the other stuff. :laughing: how bout what the wife spends ?

I'm sorry safari for continually going after you but some of the stuff you write is just down right funny!
Steve, if you want to talk to safari. Maybe he can hook you up with his premium five star Erie business insurance policy for $332. That to me looks like it would save you a boat load!
Where on earth do you get a million dollar liability for $332

i had erie till last year and switched to nationwide for everything. erie was over $800 and that was here in hooterville. safari guy is in northern va. where everything is high except cutting prices.

steve

[safari lawn]

[steve-o]

ha and to think, I haven't even made a single dollar yet here this year because of the snow still on the ground Hopefully next week

when i hit the profit & loss on my quickbooks you would think i haven't made a buck either. i actually start mowing next wednesday.

steve

[MASTERMOWER]

That just proves you make little to no money. Usually premiums are figured on your gross sales.