Small Business Owner Keeps the Lights On Without Hurting the Budget

When running a custom cabinet shop, there’s a lot more to consider than the tools and beautiful woods my team will use on our clients’ next build. I also have to consider bills and the costs associated with running my business. I can’t eliminate my energy bill, but I can take steps to minimize what I’m paying.

As the owner of Coffey Custom Builds, I spend my days coordinating projects, designing builds, and making beautiful custom cabinetry and furniture with my team. I genuinely love what I do, but there’s a lot of background work I’m responsible for as the business owner. At the end of the day, it’s up to me to make sure everything is running as it should. Or, more to the point, not running when it shouldn’t.

Every night after the team has gone home, I head out to the shop. It’s more of a ritual than anything, but every night it’s the same thing: I go out to check on project status and ensure every tool and light is shut off to help conserve power usage.

I check the tools, lights, dust collection, and air conditioning to make sure everything is powered down and not costing me unnecessary money. It sounds like a simple premise, but the contents of my shop won’t do it on their own, so it’s up to me to make sure I’m doing everything possible to cut these costs.

Tools that help me stay ahead

Whether you own a business or not, watching cash flow with an eagle eye is probably a familiar routine. My energy provider, PG&E, provides its users with an energy management dashboard that makes this task easier than flipping a light switch. I realized I could use it in my business just like any other tool in my shop.

I can see what’s driving my energy usage in real time. This means I can avoid getting hit with a surprise energy bill. If my team is doing something that causes energy usage spikes, I’ll know when it’s happening, not when the bill hits. This allows me to plan and manage cash flow accordingly, so I can be proactive instead of reactive. I also appreciate that rates have been coming down, and PG&E is committed to keeping them stable.

Bills don’t stop, but they can flex

Running a business means never-ending invoices, bills, spreadsheets, and paperwork. While some months things are steady and almost manage themselves, others can feel like an onslaught of bills, where everything is coming in at once, and expenses start piling up. Whether it’s materials, higher payroll, new tools for a unique project, or the purchase of new equipment for material handling, expenses never take a vacation when you’re in business.

Energy costs are just one piece of the giant jigsaw puzzle of running my business, but PG&E gives me options. If I have seasonal or unexpected spikes in energy usage, I can spread those payments out over time or change my due date to line up with when I expect a payment to come in. 

While I can never make the bill go away, I can make it less of a headache to deal with, and that’s what it’s all about for me: finding ways to reclaim my time and decrease my stress. Knowing I have several ways to tackle my energy bill makes sleeping at night easier.

The fact is, running a business is hard. Margins are tight, and every choice adds up. Grabbing hold of every opportunity to lower stress or make your decision-making processes easier is crucial. 

Management is not glamorous and doesn’t make it to your highlight reels, but it is reality. The "shut off the lights" and "manage your bill" routines make running a business sustainable and keep the lights on.

Control over power usage = peace of mind 

I always aim to be responsible for the things I have control over: my projects, my waste, my products, and their quality. Running a business is no different. Knowing I have control over my power usage and bills gives me peace of mind, allowing me to focus on what matters — doing quality work and taking care of my team and clients. PG&E gives me the tools I need to take control over my energy usage. 

Learn more about Budget Billing. 

About the author

Mike Coffey is an El Dorado County-based custom furniture maker and builder known for combining craftsmanship with modern tools through his small business, Coffey Custom Builds.