Small Business Owners...

Beloved and Faithful have started a business. Simple service for an economical price delivered with a personal touch. Need your dog walked? You can have this at the very low cost of $1. If you're an occasional customer that's the fee. But if you'll sign on as a regular customer they'll do it for $3.50 a week. They started thinking about expanding on the original concept. So they added a dog shampoo for $2, nail clipping coming soon (after training) for the low price of $1.  

All things dogs wasn't the end. Now they have added lawn service. $10 to mow your lawn, no edging, sweeping up will cost you another $2. Rake your yard for $10. These fees are based on what they want, but are negotiable. So, if you say no, their next question is well what do you think is reasonable? $5. Okay we'll do it.

This all began last Thursday afternoon. After school they made a poster. The next thing I know they're out on the sidewalk in front of our house waving their poster around. All I knew was they wanted to know how to spell some words. Imagine my heart in my throat when I see them waving this around and complete strangers stopping their vehicles in front of our house and them chatting away. I had to go outside and see what was up. Well, I didn't want to put a damper on their enthusiasm but I did need to put up some boundaries quick. They looked like those guys that stand around in tax season. Those boys made $10 - $4 of it was in donations.

Business was interrupted with us going out of town, but didn't slow them down! They got together with their cousin. Restructured the business for the day. They made $11 walking dogs, $15 in lawn care and $10 in donations.  A whopping $36.

The day was not without its politics.  At one point Beloved quit.  Then when he apologized and wanted to begin again the other two did not wish to rehire him.  Then there was some serious undercutting to the competition.  But without the help of the other two it didn't go as well. After lunch, the original contract was reviewed and a new deal struck.  Partners again.  

My brother co-owns Gopher Industrial and was just all kinds of helpful to them. They learned more about owning and running a business than they wanted to know.  Now you have to know their Uncle.  His area of expertise is the financial bottom line and how to improve it.  He understands how business works.  He's blessed and a blessing as far as I am concerned.

At the end he sat them down and went over what they thought were PURE profits.  Expenses were soon found and paid for.  Borrowed bags from Aunts $2, Labor (a little help from me and Uncle D) $1, Equipment Rental $1.  Expenses Total $4.  The $10 donation was re-invested in the future of the company.  The original $2 investment taken out.  They were left with $8 a piece.  Then came the lessons in tithing, $0.80 plus the generous giving of $0.20 = $1.  Savings, well we're working on that.

Today was not a wasted day.  They had fun, they had ups and downs and lessons learned.  Me being me and all things being considered Scouting, they're now working on the American Business Merit Badge .  They had a choice and chose not to waste this prime opportunity.

What I would like to see not wasted is the opportunity for our President and Congress to learn these simple give and take rules of money and business.  You have to pay for what you borrow and use.  Unions take a hint, labor doesn't have to be extremely expensive for you to receive a good product or service.  God is paid off the top and first.  Having a knowledgeable mentor who looks over your plan and guides you is essential.  All parties got to CAREFULLY review the fine print and had to agree to the contract before signing it.  Free enterprise works!  The boys had to go back and look at their business plan a couple of times to get it right.  As their business grows or fails its on them, not the next door neighbor.

Did I hear you ask the name of the business?  

Around The Block 

I think they've been around the block and have earned the name.  I heard there's plans to expand...a refreshment stand.  "We'll make more than the ice cream man!"