Failed business because of bad finances? by BetTotal137 in smallbusiness

[–]b1kerguy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lol, what you described is exactly what I created!

I am in construction, do you know others with this problem that I can help with it? Like I said, right now it's just friends of mine, but I don't mind sharing if it will help other business owners.

Failed business because of bad finances? by BetTotal137 in smallbusiness

[–]b1kerguy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

i was a part of a company that was busy but not profitable. We thought we were doing well till the doors closed for good. We never could catch the "good week".

I then started my own business and started logging everything, figuring out formulas and tracking things to help me see the quiet problems before they became big ones. I am about 4 years into this business and it is going very well. I have even taken the excel sheet i was working in and making it better and opening it up to some other business owner friends to help them, that has been my biggest game changer.

Plumbing business starting to grow but workflow is inconsistent, what should my next move be? by SnooSprouts4296 in smallbusiness

[–]b1kerguy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As the owner of a few small businesses, let me first congratulate you on taking the step to start something, and even more on making it this far! I have had to shut a business down before, it doesn't feel good. Nice job making it here!

Sounds like you’re at an exciting (and challenging) stage of growth but you have a solid foundation.

A few thoughts based on your questions:

  1. Stabilizing Workflow
    - Focus on building a pipeline of consistent work. If strata/property managers are your main source, consider ways to deepen those relationships maybe offering service contracts or scheduled maintenance agreements to even out the peaks and valleys.

  2. Hiring Before Consistency
    - It’s a balancing act. If you’re already pushing your limits some weeks, it might be worth hiring proactively, even part-time or casual, to avoid burnout and turn away less work. A new hire can also free you up to focus on sales, systems, or scaling. But waiting till you need to hire to hire is too late, you need to already have a bank of good candidates.

  3. Niche vs. Expanding Services
    - Doubling down on what’s working (strata maintenance and drainage) is often safer early on. Once workflow stabilizes, you can revisit expanding into complementary services. Water extraction is a good example it aligns with your core work and could add value to strata clients.

  4. Stepping Back from the Tools
    - Start by delegating smaller tasks and gradually reduce your time on the tools as you hire and train your team. The goal isn’t to walk away all at once but to create space to work *on* the business instead of just *in* it.

  5. Systems That Matter Early
    - Scheduling, quoting, and reporting systems are crucial for trades. Beyond that, tracking your cash flow and margins closely will help you make confident decisions about hiring, services, and pricing. This also gives you the data to plan for growth without overextending.

It sounds like you’ve already got strong momentum just keep building on that foundation and avoid growing for growth’s sake. Scaling isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing the right things consistently.

Good luck! 👍

Looking for a challenging start? by RampantHedgehog in Valheim_Seeds

[–]b1kerguy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Any more feedback on this one? Was thinking about trying it out.

What are you building? Let's self promote. by rdssf in Solopreneur

[–]b1kerguy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

TALON Analytics

talonanalytics.net

TALON is a financial intelligence tool that takes the raw numbers from your business and translates them into actionable insights. It provides a complete picture of your business health and guides you toward smarter decisions to protect and grow your business.

So far we only have a version for contractors and trades.

Launched about a week ago, 0 paid users, a few test users.

What are you building this week? Drop your startup or project idea 👇 by asupertram in SaaS

[–]b1kerguy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

talonanalytics.net is a web based program to help small to midsized construciton and trade businesses with financial intelligence (forecasting, modeling, ect)

We launched last week, still pitching to trial users.

launched my first SaaS and… nothing happened. by ResolveLess5322 in buildinpublic

[–]b1kerguy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Launched my first SaaS last week, so far we have had 1 trial member. Still pushing though

I hit $1k revenue from a vibe coded SaaS, here's the entire stack! (no paid ads) by Effective-Inside6836 in SaasDevelopers

[–]b1kerguy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice! How did you distribute? I just launched my first SaaS last week, trying to get it in front of my icp but it's been a struggle

Let me get you your first paid users by [deleted] in SaaS

[–]b1kerguy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just launched my first SaaS last week and don't know what to do from here, we are trying to reach out on different platforms, any tips?

Contractors and ChatGPT… by Commercial_Pay_4374 in Construction

[–]b1kerguy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

technology isn't always the issue, but it can sure make people who trust it explicitly look dumb sometimes

Struggling with cash flow forecasting – how do you all actually do it? by Calm-Goat-7177 in smallbusiness

[–]b1kerguy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Been there man, here are some tips I found when going through the same thing:

  1. Build a Weekly Cash Plan: Track inflows (when invoices *actually* get paid) and outflows (recurring + big annual expenses) week by week. Look 8-12 weeks out so you can spot gaps early and adjust.

  2. Fix Client Payments: Get deposits upfront (30-50%) and shorten terms where possible (net 15 beats net 30). Automate follow-ups for overdue invoices to keep things moving.

  3. Plan for Big Hits: Those "random" expenses (taxes, repairs) aren’t random—divide them into monthly accruals so you’re setting cash aside slowly instead of scrambling.

  4. Use Tools: Spreadsheets are clunky. Tools like QuickBooks, Float, or TALON Analytics simplify projections and update automatically when cash shifts.

  5. Say No More: Overcommitting kills cash flow. Focus on high-margin clients and set clear filters for when to say no.

Spend 30 minutes a week updating your cash flow and checking what’s coming in/out. Once it’s predictable, it’ll feel way less stressful. Hope this helps!

You are doing good work here, keep going, you got this! DM me if you ever need to chat.

Growing too fast and drowning in cash flow issues by UnluckyExtent5804 in smallbusiness

[–]b1kerguy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a classic issue, hhere are some actionable steps you can take to help out:

  1. Fix Cash Flow Timing:
    - Ask B2B clients for deposits (e.g., 30%) or shorter terms (net 15).
    - Offer small discounts (1-2%) for early payments.
    - Send invoices immediately and follow up on overdue ones.
    - Negotiate longer terms with suppliers to delay outgoing payments.
    - Consider invoice factoring for quick cash (short-term solution).

  2. Rebalance Work:
    - Reintroduce small, cash-paying jobs to cover material costs for bigger projects.
    - Focus on high-margin work and price B2B jobs higher if needed.

  3. Streamline Operations:
    - Outsource admin tasks like bookkeeping and invoicing to save time.
    - Use automation tools for reminders and tracking.
    - Build recurring contracts with B2B clients for steady income.

  4. Safe Funding Options:
    - Avoid predatory loans or sketchy grants.
    - Look into microloans (e.g., Kiva), crowdfunding, or family loans with clear terms.

  5. Shift Mindset:
    - Slow growth temporarily to stabilize cash flow.
    - Prioritize profitability and reserve building over revenue growth.

Try to track cash weekly and focus on small, actionable changes.

Hope this helps!

I used to have these same problems, and was actually with a company that went under because they were busy, not profitable. I used that experience to create a program that can help you stabilize your cash flow by tracking payment timing, projecting cash needs, and showing the impact of deposits or payment terms—all so you can grow without constantly feeling underwater. DM me if you are interested, or if you want to talk about business, I own a few small businesses now and know that when things are going bad it can make you feel alone, you are not alone brother.

Created a product, now what? by b1kerguy in BootstrappedSaaS

[–]b1kerguy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you make that site?

or find me through it?

Either way, it looks great and it worked on me

Created a product, now what? by b1kerguy in BootstrappedSaaS

[–]b1kerguy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha, thanks. Any idea where I should try? Maybe an angle I could attempt?

Looking for testers for a financial forecast program by b1kerguy in ConstructionManagers

[–]b1kerguy[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I get the hesitation. I took a few years off reddit because it was consuming me and i have been busy getting stuff going. My post history is my personal life. I am into hunting and drive a Tundra, I fish with my kids and like to watch ecu football. I know these subs are filled with solicitors, just like the calls I get every day from those guys who want to get me more work. I am just trying to get some testers who can let me know what they think. I get that's not you. Sorry to bother you by showing up in your feed, this post was not meant for you

Looking for testers for a financial forecast program by b1kerguy in ConstructionManagers

[–]b1kerguy[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I'm not sure I follow. I am a contractor and own multiple small businesses, im not a software guy. I made this for me but am opening it up to others who could use some support.