CPA

Joe is using one that he had used in his previous business.

Steve and Gary looked in the yellow pages – interviewed 3-4 of them. Gary is taking a Quickbooks class from his accountant.

Mike B recommends checking with your networking groups BNI and Chamber.

Personal Guarantee On Building Lease

Landlord asking for personal guarantee.

Mike S doing one year personal guarantee.

Gary doing personal guarantee for 3 years – term of the lease.

Mike B provided net worth statement and business plan plus credit check on him personally.

Signmaker Candidates

• Martin has screened four candidates out of 30.
• Mike S has screened fifteen candidates to date.
• Steve has been unable to find a candidate with Roland experience but has found candidates with Signmaker experience. Had three good candidates out of 30. Plans on holding interviews at new building.
• Mike B had over 50 people apply. Screened 10-12 people. Has three really good candidates. Held interviews at Denny’s.

Work Benches 3×8 or 4×8 Order or Custom Made?

New tables are metal and can break down so that shipping is easier. Patty and Bob are having their tables built. Bench Depot is the supplier of the new benches. Patty will give us an idea of what the person is charging to build the work benches for them.

Gary purchased his work benches from Bench Depot – is going to cost approximately $3k.

HR Handbook Ideas in Addition to Sample Provided

HR Handbook Ideas:

• Regular operating hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 5 days per week [Hour for lunch?]
• The Company requires confidentiality on the part of all its employees. Confidential information that must not be disclosed to any person who is not an employee includes, but is not limited to, names of customers, information about customer projects or other non-public customer information, company pricing and information that is proprietary to the Company. [What about Sarbanes Oxley?]
• If you are absent because of illness, your supervisor may request that you submit written documentation from your physician. The Company does not provide paid sick leave. If you are a non-exempt employee who is paid by the hour, and you are absent from work due to illness, you will not be paid during your absence. [Will you provide pay for days off due to illness? After probationary period? How many if any?] After probation period.
• There are 26 pay periods per year occurring bi-weekly. Changes to the pay day due to holiday closings will be determined and announced in advance.
• You must use your vacation in the year that it accrues. No wages or salary will be paid to you in lieu of unused vacation days. Vacation days accrue on your anniversary date as follows:
  • 5 days after one year
  • 8 days after two years [I added this. What are you doing in your business?]
  • 10 days after three years

Patty and Bob at their former company gave one week after probation to use as sick days or vacation days. After one year they received 10 days. For this business they are considering no carryovers – use it or lose it but are researching the industry standard.

• Holidays
  • New Years Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving Day [add Friday following?]
  • Christmas Day
• All employees are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement. [This form is not part of the original handbook. So if you want to include that in your policy, a form needs to be provided.]

It will be helpful to hear what you are planning or thinking in these areas. What are your thoughts about any or all of these items listed above?

Purchase of Substrate Cutter

Is everyone looking at purchasing a substrate cutter (approx $2100)? 50 cents a sq ft cost?

Plastic substrate and aluminum cutter is called the standard through Sawtracks.

Freedomcutter (new cutter head) has a better vacuum on it that does not require a dirty room cost is $895. PVC creates a fine powder with static electricity creates a mess. Fletcher Substrate Cutter FSC $2000.

Consider industrial curtains to create a dirty room. $1600 for a 14’ x 7’ x 7’ room lookup “dust barrier” on internet. Sawtracks (substrate cutter) cutter is 10’ long recommend 5’ on each side. Biggest piece of substrate is 10’.