Small web business owner

I have a full time job as a Toolmaker/Machinist, pays well, but I started a web business over a dozen years ago that was my splurge money on tackle, problem is it grew(not in a bad Way) and Tackle Warehouse is my biggest customer, they always pay on time (great customer for me), but I always get 1 small customer I gotta hound for payment, they order once a year and NEVER pay on time, the 30 day goes out the door and it ends up 60, and I hate hounding for a few bucks, yea I know "is it worth it" , as I get older, NO, when I was younger, $100 is a $100, I will take it, as ya get older money aint worth it sometimes, this past order will be my last with this small business.

You gotta do what you gotta to do.

Not saying $100 isn't worth it, heck $100 is a $100, wouldn't throw it away, but I hate hounding for money owed, have better things to do with my time, like work, keeping my house in order, then add the grandson time in and next thing ya know ya got no time left to hound.

[QUOTE=Bill M of NJ;543372]I have a full time job as a Toolmaker/Machinist, pays well, but I started a web business over a dozen years ago that was my splurge money on tackle, problem is it grew(not in a bad Way) and Tackle Warehouse is my biggest customer, they always pay on time (great customer for me), but I always get 1 small customer I gotta hound for payment, they order once a year and NEVER pay on time, the 30 day goes out the door and it ends up 60, and I hate hounding for a few bucks, yea I know "is it worth it" , as I get older, NO, when I was younger, $100 is a $100, I will take it, as ya get older money aint worth it sometimes, this past order will be my last with this small business.[/QUOTE]

Im curious what it is that you do with the side business? If it's personal that's cool just interests me to hear TW is a customer.

I started the wacky tool craze 14 years ago, the aluminum ones I first started making were not tidal water friendly, they pitted and another company started making them so I shifted gears to brass and sales soared, needless to say TW contacted me for an order and its been steady ever since, have 11 years with TW now. Payed off the lathe in my garage in 3 months after I started, have an o-ring company custom make the size I need and from there I started making one for 6-7 inch senkos, still only one making that for the big guys. So its been a good side gig, not getting rich but it costs me nothing to run.

My brother in law was a tool and die man. I was a machinist apprentice for a little while.My brinlaw met a guy who was european craftsmen who liked to fish. Together they made a die for a rapala type bait, it was designed for two places. It was a great bait, and these two guys knew their s-it. Its a shame he died of a massive brain anerisom?. Them two guys were the talk of the wisconsin river in that area.

[QUOTE=Bill M of NJ;543483]I started the wacky tool craze 14 years ago, the aluminum ones I first started making were not tidal water friendly, they pitted and another company started making them so I shifted gears to brass and sales soared, needless to say TW contacted me for an order and its been steady ever since, have 11 years with TW now. Payed off the lathe in my garage in 3 months after I started, have an o-ring company custom make the size I need and from there I started making one for 6-7 inch senkos, still only one making that for the big guys. So its been a good side gig, not getting rich but it costs me nothing to run.[/QUOTE]

Congrats on the business! Pretty cool!!

DJD, its tuff to run a small operation, your margin is paper thin to compete with the bigger outfits, only thing I have going for me is no overhead or employees, I am the whole deal, I draw no paycheck, but the extra money goes towards boat repairs or up grade on tackle.