We had been working with a client prepping to cut flanges for pipeline connections. We provide industrial cutting as a service to all sizes of clients from personal to major industry and this was going to be our new whale.

This was a $10k/month job we were excited about to hire more people and boost our new business. This would have quickly put us in the black finally from our start-up costs. We anticipated hiring at least two new employees adding to the 2 man (including partner) staff to handle this job.

Well, the client called. Thanks to the stroke of Uncle Joe's pen they are shutting down operations and our services are no longer needed.

We are suffering the halo effect that extends beyond the hands-on workers who lost their jobs.