Cleaning the Jobsite
By Michael StoneIf you're an employer, these are things you should watch for and be prepared to deal with. If you're an employee, check to see how you're doing.
Make Time by Delegating
By Michael StoneIt’s easy to fool yourself into believing it’s better to do it yourself, until you realize the things you’re supposed to do aren’t getting done.
Like breathing, being profitable isn’t an option
By Michael StoneIf your construction business isn’t profitable, it won’t survive. You have an option of being competitive in construction. You don’t have the option of being profitable.
Motivate Your Construction Employees
By Michael StoneIn construction, employees are motivated and engaged when they know the reason behind their work. They need to know their jobs matter.
Employees: Details that Cost You Money
By Michael StoneNothing is more frustrating than to work hard only to find out your business isn’t making money. Michael discusses three things that can make a big difference on the bottom line.
Trucks, Phones and Language
By Michael StoneKeeping your business sharp and profitable is an ongoing process, and it’s easy to get lax about little things that can cost big money.
Side Jobs in Construction
By Michael StoneHave you ever had a client go behind your back and ask your employees and/or subcontractors to work for them outside your company?
Improve Jobsite Productivity
By Michael StoneAn efficient, productive construction project makes for more profitable jobs. It’s easier when you pay attention to these details.
Subcontractors or Employees?
By Michael StoneSometimes they request you use employees instead of subs, or work on a T&M basis. Clients don’t understand how the construction world works. It’s your job to educate them.
Make Jobs More Profitable
By Michael StoneMaterials, change work orders, borrowing tools, punch lists, resolving issues.
Estimated Time for a Construction Project
By Michael StoneIf your employees consistently take longer than you estimated, you need to change your method of estimating. The human body can only work so fast.
Subs or Employees, That is the Question
By Michael StoneRecently I’ve had a number of discussions with company owners about how to get their jobs built. It all comes down to using subs or employees, or as some like to say, “Should I be a paper contractor or a real contractor?”
Structuring Your Construction Company
By Michael StoneMany contractors start out building jobs on their own, but it doesn’t take long before you need to hire others to help with production.
Construction Employees – It’s Break Time!
By Michael StoneAt the start of break, the crew jumped in a truck, drove 15 minutes to a doughnut shop, had coffee and a doughnut or two, drove 15 minutes back to the job site.
Hire Slowly, Fire Quickly
By Michael StoneIssues that eat into profitability: It’s easy to hire someone who looks good on paper. If the resume is terrific and their references are glowing, they get hired.
Finding Suitable Construction Employees
By Michael StoneHiring the wrong person costs money. It costs more than just the time and expense you went through before hiring, because you’ll spend time and money to fire them legally and properly.
Becoming Part of the Solution – from Dakota Supply Group, Part 1
By Michael StoneAll of the industries that we work with share one thing in common: they employ tradespeople . . . But there’s a problem: there’s not enough of you to go around.
Sharing Company Goals
By Michael StoneIt’s the time of year when you should be planning for the coming year. Once you set your plans for the year, how much of those plans should you share with your employees?
Becoming Part of the Solution – from Dakota Supply Group, Part 2
By Michael StoneIf being a lawyer is just like any other job, why do so many people regard it as a better career than that of a tradesperson like an electrician, carpenter or plumber?
Subs or Employees – Are Subs More Expensive?
By Michael StoneDoes subcontracting raise the price of the project?
Employee Benefits for a Construction Business
By Michael StoneIf a company offers no sick pay or vacation pay…but is about to start – which is more important to offer first, anticipating that the next year we can offer the other?
How Productive Are Your Employees?
By Michael StoneAs you add employees to a growing company, you’ll both increase production and decrease productivity. You need to account for it when you’re estimating and pricing your jobs.
Moonlighting Construction Employees
By Michael StoneA question came about moonlighting employees. This is an ongoing issue for construction business owners.
Hiring Friends and Family
By Michael StoneWhen you own a small business you’re often asked to hire family or friends. Sometimes it works out great, but not always.
Construction Business Employee Manual
By Michael StoneMany old timers in this business will tell you to be slow to hire and quick to fire. That is just the opposite of what too many construction-related businesses do.
Job Superintendent / Leadman
By Michael StoneFinding good employees is difficult, and you want to keep the ones you find. Sadly, I’ve spoken with a few contractors who’ve had their lead person, the one running their jobs, quit in frustration.
What Would You Do? Getting Cut Out of a Sale
By Michael StoneI was working as a salesperson for a fairly well run remodeling company. I went on a sales call to the home of a CPA that I’d know for some years.
Share The Satisfaction of Working in the Trades
By Michael StoneThere’s a reason that working in the trades isn’t appealing. But if you do the work, you know there are positives that outweigh the negatives.
Do You Pay Bonuses for Work Done?
By Michael StoneIf you’ve raised kids in the past 20-30 years, you know the new rules – no one loses, everyone gets a prize. Don’t keep score because it hurts their feelings.
Making The Trades More Attractive
By Michael StoneIf you want to attract the best people, you need to make them a good offer.
Your Clients and Your Subs
By Michael StoneNow, if you are a subcontractor, it doesn't matter what trade, if a general contractor has hired you to work on a job your obligation is to that general contractor only.
Cell Phones on the Jobsite
By Michael StoneI am not opposed to the use of cell phones on the jobsite as long as the phone is used solely to communicate information about the job, and the calls are direct and to the point.
Paying a Bonus to Employees
By Michael StoneWe are approaching the time of year when the subject of bonuses comes up. Your employees might be saying, “Do you suppose they will pay us a Christmas Bonus this year?”
Hiring a Salesperson
By Michael StoneI’m a firm believer in treating salespeople well. When they’re treated well, they’ll sell. When they sell, you win.