Office Management

Year-End Planning, Part 1

Business planning isn’t exciting. But the effort you put into it has much to do with the results you’ll see next year and in years to come.

Year-End Planning, Part 2

This is part two of our year-end planning paper. We’re going to pick this up by continuing an indepth look at your overhead budget for the coming year.

Can You Afford to Hire?

Can you afford to hire a new office empl …

Can You Afford to Hire? Read More »

Your Phone Message Matters

A great reminder that your phone might be the first contact a client has with you, and what they hear matters.

All Staff should be Productive Staff

When I'm consulting, I interview key staff to get a feel for the company. More often than not, I hear certain things are "Not my job" or "Not my responsibility".

Website Designers – Hire Carefully

If you're looking at hiring a website designer or SEO provider, beware! The stories we hear from fellow business owners on how they've been treated defies description.

Paying a Bonus to Employees

We 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?”

You Shall Take a Fixed Salary . . .

Too many construction company owners don’t pay themselves for their work. It’s nice to have a hobby, but it’s not why you are in business. Pay yourself for your work.

Miscommunication – It’s not pretty

Today, with email and the internet, we have nearly instant communication. But there is a down side to this rapid give and take, and that is miscommunication.

Social Media Abuse in the Office

At the National Tile Contractors Association national convention this fall, I sat in on a class about social media and how it can benefit your business.

Hiring on a Retainer

A contractor last week told me they'd just heard from their CPA that they had a tax bill due the next day. It was a surprise.

The End Game – Have one

I am one of those pour souls who needs a little pressure to finish what I start. I have a shop full of projects that demand my attention.

Growing Your Company

How do you grow from a small, one-man firm to a larger firm? That was a question asked by a respondent to our recent survey.

Unlicensed Contractor

The old law said that the owner could recover 100% of the money they had paid a contractor if it was found that the contractor did not have a valid license.

Audits Happen. Be Prepared.

A contractor friend just went through an IRS audit. After going through all his records and asking a ton of questions, they said, "In my opinion, you owe us $22,000."

Making a Good First Impression

I received a spam email yesterday advertising a phone answering service. Normally, spam gets my delete key immediately. But this one caught my eye:

Employees Asking for Draws

One of my buddies has an employee with constant money issues. My buddy said he switched companies that handle his payroll and there was an extra day between paychecks. 

Are your “subs” really sub-contractors?

Many contractors tell me they only use subs to do their work on jobs. But when it comes right down to it, many are claiming employees as subs.

Keep Your Business Running Smooth

Recently Brian Tracy sent out a newsletter talking about the importance of checklists.

Construction Business Advertising Example

I don’t know much about their company, but I do know they understand communication with their customers and all those they do business with.

Electronic Gatekeepers

You know the drill. You call a business hoping to talk to someone. You dial the number; it rings once, twice, bingo an answer.

Overhead Expense Reductions

If you are wondering how to reduce your overhead expenses, we received the following list sometime ago from Morris DeShong. It's a great starting point.

Answering Machines

Let's look at answering machines and see if we can't maximize the positives, minimize the negatives for your business.

Telephone Manners

I had an interesting phone call this morning. I called a contractor to get 10 yards of gravel delivered. He answered the phone . . .

Construction Company Structure

Something to consider if your constructi …

Construction Company Structure Read More »

Question on Insurance Policy for Construction – Can you help?

My insurance agent met with Tammy and I last week and made a proposal to sell us an installation floater with our insurance policy. I have never heard of it before.

Know What You Are Paying For

I’m not sure if this topic has ever been approached, but something everyone should keep in mind. Be sure you know what you’re paying for and why.

The First Source of Problems in your Construction Business

When I ask clients to take a hard look at their company, the first thing I usually hear is how their employees are doing. That's usually not the problem.

Construction Sales – Screening Your Calls

In our book, Profitable Sales, A Contractor’s Guide, I devote a chapter to the use of the telephone. I talk about how to answer it, what to say and what not to say.

Doing Extra . . .

Successful construction contractors do more than their duty – they go the extra mile for their specialty contractors, their customers, their construction employees.

Calculate Your Cost Per Lead

Knowing your cost per lead is important because it helps set your sales goals and advertising budget.

Operating Capital Reserve Account

With the tightening up of construction, …

Operating Capital Reserve Account Read More »

Construction Business Finances vs. Personal Finances

I talked recently with a few contractors who told me they are paying for personal stuff out of the company checkbook.

How Do You Answer the Phone?

A coaching client threw me a curve today. I commented on the way he answered the phone. He replied, "I said 'Hello', didn't I?" He made the comment just to stir the pot.

Insurance for Contractors

A caller asked the best way to buy insurance. My response was that if you have a choice, I would choose a broker rather than an agent.

Basic Telephone Etiquette – Answer the Phone

Occasionally we need to call contractors to resolve an issue on an order or ask a related question.  For some, it’s amazing that they stay in business.