I’ve been running small businesses for a long time, and I know unexpected costs are part of it. But this year I started a flooring business, and it’s been going well. However, it feels like everyone is trying to take advantage of me lately.
I got hit with a marketing contract that had hidden fine print and ended up costing me $10k (my fault). Then, a credit card scam hit for another $10k (could have been $30k, but I caught it in time). A big company that hired us made half a million dollars from flooring a school district but has held back a third of the payment for six months (I’m working on it with legal help). A client situation went sideways, and we’re probably going to lose $15k (again, legal process is in progress).
It’s been really demoralizing. I just want a healthy business and to take care of my team. The legal issues are killing me. I’m used to smaller losses, but this is different—losing five figures multiple times a quarter.
Has anyone else been going through similar things lately? I’m starting to doubt my ability to handle it all.
I’m not in the flooring business, but from what you’re saying, it seems like a lot of these problems come from the people you’re working with. I get that you’re dealing with new things here, but maybe you’re not being careful enough about who you’re doing business with. Sometimes, especially with a new business, it can be harder to spot red flags. Could it be that the flooring industry just has more people trying to take advantage of you? Sometimes a business just isn’t a good fit for you at that time, and it can be hard to assess bigger contracts or suppliers properly.
Have you considered looking inward to see if there’s a common thread in the problems? Maybe it’s not just bad luck—sometimes there’s an issue with your process or even the people you’re working with that needs adjusting.
I run an interior design firm and furniture store, and I deal with the same kinds of issues. I’ve had to fight chargebacks from customers and deal with entitled people taking advantage. It’s rough.
Elliot said:
I run an interior design firm and furniture store, and I deal with the same kinds of issues. I’ve had to fight chargebacks from customers and deal with entitled people taking advantage. It’s rough.
I run an e-commerce business, and I’ve had similar problems. Now, I require wire payments for any orders over $2000, and I cover the wire transfer fees. It’s helped me avoid a lot of issues with chargebacks. Credit cards were just too risky, especially with large purchases. I’ve even tried accepting crypto, but no one ever uses it.
@Orin
I’ve done something similar by offering a 5% discount for wire payments. A lot of suppliers offer better deals when they know they’ll get immediate cash.
Elliot said:
I run an interior design firm and furniture store, and I deal with the same kinds of issues. I’ve had to fight chargebacks from customers and deal with entitled people taking advantage. It’s rough.
Have you noticed this year being worse than previous years, or is this about the same as usual? I expected this kind of thing, but the frequency is just insane. I’m starting to view every deal as a potential risk, and it’s really wearing me down. I try to operate on trust, but it’s getting tough. Thanks for sharing your experience. I hope your business is doing well.
@Mal
Hey GVX, I’m sorry to hear you’re having such a tough time. I’m in a different business (horticulture), but I totally get the feeling. In everything I do, I’m always thinking about how things could go wrong. It’s not just business—it’s personal life too. Once you’ve been burned, it’s hard not to question everything. You start viewing every situation as a potential threat. It’s exhausting, but also helps you avoid problems sometimes.
What you’re feeling sounds like a natural trauma response. Being constantly on alert is hard on your mental health. You need to find a balance between staying cautious and not letting the worry take over your life. It’s good to trust your gut, but therapy might also help you sort through these feelings. If you can, talk to someone about it.
@Uma
Thanks for this thoughtful feedback. You’re right. The constant feeling of being on alert is mentally exhausting. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.