New Year’s resolutions for propane marketers
January 1, 2024 By Tom Jaenicke
This year, resolve to make yourself and the propane industry stronger. Share resolutions for propane with customers and employees.
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In the Know: Shift to an opportunity mindset
January 3, 2022 By Tamera Kovacs
Propane Resources’ Tamera Kovacs addresses challenges and opportunities propane retailers face as they refocus their businesses in 2022.
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Add value through accounts receivable management plan
May 1, 2008 By Carl Hughes
A quality program incorporates quality customers and clear expectations
Read More Capital needs often overlooked
February 1, 2008 By Carl Hughes
Last month we addressed the financial fundamentals of a retail propane startup. The objective is to grow sales and gross margin to the scale that the business achieves profitability and then begins earning a sufficient return on equity capital deployed. What is typically overlooked in the business planning of a start-from-scratch operation is the significant ongoing growth capital required to build a retail business.
Read More Know the financial basics
January 1, 2008 By Carl Hughes
In this second column of a series, we address the financial fundamentals of a startup retail propane operation. This two-dimensional visual is useful in talking about the important financial components of your startup operation.
Read More Summer’s most important priority
July 1, 2007 By Randy Doyle
Every business – regardless of size – needs to stop from its busy daily schedule in order to reflect on its performance and to plan for the future. It’s simply good business to periodically ask yourself, How are we doing? What can we do better? What are our goals?
Read More Making the future, today
August 1, 2006 By Carl Hughes
Most propane managers tend to manage their business for the reality of yesterday. We often assume that past events will reoccur if we just wait for them.
Read More In business, all profits are costs
March 1, 2006 By LP Gas
Implications of this redefinition of profits serve a useful purpose in the measurement of a retail propane company’s performance. The first purpose cited above is how we historically view profits — the excess or what’s left over after we have paid our bills. However, in the second point it may be that the profit is not sufficient to replace capital for worn-out equipment.
Read More Don’t let friends start ‘C’ Corporations
January 1, 2006 By Carl Hughes
In early 2002, I addressed the penalizing tax disadvantages to propane companies that are structured as ‘C’ Corporations.
Read More Bobtail efficiency: a marketer’s edge
December 1, 2005 By Randy Doyle
The subject of bobtail efficiency is always relevant to propane marketers. Educational sessions on any aspect of this subject have no problem attracting attendees and interest.
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