Answer me something, putting do what you have to do aside, does the whole situation Play On your mind?
Absolutely. Currently, I feel like a failure...and trapped in a never-ending nightmare.
Our investment progress has sunk for god knows how long, now.
Putting on a smiley face for the staff, for the customers, for my wife and kids, friends and family is bloody hard work.
This is the only place where I can sorta vent and have a sook. Thanks everyone for lending a keyboard ear. (My wife and I vent and sook to each other though - eases the burden somewhat).
I wouldn't mind if I were lazy, or stupid, or didn't try to run a caring helpful business - but we try to help folks and not rip them off, yet we are receiving less business.
I hear constantly from folks how they hate the Dealerships; too expensive and so on, yet they still get loads of cars through the workshop.
I'm about 15 years behind you, I've had my ups and downs, however . Had my kid's younger then you
Two businesses, one a disaster, one did ok before I sold out
I lost 70% of an IP to the ex wife
However, it woule absolutey gut me if I eas in your position at your age to lose a huge chunk of it, I tlook my risks when I was younger, and no offence but you don't seem thay interested in your industry but are doibg it out of necessity
I started losing interest about 2 years ago when I could see that I was making no money from the place, and I also saw how the whole scenario of dealing with a never-ending stream of vehicle ignorant, panicky, obsessive and difficult customers, combined with ever-increasing Govt regs and interference is driving so many mechanics away from running a similar business.
We try to always be helpful and so on, but christ; dealing with humans is a pain in the @rze on many days. Where's the fun and profit?
Then there are staff issues, and the ever-present worry of the "ever since" customer who comes back 2 days later, or the next day, or next week, or who is simply trying to con you for another issue which you have nothing to do with.
If you were making a lot of money, you could cope with it, but to earn only an average wage - if at all - and to be worried every month that you won't be able to pay bills takes the gloss off, so to speak.
I doubt I could handle what you are doing to be honest
And probably would send me spiralling into depression
Well, that has happened.
Folks on another thread have said get some help - that costs money we don't have, and many others have offered loads of advice and lots of helpful hints - for which I am very grateful - many of them involve spending some money to rev the place up, of course - and I am aware that these things need to occur to raise the profile etc - but there is literally no excess cash to throw at that until the bills are back under control...
Suppliers, Bank and Landlord have to come before advertising at this point in time. All I can do right now is try to trim expenses to the marrow and hope, and do things to promote the business that are free.
I've cut the staff to the bone, the wife is back working as many hours as she can cope with, so there it is.
The Gubbmint is not in the business of bailing out small private businesses, so you have to make your own way.
It's my mistake, and my responsibility - no one made me buy the place, so I have to wear it and keep on punching.
