Small Business Blues

There’s no business like no business. There’s no financially stable business I know.

I noticeably upset a local small business owner, Prime Time Lawn Maintenance and Landscaping in January. I hadn’t received my new payment booklet for service prior to the assigned due date of the 15th so I assumed that after a week’s delay that they had gone out of business or decided to discontinue services to residential customers since the profit margin is nominal.

Therefore, I had to make alternate plans for the upcoming growing season when the grass is high and leisure time is low. I didn’t want to consider another service agreement so I made a decision to go it alone. Unfortunately, the lawn mower I purchased five years ago has been sitting idle in the garage for going on two years doesn’t have the blade clearance that meets the suggested height of maintaining the growth at 3 inches. (That was a time when rains were sufficient to pretty much guarantee that the grass would grow and grow and grow to new heights within days of rain.)

So, when I finally got the new payment book toward the end of January, I called the service and left a message that I wished to cancel the service. A week later the lawn maintenance professionals showed up and I kindly explained I had already informed the owner of my decision. He mowed it anyway as his daily work order dictated.

The next day Nick called and left a message on the recorder saying I told him that I had made repeated calls to cancel. That definitely was not the case – just the single call. His message informed me that no message was received and my number did not show up on his Caller ID service. He further informed me of the original contract agreement that, after the mandatory first year of service, a new agreement required me to give a 30-day notification of cancellation.

His message also included words that were on the verge of pleading me to reconsider my decision, professing concern that I was dissatisfied with his service and a request to discuss the matter with me. When I returned the call I talked to co-owner Tony and he reiterated other words that wanted me to understand their position that too many people cancel service on a seasonal basis that digs deep in their pocket of profitability. Elderly homeowners typically follow this practice because the $67.00 fee is due monthly, which drives up the operating costs during the summer. They rely on wintertime income to make up the difference because during those low-growth periods there may be no need to make the service call. You can’t cut dormant grass.

I understood, but my mind couldn’t be changed. I had already done some quick math to figure that the expense of purchasing a new mower would save me money after maybe six months of doing the work myself. Besides, I’ve come to an age of physical contempt against my tendency to keep my weight at a preferred standard of acceptability. Besides, with no landscaping, it’s a simple mow. A rock garden needs no maintenance. My back yard has a few trees, a couple bushes, some flowers and the vines along the back fence are free to grow as they may.

Besides, the heat will put those sweat glands to work at a level that will benefit my body's ventilation system.

I learned a lesson with my first home when I had to spend most of a weekend trimming, cutting, weeding and withstanding the heat of the blaring sun. I didn’t really mind too much because I liked to see the variety of foliage adorn the views of my property. This time around I decided to make it simple. As a cousin had called my yard “The Ron Rae Gardens”, I wanted to maintain that honorable reference, so I successfully planned the new landscaping to be simple, yet attractive to the eyes. It’ll take a couple years for everything to come to full bloom but I look forward to seeing the progressive growth patterns.

So, I agreed to honor the original agreement with the mowing service and submitted payment for January and February. I doubt they will even need to perform their duties but once or twice before the day of termination approaches.

During all these situations, I began to consider the trying times that all small businesses have to endure. Some will simply close shop, terminating rental agreements or declare bankruptcy. Not just in Hernando County but statewide and even countrywide. Of major concern these small businesses are trying to make ends meet here, locally.

When a business realize its demise they are no longer likely able to keep up their property tax bills. Their responsibility is still mandated by law. Government revenue is impacted negatively. Eventually someone will be held responsible for back taxes… and the accrued interest… if and when the property is subsequently bought. It could, and probably will be, long in coming.

Nothing has been accomplished, and not likely to be done any time soon, about reducing property insurance premiums and land taxes but perhaps there are other means to show business owners that the County is a dedicated partner for each of their success.

Is there not some way for county government to take steps to stem the loss of revenue? Legally, it may not be feasible, but is it possible to implement a structured means to give small businesses a reprieve of responsibility of the challenges of keeping their operations with a positive cash flow by reducing their property tax expenses? Until economic times are eventually realized, could these businesses not be given tax breaks that would continue to provide income to their employees, and themselves, thus giving revenue to the county?

With verification of licensed, bonded and insured small business owners, could their tax responsibilities be realigned to keep them, their families and others operating in Hernando County? It would be a challenge to come up with a just formula, but perhaps income tax filings could provide valid claims of their negative financial status. There’s chance of fraud but there may be a means to reduce that concern.

Does it not make sense that, although full tax payment is not realized for the county, a win-win scenario for everyone involved would stave off the demise of small business owners and the likely result of loss of population?

Maybe not, but it’s still economic food for thought.