If you are interested in advertising with American Trails please contact us at P.O. Box 491797, Redding, CA 96049-1797 - (530) 547-2060 or candace@AmericanTrails.org

BELLFREE CONTRACTORS, INC.

Looking for a buyer or a crackerjack supervisor!

From Roger Bell, President, and author of Trail Tales, and more articles on trails

After 38 years in this business and 22 years since we incorporated in 1986, it looks like I might have to hang it up. I’ve been avoiding this decision because we’ve had a great supervisor who could handle the field work and I could focus primarily on consulting, lining up jobs, and handling the administrative side. Plus I have been having more fun and making a much better living than in the old days when we primarily did high altitude Forest Service projects.

We are in high demand in this neck of the woods offering mostly design/build packages to repeat business through word of mouth marketing. A majority of our contracts are negotiated, not formally bid. There is not a lot of competition and we have paid our dues in terms of knowing the lay of the land and always producing a quality product on the ground. I can provide strong recommendations attesting to this.

So why retire-- I’m only 72!?

Well, my number one guy is leaving after about a dozen years— in all modesty we have been a very effective team. I can’t imagine finding his equal, but maybe I’m wrong about that, so I’m leaving the door open if someone with his skills as an operator, crew supervisor, mechanic, and problem solver deluxe should come along, in which case I might hang in for a few more years. And even if I can sell the business, I would potentially be willing to spend a year or two helping the new owner get up and running (and incidentally offer my California A license RMO if the new owner needed that interim backing.) I suspect that would make sense because Bellfree’s excellent reputation in Southern California owes considerably to my visibility and contacts, and I would want to offer that kind of leg up to someone new— if requested as part of the package, of course.

Actually, I think a new owner would want, at least initially, to be hands on with both operational and administrative dimensions. But I could help to generate new business and assist with design aspects during the transition.

I will be happy to provide background about our operation, including a list of recent projects and references. And I can supply full financial information to a seriously interested potential buyer, which will show that we are exceptionally healthy in that regard. So far this year, for example, we have done about $439K with a 24% net profit margin and our average over the past five years exceeds that— and work backlog for this year will result in a record year. Despite the fact we have done a lot of trail work for developers, the housing market slump has not hurt us. Maybe that will be a factor down the line, but so far we are busier than ever and very profitable.

My accountant tells me Bellfree is valued at more than $500K. I am willing to discuss various options and offers including payment over time. What would be of prime importance to me, frankly, would be the character and demonstrated talent of a new owner. To be blunt, I’d rather see the business end and sell off our assets, than turn it over to someone with questionable trustworthiness. So while I am courting potential buyers, I would only sell to the right kind of person that, from what I can determine, would continue to build a positive reputation. Financial, technical, and personal qualifications are key.
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For more information:

Roger Bell, President, Bellfree Contractors, Inc.: 505 Cypress, Redlands, CA 92373; Phone (909) 793-4501; Fax (909) 793-6921; www.naturtec.com

See more articles by Roger Bell:

• Trails: an antidote for "Nature Deficit Disorder"
• A new urgency for planning quality trails
• Trails in New Developments: a case study
• Cinderella Comes of Age: Trails in Private Developments
• Hybrid Contracting: Extending resources with trail contractors
• Trails, rivers, and global warming
• Editorial: The Trail Ahead Needs ALL of Us

If you are interested in advertising with American Trails please contact:
Advertising Department, P.O. Box 491797, Redding, CA 96049-1797 - (530) 547-2060 or candace@AmericanTrails.org

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