The Peachy Pulse – January 2026: Mid-Month Check-In

Quietly productive, Financially ugly

Author

Ramon Luna
January 18, 2026

January has been one of those months that doesn’t feel dramatic while you’re living it, but looks a lot louder once you stop and actually read the numbers.

The work itself has been steady in a very specific way. Mostly solo jobs. One-offs. A couple tables here, a few chairs there. The kind of installs that don’t require help — which also tells you everything you need to know about deal size. No marathons, no big crews, no adrenaline spikes. Just consistent movement.

What surprised me most is revenue. We’re sitting just over $5K, well short of the $8K goal, with only a few days left. That part stings. But we’ve already surpassed what we did last January. I expected to surpass last year, but overall, I thought we’d be way lower then where we’re at.

Paying Yourself (Again)

I gave myself another raise.

On paper, that’s progress. In reality, it’s unsettling.

Seeing owner pay come out during the slowest part of the year feels risky, especially when cash is tight. But I’m inching closer to something that resembles a living wage, and I’m trying to accept that this business has to support me, not just survive me.

Still — in months like this, owner pay isn’t subtle. It sticks out.

The P&L Isn’t Pretty

The P&L this month is rough.

A vehicle insurance premium hit.
I bought additional chairs.
Rent did what rent always does.

Stack those on top of low revenue and suddenly the month is deep in the red. One month doesn’t define a business, but I still watch it closely. Slow months have a way of stress-testing everything at once.

If nothing else, January is exposing the cost structure under low volume.

Solo Work & Hiring Momentum

I’ve barely tapped anyone for help this month, which has been both peaceful and revealing.

That said, I finally started reaching out to my network about hiring. Posting jobs — having real conversations. Planting seeds. Accepting that the next phase won’t happen accidentally.

Quiet months create space. I’m trying to use that space to prepare instead of panic.

Data Season

With fewer installs, I’ve had more time to live inside the numbers.

Nothing formal. No big initiative. Just poking around — getting more intimate with the data. It’s already changing how I think about pricing, labor, and which jobs are actually worth saying yes to.

That kind of clarity usually only shows up when the calendar slows down.

Where This Leaves Me

January feels like groundwork.

Not exciting. Not pretty.

We may miss the goal — and I’m okay naming that out loud. What matters more is that the business is still moving forward, still learning, and still paying me a little closer to what this work actually costs.

Quiet progress counts too.

Until next time
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🛠 Tools I Use (and Recommend)

These are the tools that keep Peachy Party ATL running smoothly — from quoting clients to managing logistics to staying organized.

  • Goodshuffle Pro (referral) – My go-to for inventory, scheduling, contracts, and payments. It keeps the rental chaos under control.

  • Gusto (referral) - I’m still learning about payroll, if Im being honest. But Gusto has an easy to use platform and give me the confidence I need t go to the next level.

  • Next Insurance (referral) - We all need insurance! This is a great platform to help you get started.

💳 My Credit Card Stack

These are the cards I actually use to manage cash flow, earn rewards, and soften the blow of big purchases.

US Bank - Triple Cash Card
Updated: November 2025
$500 cash back bonus, 0% APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers

Amex Blue Business Plus (referral)
Updated: October 2025
12 months 0% APR + 15k Membership Rewards after qualifying spend.

🎪 Rental Industry Resources

If you’re in the rental world — or thinking about jumping in — these are the channels, tools, and communities I use to keep learning and leveling up:

📚 What I’m Learning From Right Now

A rotating list of the things feeding my brain so I can feed the business.