Been experimenting with ways to predict busy and slow periods. Some methods work better than others.
Trying to align my workload and finances with these fluctuations. It’s a bit of a juggling act.
Anyone else deal with this? What’s worked for you?
I’ve been in your shoes, trying to figure out this seasonal rollercoaster.
My approach? I keep a basic spreadsheet. Each month, I jot down my income, expenses, and number of projects. After a couple years, patterns started to show up.
I noticed January and February were always slow. So now I run a promo in those months. Offers clients a discount if they book early. Helps fill those gaps.
Also started offering maintenance packages to my regulars. Gives me some steady work even in slow times.
For cash flow, I set up a separate savings account. During busy months, I toss in extra. It’s my lifeline when things get quiet.
It’s not perfect, but it’s made life a lot less stressful. Took some trial and error to get here, though.
I keep it simple. Track my income and expenses monthly in a basic spreadsheet.
During busy times, I set aside extra cash for slow periods. Helps avoid cash crunches.
I also talk to clients about their upcoming projects. Gives me a heads up on potential work and helps with planning.
Don’t bother with fancy tracking. I just keep a calendar on my phone.
Mark down the busy months from last year. Gives me a rough idea when work might pick up again.
Nothing fancy, but it works for me.
Keep it simple. I use a basic notebook. Write down jobs, what I charged, and when I did them.
After a few years, you start seeing patterns. Some months are always busy, others dead slow.
In the good times, I stash away extra cash. Helps cover the bills when work dries up.
For slow periods, I’ll call up old clients. See if they need any small jobs done. Sometimes it leads to bigger work.
Don’t overthink it. Just pay attention to your business and adjust as you go. You’ll figure out what works for you.
Totally get the struggle with seasonal ups and downs. It’s a constant balancing act, right?
Here’s what’s worked for me:
- Spreadsheet tracking: Log projects, income, and expenses month by month.
- Client convos: Ask about their busiest times. Often gives me a heads up.
- Industry events calendar: Helps predict when companies might need extra help.
I also try to:
- Save during busy times for the inevitable lulls
- Diversify clients across different industries
- Offer package deals during slow months
It’s not perfect, but it helps smooth things out a bit. Still learning as I go, honestly.
Never tried tracking stuff. Just do jobs when they come up.
Slow times I work on my own house. Keep busy.