Jaime -.
Grab something cold I got a little long winded!
There is probably a lot at play here and a lot of it you're probably thinking is out of your control. Chances are it isn't.
The employee thing is completely understood; it is incredibly hard to find loyal, half-good employees unless the pay and benefits are there. Idea - Keep cards on hand at all the times and when you see a really hard working person (even if they are at their jobs) talk to them and give them a card, it's like when your single and it seems all the good girls/guys are taken. They are. Employers know how hard it is to get good people; they do what ever they can to keep them. But, if needed drop your employees and scale back. I know many who work mostly alone and make a great income. Then once you master your business slowly bring the help back. I have a friend who is a gardener (he hates it when I call him that) he started by himself a few years ago and now has 50+ employees and yet he still swears he had more profit and a lot less headaches when he was very small.
The 45 days out (and longer as we know) is definitely something that can kill a company. Unless prepared. Like I tell my fiancé (partner) we work today for next month. Once the ball is rolling and the payments from last month or even two start coming in, you're fine, as long as you're still working today. I agree the initial hump is horrid, especially when the hole already seems deep.
In our business, we are small and have a lot less leverage with our customers than say credit card companies have when it comes to interest. I have had large accounts\companies (which typically take the longest to pay) laugh at the thought of us charging interest. What are we going to walk away from a few thousand dollar job just because they wont sign an invoice with a 2% net 15? No. We do the work and use the moneys generated from the previous month to survive.
We have all learned we can't make money without it, which means we have to keep our checking accounts as full as we can to get past the droughts. We have even gone as far as taking a dollar and breaking it down into percentages and placed that against every job collected on. For instance, we pay ourselves X% and put X% in a tax account, and X% left in for supplies and fuels, etc. In the beginning it is hard to stick with it, especially when everything you have is going to every bill you have. But, then that only leaves you searching for more credit to pay for your supplies next week. We've been there.
A few more things before I get off of my soapbox..
Seek help with business matters - a few simple changes may spark a huge change. Many cities have resources at a small business's disposal. For instance, here in our area the Entrepreneurial resource center has joined up with a local state college and offers free business coaching and courses. Find out if anything is offered in your area.
And lastly, think of your debts and think about the $7-10 an hour jobs you mentioned. I know you have done the math and cried when you found how long it would take to get out of debt!
PWing - Your customers are happy, you're doing good work, and even if you're burnt out your debt is still going to be there. As we know when you have the customers you can have a great income in this field. But, if you have to, get a part time $7 job and spend the rest of the time working and selling. But I'm sure if you spent even one day cold calling and selling your great company you would find enough work to not need the $7 job and make great money. But as with everything set strict time lines. For instance no matter how much you hate it, say, every Tuesday morning spend a TRUE six hours marketing and selling your business.
You will succeed and eventually get out of debt. Then you could sell the business for a profit or simply grow. I would be willing to bet that at that time you will be happy with good old pressure washing. Because chances are it isn't the industry and line of work that isn't making you happy, it's simply the rut or hole that you may have found yourself in - at the moment. The only thing constant is change itself; just try to make the change controlled, benefiting you.
Good Luck and hard work!!
Oh yea - this is my opinion.