Micro businesses in a recession

Oh, man, this has been a busy day. I've been out straight since early this morning, sometimes having one person on hold while helping another and responding to emails between breaths. It was slow all week and then this morning my office turned into Grand Central Station.

One of the calls was sad. A customer I've known for a decade or so called to tell me that he's out of business and can't pay next year's support bill.

What do you do? I can't just say "Oh, ok, have a nice life" - I've known this guy for too many years. I told him not to worry about it - to call me anyway if he needed my help. I can't do that for everyone, but sheesh: this guy is my age and he's sitting at a desk looking at an empty checkbook and trying to figure out how to reinvent himself in an awful economy. I just can't not help him if he needs me.

I did recommend he buy my Hard Truths book if he can afford it (if he can't, I'll just send it to him). He's a competent guy; he should be able to make something from that.

The other calls were mundane. Windows machines that were being blocked by a misbehaving transparent proxy. Mysterious virus infections and spyware junk. Setting up Amazon S3 for Microlite Edge customer, talking to a prospective Edge customer and a prospective Kerio user. Helping a friend with Wordpress, making corrections to my Psst book, scheduling work for next week, sending out some W9's, making one collection call.. but there were so many calls that I jokingly said to my wife "Every single customer has called today - except Joe B.!"

I picked Joe because he and I had been talking a lot in the previous few days but that was all fixed up now so I wasn't expecting to hear from him. Two minutes later the phone rang - it was Joe B. I had to laugh.

It's poker night - I lost about $20 last week and hope to make it back tonight. I'll be closing down in a few minutes to head out for that.

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Fri Jan 16 13:57:21 2009: Subject:   BigDumbDinosaur
http://bcstechnology.net

but sheesh: this guy is my age and he's sitting at a desk looking at an empty checkbook and trying to figure out how to reinvent himself in an awful economy.

I'm afraid we'll be seeing a lot more of this. Larger businesses continue to lay off staff, so it's only a matter of time before the trickle-down effect hits the mom-and-pop operations.





Fri Jan 16 15:03:25 2009: Subject:   NickBarron


Good luck at the game..





Fri Jan 16 15:19:39 2009: Subject:   TonyLawrence


There were only six of us last night - usually we have 9 or 10. I haven't counted up yet, but it looks like I might have made a couple of dollars.

During break some of us were talking about things like failing businesses. People here are worried - most live on fixed incomes and none of us trusts the Government not to butcher Social Security and let inflation creep as a way of dealing with the budget problems.



Fri Jan 16 18:19:13 2009: Subject:   MikeHostetler
http://mike.hostetlerhome.com

I know the busy feeling . . . I do what you say in your "Psst" to not do, and that is work in your off-time. I have reasons to do so . . .

In Dec things were dead for me and I had no pipeline. Suddenly, things are coming out of the woodwork and my plate is full. I think small, service-type businesses can do well in this economy. On the other hand, more and more mom-and-pop businesses will not be making it in this economy. Does the new administration really care about Main Street? Time will soon tell.





Fri Jan 16 18:27:37 2009: Subject:   TonyLawrence


We were talking about the proposed $500 or $600 tax cut. I think that is utterly ridiculous - it will do nothing to restore confidence and spending.

If they really want to make an impact, they need to pick a reasonable figure - somewhere around $100,000 adjusted gross income for round numbers and eliminate ALL income tax for that group. Leave taxes alone for the next group, say up to $250K and then raise 'em up sky high for the rest of the greedy bastards that made this mess. THAT might restore confidence.

Too many people made too much money off the misery of others. It's time to take it back.



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