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The political pundits and polls tell us that there is an economic recovery taking place. Since Jan. 1 of this year, I have personally been in the offices of more than 50 green industry contractors preparing their 2011 budgets, reviewing their company structure and adjusting their pricing. I have also helped dozens of other green industry contractors who have attended my workshops to prepare their budgets for 2011. In addition, I have been in 43 of the 50 states since Jan. 1.
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The remainder of 2011 I do not see any significant improvement throughout the remainder of 2011. Unfortunately, the current pattern will probably carry over into and through the end of 2012. A recent article in USA Today forecast that we will see the peak of the residential foreclosures in 2011.The glut of remaining foreclosures combined with the lack of available credit for small businesses and the stringent (almost extreme) general credit conditions for all sectors will probably suppress any significant growth in the foreseeable future. Conclusion Hang on and hang in. A small business entrepreneur has to be somewhat schizophrenic. What you see happening on the stock exchanges is not necessarily what is happening in small businesses throughout the United States. And it is small businesses that lead our economy out of a recession. Until the current glut of residential foreclosures are processed through, our economy and reasonable credit is restored for both small businesses and markets in general, I do not foresee much improvement for green industry contractors. In order for these two areas to improve, we need to see significant change in the policies coming out of Washington. Such changes will probably not occur until 2013. I tell my clients to hang on and hang in for another year or two. I also tell them to review their product and service mix and to expand into lawn care (fertilization), chemical applications (weed, mosquito, pest control, etc.), lawn maintenance, Christmas decorations, lighting, fine gardening, the second home market and irrigation service work. I also tell them to adjust their methods and to pursue more enhancement and small installation work. You should do the same.
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