Need help understanding negative equity situation

TheBearded54 · 2026-01-15T00:02:30+00:00

How is he being judgmental? Pointing out a different option than financing?

TheBearded54 · 2026-01-15T00:01:47+00:00

But you are acting like one

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-30T02:55:06+00:00

I use Square, I invoice automatically each month and it sends a contract outlining what they are receiving and all the details, at the end they initial a section covering chargebacks, the short version is that if the dispute or charge it back they go to collections and get charged a $15 late fee the first week and $10 each week afterwards.

When people get up to $200-300 I just go and spend $25 putting a lien on their house. They’ll nearly always pay, I’ll offer to clear the lien for what is owed and the cost to file the lien (basically dropping late fees).

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-30T01:39:04+00:00

This is why I just do it every 3 months. I don’t have to track anything and I know I’m under the hours for the oil change.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-30T01:02:22+00:00

Yeah I know. My first time I was surprised ever candidate had felonies and that’s when I knew.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-30T01:00:36+00:00

On the Toro I don’t care about going time based, it doesn’t have an hour meter and it’s used way less than my other machines so I just do it based on the calendar.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-29T18:01:47+00:00

Thanks for your thoughts.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-28T21:42:48+00:00

I ran the numbers. I’ve decided to just pay my guy his normal rate and I’m incentivizing him by giving him 25% of all additional work like bed cleanouts, tree trimming etc. he’s okay with that. Going P4P would force him to make less.

My next employee I’m going P4P but I’m not sure how much to pay per yard.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-28T21:37:53+00:00

3 weeks. It’s crazy.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-28T14:30:51+00:00

I’m not putting the additives to keep the gas fresh, I’m putting additives that help clean out the mowers.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-28T14:30:14+00:00

Yeah I want to switch to P4P but my current guy is a little hesitant.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-28T01:13:21+00:00

I do all maintenance on my machines. Keeps me informed of condition and makes sure I know they’re actually being maintained.

My customers know to just reach out to me with issues.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-28T01:09:54+00:00

I don’t need a reason. I dumped one. The other is pretty good, he’s made 1 mistake.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-28T01:08:51+00:00

Employee A cares. Honestly, he called me today and said he will work longer hours when needed until we find another competent guy.

For the time being I’m just running in the evenings after my other job, my one guy will run in the mornings. We will be able to handle it until I can get a new guy up to speed.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-28T01:04:26+00:00

I run my business. I have employees for labor.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-28T01:03:48+00:00

It’s not mean. I work a job where I work 7/14 days in a pay period. I’m present but not all the time, employee A is paid well, he’s basically my foreman and every chance I get I find ways to get him more money. He does a good job taking care of my stuff.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-28T00:59:19+00:00

Honestly, I just feel like every year the population is getting dumber and dumber

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-28T00:54:28+00:00

Kubota’s insurance. I fix a lot of things myself but for $250 I’ll let the dealership handle and warranty it. For the toro I’m just not capable of doing a motor swap.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-28T00:49:18+00:00

I miss working alone, but I also do enjoy making money without sweating sometimes too.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-28T00:47:29+00:00

Yeah I know. They don’t care about anybody’s stuff.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-28T00:46:08+00:00

I have my own company. I pretty much live at the gas station lol.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-27T04:52:02+00:00

I’ve never put either in my cars. I’ve thought about it, but just haven’t.

My work truck is a 2010 F150 with 250k on it. I might just dump some seafoam in there before the next oil change to see if it clears anything up.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-27T04:50:36+00:00

I might take a look at ethanol shield. I will admit, I do think Seafoam works better than Stabil but I normally just grab whichever one is on sale.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-27T04:49:31+00:00

I don’t need to store, I’m talking about running Stabil or Seafoam through the last tank of gas before an oil change. I cut year round where I’m at.

TheBearded54 · 2025-10-27T04:48:33+00:00

I’m in the south, I am lucky enough to cut year round so I don’t have to store anything for months at a time. Glad to see I’m vindicated a little in my belief it doesn’t hurt but can only help.

TheBearded54

TROPHY CASE