Dearest John
I am not attempting to say financing is the easy way out....I am saying it is not an alternative I go for period.........
I do not have isolated stories of rags to riches through my mentors......most of our very wealthy clients and friends are also cash is king believers. They started their companies small and then expanded (most of them) or took on partners(a couple)....as investors(actual stockholders in the company) to pay cash for establishing their business, minimize the down side....not the same as a loan.
You obviously are not part of softscaping industry and do not understand the investment in.......... education ($30,000 back in 70's) paid in cash, vehicles, skid steers, dingos, enclosed trailers, blowers back packs and walk behind, power brooms, computers, plotters and computer software, extensive hand tools, pole pruner chain saws, demo light systems, demo irrigation systems, inventorying the trailer with enough spare light, water garden and irrigation parts that we can fix just about any problem on the spot.
I love to see others set up as we are...that raises the bar for everyone......however, used trucks don't need to mean dilapidated trucks......and renting min ex's until you have a plan to pay for one (cash preferred) or within one season. And why don't you pay your insurance at one time or qtrly....
We have 25% of our volume paid in advance during the winter. We have several clients who will pay for the full year in advance for a slight discount of say 5%. We have done their work forever and they know we take care of them first.....so as part of our annual budget this is taken care of, no need for a winter credit line........
We aren't exactly isolated here in my neck of the woods. Lots of contractors, just no competitors........(typed as humbly as possible to get point across)
In our other business, we are looking to expand regionally, we don't have the required $100,000's of thousands or million to do what we want and if we decide to go regionally or national we will sell stock to expand with cash....
It is easy to always say....If only I had more education, If only I had more money, if only I lived somewhere else......if only kills a lot of peoples dreams........ask Oprah, Sam Walton (only if you know a ghost whisperer
, or the thousands of refugees willing to risk their lives to come to the US to have a shot at what we have........Americans are fat and happy and have lost the can do drive of what this country was founded on......work or starve to death is pretty much what happened to the early settlers......now we live in the land of entitlement........
I truly believe that "Those that are convinced against their will are of the same opinion still" you gotta find what works for you and if you are happy go with it......no arm turning going on here..
I have a simple benchmark and the timeframe continues to expand....start with say no work for three to six months..... and you can pay all of my personal and business bills without a credit line or home equity loan, I'd say you are in good shape.
In the end, thanks to living in America We can agree to disagree! and not have to subvert ourselves to name calling and personal attacks.