May 13, 2025 - Daily Recap

Morning Setup with a View
Started early at the warehouse prepping for a 10 a.m. install. My guy and I rolled out by 9:30, but there was a bit of a wait getting into the space and some extra shuffling once the caterers arrived.

We were on-site for 3.5 hours setting up two 20x20s with concrete blocks, plus tables and chairs. We also got to use our chestnut padded chairs — and more importantly, got some fresh photos of them in action.

Drop-Off Detour: 50 Chairs to a Dealership
In between the install and waiting for my new crew to arrive for takedown, I dropped 50 chairs off at a car dealership. Simple drop-off, no setup.

In hindsight, I probably should’ve bundled this stop with the earlier install, but I was low on water and wanted to get my guy back to the warehouse to rest and recharge. Can’t run folks into the ground — especially midweek.

New Helpers, Smooth Takedown
Later in the day, I brought on two new team members to help with the takedown of the tents we set up that morning.

• One’s a restaurant manager and military vet, a friend of the family

• The other’s a college student (distant cousin), home for the summer

• Both showed up, learned quickly, and helped tear everything down and put it away in under 3 hours, including training and a fair amount of talking

Exactly the type of help I need right now — even if getting them lined up was a bit of a scramble.

Warehouse Chaos & Customer Chaos
Back at the warehouse, inquiries were nonstop — the forecast is calling for more rain this weekend, and people are scrambling again. At the same time, some solid leads are coming in for the next few months, which is encouraging.

This month feels like one long game of keepaway, with me chasing every ball in the air.

Job Metrics: Install + Takedown

• Revenue: $2,628

• Total Job Cost: $375

• Profit: $2,253 (85.74%)

• ARA Calculator Profit: $2,166 (82.46%)

• Difference: -3.28%

• I was surprised these margins were this strong. Labor was tied directly to the job — I didn’t bundle across other projects. Everyone was paid for this job alone. What’s not reflected here is the amount of back-and-forth I had with this customer leading up to the event. That part definitely added up.

Until next time
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