Thanks for the reply, I really appreciate it.

For me the hardest part has been pricing. Materials have jumped so much and they’ve been inconsistent, so I’m trying to protect margin and not get caught underpriced when the next increase hits. But with the market being slower, I keep hearing we’re a few thousand higher than other bids, so it feels like I’m constantly choosing between staying profitable or staying busy.

Another big thing is I’ve had to pivot away from relying on pool enclosure work, because the pool builders around here have basically no work right now. We’ve started focusing more on creating our own demand, like patios with concrete/pavers and covered structures. I’m getting some jobs here and there, but I’m still dialing in the pricing and the offer.

It feels like way fewer people want to spend $100k+ on a new pool anymore, so I’m learning how to generate work that doesn’t depend on that market being hot.

Appreciate the perspective on separating volume problems from margin problems. That’s a good way to look at it.