We got everyone in the family to the polls; we all voted and we all lost. This has nothing to do with our business. ( Or yours ) Justin, Dave Kugler, and I would like to apologize to all of you because our states are filled with liberal morons. This will not prevent us from relieving them of as much money as possible in the next four years.

I am going to hazard a guess that the vast majority of you on this site will continue to be successful because you are working for yourselves and all the effort you put into your business will only benefit you. Local government affects you a hundred times more than the Feds. We are a business in our infancy and for every financial set-back, I'm sure there are a hundred ways, yet to be discovered, to increase our earnings.

Politics has no business in our business. We will take money from everyone. ( And especially those we disagree with )

Paul, I'm glad you said what you did, I've seen now several threads and posts about folks thinking this tanks their wildlife related business.

The day I can't go out and make a living doing what I know how to do because of a particular guy in the big white house is a day I'd better
just give up on life.

I understand politics and grew up in a household where my grandfather was a town supervisor for 16 years and the news was on 3 times a day
and the paper was read every day. I heard debates in that house from the time I was old enough to listen and understand words.

Wildlife won't stop being a problem to people, wildlife management is still needed, our services are still needed, the amount of commercial clients
who weigh their problem against their checking account and decide to wait on a bird job or other control might grow but the basic homeowner is
always going to have to decide whether you are worth it or not, and thats where our salesmanship in describing the actual problem and costs to
the owner come into play.

No matter who any of you voted for, our wildlife businesses should continue to be successful if we are driven to make them that way.

Justin

Justin, I agree with just about everything you said except the part about a particular political person being able to stop you from making a living doing a.d.c. work. In my state just such a bill was put on our governors desk and all he had to do was sign it and it would have made it illegal to do any kind of a.d.c. work for profit. The reason the bill was introduced was that the author of the bill felt the the private sector didn't understand how wildlife "works" and only people who work for the state were really qualified to do this type of work. Fortunatly for me and other private a.d.c. guys across the state the governor vetoed the bill. I am actually pretty surprised that he didn't sign it as he is really some kind of goof ball. I'am sorry to say Justin, if you think our livelyhood is based on demand and politics can't come into play "it just ain't so". No matter how driven you are,if they make it against the law to run an a.d.c. business, you are OUT of business.

We can hope that things aren't going to get worse but with ObamaCare and other policies coming down the pike, things can be much more difficult to have a profitable business. If your smart enough, work hard enough and a bit of luck, you can still make it.

Prob trapper, sorry, didn't mean that in the broad sense, you are correct, local politics can flavor your issues, I was mostly referring to the white house itself, but you are absolutely right and I didn't mean to be light about it.

My apologies, I guess in my life I've just learned that politics come down to way too much for the average folks to keep tabs on, everyone wants something for themselves and for their family and in the end for the country.

It is amazing that so many can agree and usually the agreement is based on the major priorities for folks, whether health care, human rights, abortion, ability to own firearms and other hot button topics.

I think the reference in Paul's post above to local govt. being more important is where I hang my hat. I keep tabs on the local doings, the governors issues and everything in between and keep my ear to the ground and know who to email and call if I need to roll a political ball uphill.

I started my company on my own private credit lines that thanks to my wife were as they should be and without any bank loans or family funds. We were lucky to be able to do that, but it would not have been any different with Bush, or Clinton or anyone else. Just sayin I think small businesses constantly are in the focus of debates, yet where is the funding? None until your in business and prove you can earn, then you can have some SBA money!

So again, you are right, my apologies, just referring to giving up on a business or startup because of who just got elected.

Justin

It was my belief according to my business prof that SBA money wasnt something you wanted to brag about, usually(or used to be) reserved for companies that didnt have a business plan that could convince a normal bank to lend you money.

Justin it's pretty obvious that we look at these types of issues pretty much the same way.I also started from scratch,no loans sba or other.What I didn't need at that time was another bll to have to pay.20 yrs. ago when I started this business I never gave it one thought that one day. my own govn.might try to shut me down! After all, building your own successful business is......was the American dream. After last night and what happeded here last week I'am not so sure now. It won't stop me from getting up every morning and going to work but I bet I pay a whole more attention of what the different antis are tryiny to push on my politicins.

I am kind of still shell shocked looking at the reality that there are more people in the wheelbarrow expecting others to carry them. Regardless of who ever won federal taxes were still going up 13% and times were gonna be tougher anyway

Did you get that you need to hand over an extra 13% in 2013 . That $100 service you sold this year should be $113 next year.
But now you have to figure in the new mandated medical tax (inflation yes its coming)So maybe that 100 dollar service is more like $120-125

Back in college I had a economics professor always talking about how the size of the pie never changed just who got their piece of the pie. Last night I seen my piece of my pie just get smaller yours did too and so did that customer's piece of the pie you need to charge extra too.

But its not over.

Well said Robb,

prices effective January 1st 2013 go up 12% on everything.....

You have to be ready to fight new legislation at all times as mole trappers in Washington found out. Bleeding hearts and corrupt politicians (most of them) ready to take your chosen profession away. In another occupation we got a bill passed in Oregon by paying each legislative supporter monies for their campaigns. We hired a lobbyist who knew who to pay off to get the bill passed. These contributions in the 80's were all over $10k. I have a strong hunch when these politicians left office the money went with them.

I know it goes against the grain but watch what new bills are being introduced and get ready to organize your fellow trappers.

I recently talked to my tax man and he said to plan on paying out 35% of my net. A sort time ago I removed my service plan pricing other than my current special. This allows me the flexibility to charge as needed to remain profitable. I feel that I set the priceline in my area and I saw a lot of others come and go when they tried to undercut my pricing by half. A few more have cropped up recently and after looking at their websites and pricing they won't survive. I don't mind competeting with others but I won't lose money doing so. I have weathered two droughts that made others give it up but I have built up a great A+ customer base and feel confident going into 2013.

On a final note just remember this - regardless of your opinion of the President HE IS NOW YOUR PRESIDENT and there is nothing you can do to change that. We are blessed with the right to vote and we all voted as our hearts and minds felt we should and no one is stupid or wrong with their choice. Instead of griping and moaning some should start using that energy to overcome their perceptions of the approaching problems their business will face in the future. If you have the idea that your business may not survive then NOW is the time to challenge yourself to turn things around. Here's wishing everyone the best in 2013!

Paul,

There's no need for you to take the burden of apologizing for all up your way. Fact is, my wife's folks are up there. They live near Black River Falls over on the west side above La Cross. From what I understand, even AFTER all my coaching and campaigning, they STILL voted for ole Elephant Ears.

I apologize to YOU Sir.... I should have done more than I did to try to persuade them back to the side of justice and right. I have failed you.

There are "givers" and "getter's". The real problem starts when the "givers" get tired of giving and then the "getter's" become takers. And that seems to be where we are at. What Obama and the Libs seem not to realize, as stated in earlier posts, is that we all have been accustomed to a standard of living for our labors and our choices are to work harder to stay at the same level or to raise prices to stay at that level. I can tell you I ain't going up the ladder more to pay for some slackers Obama phone.

A business doesn't pay taxes. Taxes are a cost of doing business that are figured into cost passed along to customer just as fuel costs or any other cost to do business. It is such a simple concept I don't understand how they miss it...unless they are not missing it and that is scary...because that path does lead to socialism.

The idea crossed my mind, after what Robb and Bud said to wait until the Federal tax increase comes through, then send a letter to all of our customers connecting our increase to what's happening in Washington. Some people need a constant reminder of the fact that tax increases in this economy are insane! Cut Spending!

Why wait? Get a jump on it now.

Amen....

Just watch millions over the next 90-180 days go from being the employed to becoming the unemployed.

There is no incentive for business innovation. No reason or reward to even take the risk of growing any US business today.

OBAMA REELECTION TRIGGERS MASSIVE LAYOFFS ACROSS AMERICA

http://nation.foxnews.com/2012-president...-across-america


Are Americans prepared for the mass price increases for products and services while taxes are going to increase for EVERYONE?

What's the incentive for building a business under these circumstances?

What does Obama Care mean to business owners?

Any company that has 50 or more full time employees must provide insurance to its employees or pay a $2,000 fine for each uncovered employee.

Consider a company that has 45 employees and wants to grow. They know that once they hit that magic number of 50, they MUST provide health coverage for all full time employees (if they aren't already).

To pay for this mandated insurance, they will either have to use profits (assuming they're profitable), reduce some employees down to part time, or raise the prices of their products and services.

What's the incentive for building a business under these circumstances?

Are these companies going to be able to remain competitive while raising prices or will they be forced out of business?

Are Americans prepared for the mass price increases for products and services while taxes are going to increase for EVERYONE?

Don't forget that now 30 hours a week is now considered full time under the new law.

1099 everyone. No employees now, just independent contractors.
I suspect if companies can get away with it they will.

You know guys, it's not that I don't believe everything that you've posted. It's just that while all this sobbing and hand-wringing is going on, many more Americans will add their name to the list of multi-millionaires. Now I certainly don't expect any of you to be one of them, but I also expect you to innovative enough to not only survive, but prosper.

Think of it this way; Would you rather be a wildlife controller, where nearly everyone loved you, or would you rather be president of the United States, where you knew that you where hated enough to have a large group of bodyguards trying to keep you alive?