Example: In case of two tenants signing a lease agreement, "joint" means they are jointly responsible for rent.

"Several" means that their joint relationship is severed and they are individually responsible for total amount of rent.

If one does not pay his/her share of rent other is responsible for entire amount.

Here's an example of a landlord who had a "joint and several" lease with added provision that tenants must pay rent with a check, money order or cashier's check in full amount every month.

Landlord allowed two roommates to pay half rent each month with two separate checks. Bad policy.

It not only creates accounting problems... but if one tenant pays on time and other is late how do you handle late penalty? And...

When moving long distance, they do not have to pay a whole crew to travel: The van can simply be met by a local crew, and althoughit may not work perfectly every time, these companies are set up to deliver a return removal. These two crucial advantages combine with their brand derived pricing strength, to make efficient business.

So what can small businesses do to improve efficiency?

Small removers may be cutting their own throat with that attitude which just wishes their competition would all fall in a hole, and leave way clear.

When business is good, competitors don't seem to matter; pricing pressures are reduced. However, when times are lean, we all know how low some removers will drop their prices to get that work! Low pricing intended only to cover fixed overheads (in bad times)is unsustainable and very unattractive! The situation can be remedied however, if small firms seek out an efficient business model.