Self-Employment Steps for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors: Helping a Consumer Start a Business
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Rainbow Siding and Gutter
Sample Business Plan

Table of Contents

  • Executive Summary
  • Business Description
  • Marketing Plan
    • Products and Services
    • Target Market
    • Business Location
    • Competition
    • Advertising and Promotion Strategies
  • Operations Plan
    • Inputs
    • Facilities
    • Operating Costs
    • Licenses, Permits, Etc.
    • Capital Equipment
    • Production Methods
    • Management Methods
    • Employees
    • Outside Services
  • Financial Plan
    • Need for and Sources of Cash
    • Income Statement
    • Break-Even Analysis
    • Cash Flow Statement
    • Balance Sheet


Executive Summary

Vinyl siding is popular among homeowners and is a growing industry. In Centerville and the surrounding area, wood siding has dominated the market, but things are changing. Because of high wood prices and maintenance time and costs, vinyl siding is gaining a niche here too. Rainbow Siding is a start-up business poised to meet this increased demand. It will be the only full-time vinyl siding business serving both Centerville and the surrounding area. Rainbow Siding will provide a customer-oriented service by using high-grade products, professional installation practices, and a skilled carpenter all at prices below those offered by the only other local competitor and lower than out-of-area competitors. First year sales are based on siding 32 buildings, which is approximately .5% of the homes and businesses in the county, for a net profit of $9,250. A 2% growth is projected for the second year. 

The major source of advertising will be a vinyl-sided show house on a main thoroughfare. The business will be located in a home-office with storage facilities. The owner, Bob Lake seeks a loan of $10,000 to purchase tools, capital equipment, small equipment, supplies, and siding for the show house. He co-owns both the show-house and home where the office and storage facilities will be located and he owns a 4-wheel drive pickup that will be used as the company’s primary vehicle.


Business Description

Rainbow Siding and Gutter is a new business that will sell and install vinyl siding for homes and businesses in the Centerville area. I will operate it year-round, doing installations in winter when the weather is good and working on marketing when the weather is too bad to work outside.

A 1997 Vinyl Institute report (Vinyl Siding Faces a Bright Future) says that the U.S. siding industry is growing, although in the our region it’s just starting to catch on. Nationwide, 46% of new homes use vinyl siding, 30% use wood and 22% use brick. When homeowners re-side older homes, more than three-quarters of them also choose vinyl siding. The Centerville County Builders’ Association told me that there are an average of 122 new homes built in the county each year. In the next six years they also think new home construction will increase 5% each year. On September 23, 1998, I talked with Anne Falworth, the Association’s director, and she estimates that about 90 homes and businesses are remodeled each year. These often include installing new siding. 

I was a carpenter for 24 years and managed my own home improvement business for four of those years. Then in 1993 I started a retail store, Inland Seafoods, in the Centerville Shopping Center. This did well for almost three years, but I couldn’t compete with Top Hog’s prices and advertising, and my sales dropped off. Finally, I had to close the store in January, 1997. I have 14 years experience as a union carpenter and 10 years experience as a non-union carpenter (including the four years running my own home improvement business). I’ve installed all types of siding (vinyl, cedar, T-11, etc.), including siding my own house with vinyl. Knowing that vinyl siding was getting more popular, I started to do some research on starting my own installation business. I’m convinced now that this is a good opportunity and that my experience and skills will help me take advantage of it. 


Marketing Plan

Products and Services

I’ll start with selling and installing vinyl siding, soffits, and fascia covers for new homes, older homes and businesses. Later I plan to sell seamless aluminum guttering, too, and specially install it to withstand Valley County’s winters. 

Vinyl siding is good-looking, economical and maintenance free. It doesn’t rot, resists moisture, withstands temperature extremes, is non-toxic to humans and animals, and can be insulated. It’s cheaper than other siding materials and is more durable than wood. It doesn’t need to be painted and if it does get damaged in any way, it’s easy to replace a section. Jim Howell of Howell Appraisal Services says that vinyl siding increases a home’s resale value. A good-looking property is also easier to sell and the home-seller can take a tax deduction on the cost of siding.

Target Market

Nobody else sells and installs vinyl siding full-time in the Centerville area. At first, I’ll market to people who are building, remodeling, or selling homes or businesses in Valley County (population 17,500), including Centerville (2500), Mayberry (950) and Summerville (1050). Mayberry is 18 miles from Centerville and Summerville is 67 miles from Centerville. As the business grows, I might market to Weaverville (2200 people, 45 miles from Centerville) and Boundary County (population 8300). Riverdale (population 5200, 80 miles from Centerville), is a possibility, but North Kentucky Siding is already based there.

The Association of Realtors director estimates that there are 5550 individual homes and 300 business buildings in Valley County. Many of these are older and have wood siding that might be due for replacement. About 300 properties are currently for sale — if the owners would install vinyl siding, their properties might sell faster.

If only 2% of the 5850 homes and businesses installed vinyl siding each year, and if I got only a quarter of those jobs, that would be 29 siding jobs each year. If I could also get a quarter of the new construction siding jobs, that would be 14 more jobs each year for a total of 43 jobs. If 4% of existing homes and businesses re-sided each year and I got half the jobs, that would be a total of 145 jobs each year.

Business Location

Rainbow Siding and Gutter will be run out of my home office at 410 Cleary Street in Centerville. I’ll store materials in my garage. Cleary is a quiet street without a lot of traffic. Parking should not be a problem because I don’t expect many customers to come to the office. Most of my contact with them will be over the phone, at their homes or at my show house on U.S. Highway 1761, Centerville’s main street and the major east-west route across the northern part of the state. This show house is in a block that originally was company housing for the sawmill. The other houses on the block are old and run-down and the show house with its new siding will look especially good compared to the others. If I ever need to expand, I also have two other lots in Centerville that are zoned for commercial use. 

Competition

Glimmer Glass in Centerville sells and installs siding as a small part of its business. Slambam Contracting in Mayberry only does siding installation. Otherwise, customers have to do business with companies outside Valley County like North Kentucky Siding in Riverdale, Kentucky (80 miles away). This is the only full-service vinyl siding sales and installation company in the area. I’ve talked to several building contractors, my banker, and to the owner of Centerville Building Supply – they all say that each of these companies keeps busy installing siding. 

North Kentucky Siding markets a lot and gets most of the new home construction jobs here, but because of the distance they have to travel from their headquarters they’ve gotten a reputation for delays and slow warranty service. Glimmer Glass has good management and friendly service, but they concentrate on selling glass products, so their range of vinyl siding styles and colors is pretty limited. Also, their employees aren’t trained and don’t have the equipment to do a really quality installation. After my business gets off the ground, I might approach John Dilbeck, Glimmer Glass’s owner, about buying out his vinyl siding operation.

Slambam Contracting is a one-person operation with a reputation for high prices and customer complaints – at lease two were filed with the State Department of Commerce. Slambam also doesn’t advertise much.

I’ve got 24 years of experience in building, I’ve done my research and I’ve trained myself to do a quality vinyl siding installation job. Mine will be the only full-time, full-service bonded and insured vinyl siding sales and installation company in Valley County. I’ll offer a warranty on all work and will use top quality tools and state-of-the-art installation techniques, such as using a braking tool to bend fascia metal.

The local rate for vinyl siding sales and installation is $385 per square – which is a lot higher than the regional industry standard of $210 per square. I think I can do top quality work and still charge the lower industry standard rates. 

Advertising and Promotion Strategies

The show house on U.S. Highway 1761 will be my major advertising strategy. I’m having a brightly-colored sign that says “Rainbow Siding and Gutter” commercially made for the front yard. Every day people driving by will be reminded of how good quality vinyl siding can look. Potential customers can stop to inspect the materials and workmanship of the installation.

In the beginning, I’ll advertise in the newspaper, on local tv, and in the yellow pages. I’ll also hand out flyers and my business cards. I’ll notify each of Valley County’s real estate agents about my quality services and fair prices. I’ll also ask Center City Exteriors (my vinyl siding producer) about cooperating on a reduced-price special for five customers who are willing to serve as demonstration sites for the first two years. 

I do some part-time work for Glimmer Glass, which installs doors and windows as its main business. John Dilbeck thinks highly of my work and has encouraged me to go into business for myself. Rainbow Siding and Gutter, and Glimmer Glass could have a relationship that would benefit both businesses. Eventually I might buy out John’s vinyl siding business.

In the end, my cheapest and most effective advertising strategy will be the word of mouth I get if I do good work, on time and at a fair price.


Operations Plan

Inputs

My major inputs will be vinyl siding and soffit materials and compatible metal fascia. Center City Exteriors (150 miles from Centerville) produces high-quality products and delivers to western Kentucky weekly. It offers generous short-term credit for new contractors, so I can buy materials before I have any incoming cash. Their sales representative provided a letter which states that if I submit a satisfactory written business plan and have funding from a reputable lender, the company will carry 80% of my materials purchases for up to six months on each purchase at only 5% interest. They guarantee these terms for two years and might extend them if I have a good payment record. I’ve enclosed a copy of their letter.

I looked into several vinyl siding producers in the Big City area, including Aquarius Supply which produces high-end products for architect-designed homes and businesses. Although wholesale prices tend to be lower in Big City, shipping charges bring the costs to about the same as Center City.

I’ll get my tools and other materials at Centerville Building Supply, Inland Tools in Riverdale, and through mail order catalogs. Bogart’s Garage in Centerville will repair and maintain my company pickup truck. Back when I ran Inland Seafoods, Tom Bogart would even loan me his personal vehicle for short periods when my company van was in for unscheduled repairs. 

Facilities

I have two facilities: the show house on U.S. Highway 1761 at the west edge of Centerville, and my home office at 410 Cleary Street. I own these properties jointly with Barb Brown, through a limited partnership agreement with right of survivor. If one of us wants to terminate this ownership agreement, he or she has to give at least two years’ advance notice. We own the show house outright (estimated current value $33,000) and pay $430 monthly on the $37,800 mortgage balance for the Cleary Street house.

The show house is thirty years old, 1500 square feet, wood frame with a sound foundation and new roof (replaced 1995). The wood windows and siding are structurally sound but pretty weathered – adding vinyl siding will make a big difference in how the house looks. Replacing trim and siding should run about $2,750. The house is 40 feet from the highway and has off-street parking for four vehicles. The yard is small and well-maintained, and the commercially designed Rainbow Siding and Gutter sign will attract people to stop for a closer look at the house. I lease the house out and the tenants have agreed to be courteous to customers, to maintain the yard and shovel the walks and driveway in exchange for reduced rent.

The Cleary Street house provides space for an office and storage of tools and materials. It’s a quiet, easy-to-find street with lots of parking, although I expect to meet most customers at the show house or at their own properties. The office space has its own separate outside entrance and is 250 square feet – actually two rooms and a small bathroom. The two-car garage is weather-tight and has electricity, concrete floor, and good automatic doors. 

I installed vinyl siding on this house two years ago. The rest of the block is all sawmill housing and my house really looks sharp compared to the others. The office and garage could use some improvements, but I can easily run the business out of them without doing anything major.

The show house is zoned for commercial use. The office is in a residential zone which limits customer traffic. Ben Nelson, the Centerville City Planner, says there shouldn’t be any problem as long as customer traffic doesn’t exceed four to six vehicles per day during normal business hours, there isn’t any excessive noise, and the grounds are kept clean. If the business grows to the point where zoning is a problem, I will relocate it. 

Both houses are insured for full value and I have arranged for commercial liability coverage to start right before Rainbow Siding and Gutter opens.

Operating Costs

My projected operating costs for the first year will be about $1,466 per month (see the table below). I plan to draw a small salary of $500 per month. 

I’ve based my cost of goods sold projection on an “average” 2000 square-foot (50 feet x 40 feet), single story house with a typical number of windows and doors, and standard exterior trim. This house would take approximately 14 squares of siding (one square = 100 ft.), 200 lineal feet of soffit, and 180 lineal feet of fascia metal. My delivered wholesale cost would be $90 per square for the siding, $1.08 per foot for soffit, and $0.83 per foot for the fascia metal. My materials cost for this average job would be $1,625, plus another 10% to cover other supplies, specialized small tools, and any miscellaneous costs. The total average cost per job would be roughly $1800. If I charged $3,000 as the installed cost to the customer, it would break down to $214 per square, which is pretty close to the regional industry standard of $210 per square.

Projected Monthly Costs
Item
First 5 Months
 Next 7 Months
Advertising
25.00
55.00
Dues/Subscriptions
7.00
0.00
Insurance
80.00
0.00
Truck Expenses
75.00
100.00
Miscellaneous
50.00
50.00
Office Supplies
20.00
20.00
Printing Cards and Flyers
13.00
10.00
Professional Services
0.00
42.86
Taxes/Licenses
31.00
0.00
Telephone
37.40
28.00
Travel/Entertainment
80.00
158.00
Bonding
19.20
0.00
Loan Payment
159.00
159.00
Capital expenditures
850.00 ($4,250 in first month)
0.00
Owner Draw
500.00
500.00
Totals
1947.00 (includes first-month's one-time expenses)
1123.00


Licenses, Permits, Etc.

I‘ve registered Rainbow Siding and Gutter’s name with the Secretary of State’s office. I can use the same tax identification number that I had for Inland Seafoods. After I’ve got my financing, I’ll apply for a Centerville business license, which only takes a few days. 

Legally I don’t need a contractor’s license, but I’ll get one anyway because the bonding company charges much higher rates if you’re not licensed. It will take a few months to get the license because I’ll have to record my experience, provide letters of reference and get bonding. With all my experience, I shouldn’t have any problem qualifying for a contractor’s license. The license costs $90 per year and bonding is $96 per year.

Building permits are required for all remodeling or new construction within the city limits of Centerville and Summerville. Although the property owner is technically responsible for getting the permit, the contractor is more familiar with the process and usually does the actual legwork, then passes the expense on to the customer.  My truck license cost is $65 per year.

Capital Equipment

I’ll need $4,250 for start-up equipment. I’ll use my 1988 Chevy ¾ ton, four-wheel drive pickup truck as Rainbow Siding and Gutter’s primary vehicle. The truck’s current value is $6,500 and I’ll base depreciation on that amount. I’ve divided the following equipment list (Table 2) into two categories. First are supplies that will be treated as current expenses allowed by Section 179 of the IRS depreciation rules. The second category lists capital equipment that’s subject to depreciation.

 

Equipment List, Supplies
Item
Cost
 Supplier Purpose
Weather Guard ladder forks
4.00
 Centerville Supply Safety device
Utility knife
8.00
 Centerville Supply Basic tool
Stanley aviation snips
20.00
 Gardiner Mail Order Specialty tool
Malco duckbill snips
17.00
 Gardiner Mail Order Specialty tool
Stanley hacksaw
24.00
 Centerville Supply Basic tool
Stanley 25' tape
17.00
 Centerville Supply Basic tool
Stanley 100' tape
39.00
 Centerville Supply Basic tool
Stanley 4' level
24.00
 Centerville Supply Basic tool
Stanley chalk line
14.00
 Centerville Supply Basic tool
Stanley 20 oz hammer
28.00
 Centerville Supply Basic tool
Stanley bevel
17.00
 Centerville Supply Basic tool
Stanley apron
32.00
 Centerville Supply Basic tool
Stanley suspenders
13.00
 Centerville Supply Basic tool
Malco HP removal tool #SRT2B
4.00
 Gardiner Mail order Specialty tool
Malco nail slot punch
26.00
 Gardiner Mail order Specialty tool
Malco snap lock punch
29.00
 Big City Industrial Supply Specialty tool
Topco Pro sawhorses
40.00
 Big City Industrial Supply Basic tool
Misc small tools
623.00
    
Total

979.00

 

    

 

Equipment List, Capital Equipment
Item
Cost
 Supplier Purpose
Tapco Pro III 10’-6” brake with legs
875.00
 Big City Industrial Supply Makes uniform bends in fascia metal
Folding legs for Pro III brake
43.00
 Big City Industrial Supply Moving the brake tool
Topco Pro coiler
110.00
 Big City Industrial Supply Coiling things
Tapco Pro cutoff tool
240.00
 Big City Industrial Supply High production cutting
Skill saw
160.00
 Centerville Supply Basic carpentry tool
Kitt electric shear E141
230.00
 Big City Industrial Supply High production material cutting
Werner 28’ aluminum extension ladder
479.00
 Pleasantville Commercial Painting Basic work platform
Werner ladder jacks
87.00
 Pleasantville Commercial Painting Basic work platform
Werner 23’ scaffold planks
408.00
 Pleasantville Commercial Painting Basic work platform
Werner 16’ scaffold planks
253.00
 Pleasantville Commercial Painting Basic work platform
Werner 8’ step ladder
122.00
 Pleasantville Commercial Painting Basic work platform
Pump jack with brace, workbench, and guard pull
264.00
 Big City Industrial  Supply Support and move work platform
Total
3,271.00
    


Production Methods

I’ll go to the interested customer’s site to take measurements and see how complicated the job is. I’ll ask the customer about what style and color he or she prefers. Then, back at the office, I’ll estimate the cost and see if the materials are available. If the customer decides to go ahead with the job, I’ll put it on my schedule.

If I have the equipment listed in Table 2, I should be able to complete most normal siding jobs by myself. I can move all the ladders and scaffold planks alone. Vinyl siding is very light-weight — there are tools that hold it in place while it’s being fastened that make a second person unnecessary. Having another installer would make the work go faster because then I wouldn’t have to be constantly moving these tools around, and sometimes we could be working on different parts of the job at the same time. When the business takes off I’ll hire some help, but right now I’ve got the time and it’ll be more cost effective to work more slowly by myself.

If there’s going to be any delay or if there’s any kind of problem, I’ll tell the customer and explain the reasons. I’ll also recommend that they buy a little extra material so the color and style will match if the siding ever gets damaged. The manufacturer guarantees against defects in the product, and I will provide an additional warranty on any problems due to the way I’ve installed the siding. The Vinyl Institute has a model installation warranty that specifies a time period and lists defects that might be caused by improper installation.

Management Methods

Customer service is Number One with me. I’ll do my best to get the customer the style and color he or she wants at a fair price. I’ll schedule estimates and installation at the customer’s convenience, and fix any problem that isn’t the customer’s fault, with no questions asked. My normal business hours will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. During that time, I’ll either take calls in my office or I’ll check my voice mail frequently and return every call on my cell phone within less than two hours. 

I’ll bill customers one-third in advance, one-third when the job is half completed, and the final third when the work is done. For small jobs that can be done in only a few days, I’ll take one-third in advance and the final two-thirds on completion. If I’m working as a sub-contractor, I’ll require payment for the cost of my materials up-front and final payment for installation within 30 days of completing the job. I’ll try to negotiate payment terms for any bill still unpaid after 90 days, but if that fails, I’ll turn over the balance to a collection agency.

When I operated Inland Seafoods, I did a good job of managing employees and coordinating day-to-day activities. I set priorities and made good decisions about product inventory and scheduling. I did the daily accounting but had Meg and Dots’ Bookkeeping manage payroll and prepare annual income tax returns. If the time comes that Rainbow Siding and Gutter hires employees, I’d have Meg and Dots’ do the payroll again.

The Vinyl Institute has a series of professional development courses, including one on becoming a general contractor and one on architectural design for siding contractors. The training gets to be expensive, though, when you add in travel costs and lost work time. Sometimes these courses are offered in Center City and I’ll watch for convenient opportunities to take either of them.

Employees

I don’t expect to hire any permanent employees for at least the first two years I’m in business. If I do need help during that time, I’ll get temporary labor from Cleary Manpower, a local labor contractor. These would be low-skill, low-wage workers and I wouldn’t be responsible for benefits or payroll taxes. Centerville Industries recently laid-off a lot of workers with manual skills, so there’s no shortage of help. Whenever possible, I’d hire either temporary or permanent employees with disabilities.

Outside Services

I can do my own day-to-day accounting, but I’ll have Meg and Dots’ Bookkeeping do my income taxes. Thornton Marshall has been my attorney for nearly 15 years and he’ll provide any legal services I need. I may use the services of a collection agency if necessary. 


Financial Plan

Need for and Sources of Cash

I have projected that I will need $10,000 to purchase capital equipment and supplies, complete renovations on the show house, and a $3,000 working capital fund to open and operate Rainbow Siding and Gutter. Please refer to the following Need for and Sources of Cash Statement for specifics.

Need for and Sources of Cash
Cash Needed
Amount
 Comments

Pre-Purchased Inventory
0.00
 (Inventory will be ordered 
as needed)
Capital Equipment 
3,271.00
 (Table 2)
Supplies
979.00
 (Table 2)
Renovations
2,750.00
 (Show house siding)
Working Capital
3,000.00
  
Total Cash Needed
10,000.00
  
 
 
  
Sources of Cash
 
  
Loan
10,000.00
  
Total Cash Available
10,000.00
  

 

Income Statement

Rainbow Siding and Gutter is a new business without any financial history to report (income statement, cash flow, etc.). The following statements are based on projected figures. First-year figures are for the year beginning on November 1, 2000, when the business is scheduled to open, and ending on September 30 of 2001. If first-year sales are $91,200, my projected gross profit will be $32,770. Projected expenses total $17,593, and taxes are $6,075 for a net profit of $9,102. 

Income Statement (Projected)
11/1/00 (starting date) - 10/31/01
Item Amount
   

Total Sales 

 $91,200.00
Cost of Goods Sold:  
Materials (est. $1,800/per avg. job)  $58,430.00
Cost of Goods Sold (58,430.00)

Gross Profit

 $32,770.00
   
Expenses (based on first year)
  
Advertising $510.00
Dues/Subscriptions  $35.00
Insurance  $400.00
Truck Expenses  $1,075.00
Miscellaneous  $600.00
Office Supplies  $240.00
Printing Cards & Flyers   $135.00
Professional Services  $300.00
Taxes/Licenses  $155.00
Telephone  $383.00
Travel/Entertainment $1,506.00
Bonding $96.00

Total Operating Expenses

$5,435.00
   

Other Expenses

 
Loan Payments  $1,908.00
Capital Equipment  $4,250.00
Owner Draw  $6,000.00
Total Other Expenses  $12,158.00
   
Total Expenses 
 (17,593.00)
Pre-Tax Profit  $15,117.00
Taxes  (6,075.00)

Net Profit 

$9,102.00

 

Break-Even Analysis

The Vinyl Institute’s estimating guidelines say that the average-size siding job in the rural parts of our region is a single-story, 2000 square-foot (40’ x 50’) house. A house this size, with the average number of doors and windows, and standard exterior trim, requires roughly 14 squares of siding, 200 lineal feet of soffit, and 180 lineal feet of fascia metal. The current delivered wholesale price is $90 per square for siding, $1.08 per foot for soffit, and $0.83 per foot for fascia metal. I don’t plan on hiring any employees during my first two years in business unless sales are substantially higher than I projected. The cost for a typical job would be about $1,625 plus 10% to cover contingencies. The total variable cost per average job is roughly $1,800.

Projected average first year monthly fixed expenses
Item Amount
Advertising
42.50
Dues/Subscriptions
2.92
Insurance
33.33
Truck Expenses 89.58
Miscellaneous 50.00
Office Supplies 20.00
Printing Cards & Flyers 11.25
Professional Services 25.00
Taxes/Licenses 12.92
Telephone 31.92
Travel/Entertainment 125.50
Bonding 8.00
Loan Payment 159.00
Capital Expenditures 354.17
Owner Draw 500.00
Avg. Monthly Total
1,466.09

Below is my estimate of the average number of jobs I would have to complete each month in order to break even and cover all my fixed and variable costs. I’m calculating this at several possible prices because there’s a tradeoff between how much work I can handle and still keep my prices competitive.

First Year - Jobs Needed to Break Even
Item Amount Amount Amount Amount
Price per avg. job  $2,800  $3,000  $3,200  $3,400
Variable Cost $1,800  $1,800  $1,800  $1,800
Gross Profit   $1,000  $1,200  $1,400  $1,600
Monthly Fixed Expenses $1,466  $1,466  $1,466  $1,466
# Jobs to Break Even/month 1.5 1.2 1.0 .9


These figures show that if I charge an average price of $3,000 per job, I've got to do 1.2 jobs per month in order to cover all my costs. If I get more than 1.2 jobs per month, Rainbow Siding and Gutter will start to show a profit. Later, if it looks like the market will support average prices of $3,200 to $3,400, I can charge more and make a profit after as few as .9 jobs per month.

In the second year of operation, I'd like to start drawing a salary of $1,000 per month and earn a profit of $833 per month. For a rough estimate, I'm assuming my average monthly expenses and taxes won't change. I'd have to increase monthly fixed expenses by $500 to cover my monthly salary increase. To do that and still charge $3,000 per job, I'd have to start averaging 1.6 jobs each month.

Second Year Goal: $10,000 Profit Plus $500 Monthly Salary Increase

 

Second Year - Jobs Needed to Meet Profit Target
Item Amount Amount Amount Amount
Price per avg. job  $2,800  $3,000  $3,200  $3,400
Variable Cost $1,800  $1,800  $1,800  $1,800
Gross Profit   $1,000  $1,200  $1,400  $1,600
Monthly Fixed Expenses $1,966  $1,966  $1,966  $1,966
# Jobs to Break Even/month 2.0 1.6 1.4 1.2
Profit Goal $833 $833 $833 $833
# Jobs to Achieve Profit .8 .7 .6 .5
Total Jobs/month 2.8 2.3 2.0 1.7

 

Cash Flow Statement

As can be seen in the cash flow statement, during November, my first month of operation, I expect to buy inventory for jobs that I won't be finished with and paid for until December and January. I'll also spend $4,250 on capital equipment that month. That first month I won't have any projected income. My sales for December and January should exceed my expenses and I'll have small surpluses until February when my quarterly tax payment of $2,025 leaves a cash flow deficit of $1,492. After February, higher summer sales should exceed my expenses and I'll have a positive cash flow for the rest of the year. My beginning cash-on-hand should be enough to cover the November and February cash flow deficits. I'll end the year with $19,102 cash on hand.

Balance Sheet

Based on first year sale, I project total assets of $30,908 at the end of the first operating year. Please refer to the Balance Sheet for specifics.

Balance Sheet (Projected)
10/31/01
Assetd, Liabilities, and Equity
Amount
 
Current Assets
Cash
$19,102.00
Equipment
489.50
Accounts Receivable
1,000.00
Inventory
2,500.00
Prepaid Expenses
0.00
Total Current Assets
$23,091.50
 
Fixed Assets
Truck
$6,500.00
Equipment
3,271.00
Less Accumulated Depreciation
(1,954.00)
Total Fixed Assets
$7,817.00
   
Total Assets
$30,908.50
 
Liabilities + Owner's Equity
Current Liabilities
Accounts Payable
$9,500.00
Accrued Expenses
2,898.00
Total
$12,398.00
 
Long-Term Liabilities
Notes Payable
$8,800.00
 
Total Liabilities
$21,198.00
Equity
$9,710.50
Total Liabilities + Equity
$30,908.50

 

© July 1998, 1st Revision June 1999, 2nd Revision February 2001
 
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