Running a small construction business may seem like hopping from one task to another, needing more support and guidance. That can make it tempting to let some to-dos on your checklist slide, especially those related to finances, which can be challenging and are often outside your preferred skill set or experience. 

 

The issue, of course, is that clients can only pay you once you've invoiced them. And as you make your salary a top priority, you can also pay yourself. You need an invoicing system that makes the process less painful—or even removes it entirely from your hands.

 

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Topics: Do What You Do Best And Outsoure The Rest, Secrets Of Highly Successful Contractors, Contractor Guidance, Get Paid On Time, Construction Business Owner Salary

Contractors like you know how to pound nails, pour concrete, build homes and commercial structures, bend pipe and pull wire, install roofs, lay carpet, paint walls, and perform a thousand other tasks. So why are you not enjoying the same standard of living as other professionals? Because you are doing all of those things for anybody and everybody who asks you to.

 

Too many contractors are overworked, undervalued, and underpaid. We seek to change that for as many contractors as possible as we know how almost every sound, solid, hardworking, well-intentioned contractor is going out of business or barely scraping by, and that has to end here and now.

 

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Topics: No Charge consulting, Secrets Of Highly Successful Contractors, Contractor Guidance, How To Charge Clients, Value of Construction Contractors

As a construction company owner, you're the architect of your business's vision and culture. But some of the foundation often needs to catch up in the hustle to improve services, chase sales, and keep the lights on. Core values—those guiding principles that shape your company's identity—are more than words on a wall or a statement in a handbook.

 

Getting leads and doing the work is only part of the answer. Not answering them and acting on the knowledge is why many construction companies wither and die. They focus on the wrong areas to innovate or improve. They focus on the wrong enemy and threat. As a result, they need to catch up on what they could be doing to succeed and prosper over time.

 

Is the elevator pitch you used a year ago – even six months ago – still accurate? Unless you are crystal clear on who you are as a construction company, whom you're here to serve, and what you hope to achieve in the next one to three years, it will be hard to come up with meaningful goals.

 

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Topics: Secrets Of Highly Successful Contractors, Contractor Guidance, Core Values of your Construction Business, Core Values

It's hard to go a day without reading something in the news about the state of the economy. Whether it's interest rates rising or the cost of living, there's no getting around the fact that in 2023 there are many doing it more demanding than a few years ago. But while there are some economic challenges for individuals and businesses, it's important not to go too far down the rabbit hole. Remember – economic conditions are forever changing, and history tells us things can change anytime.

If you're concerned about the economy's impact on your business or have already experienced its effects, read on. In this article, we'll explore ways to adapt and improve your construction company during slowdowns, so your business can emerge more substantial when the market bounces back.

Take the time to understand your market conditions

 

The news can often overwhelm us with negativity. While staying informed is crucial, consuming every opinion piece and social media commentary can lead to a negative mindset. Instead, focus on your own business and industry to identify the real challenges you're facing. Research might even uncover some opportunities too.

 

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Topics: Increase Sales And Profits With Tiny Changes, Business Round Table, Contractor Tips, Contractor Guidance, Construction Business Inflation

As prices continue to rise, you've likely noticed that your cost of doing business has increased as well. After all, the main point of any business is to make money, and you can't do that if you're no longer breaking even. 

 

It's inevitable in every industry – you must raise your prices to continue making a profit. Many factors decide how much to charge, all of which are dynamic. The rising cost of goods, inflation, and a changing market are just a few reasons why any small business has to reevaluate its rates regularly to stay competitive (and to stay in business).

 

If you're overworked and overbooked, you're undercharging. People know your worth and are fighting for your time. It's time to increase your prices!

 

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Topics: Construction Bookkeeping And Accounting, Contractor Tips, Contractor Guidance, Pricing Jobs, How To Charge Clients, How To Raise Prices

There comes a time for every small business to raise its prices. While it may seem scary, remember that it's your job to keep costs fair for you and your customers. That means you have to charge prices that work for you and allow you to remain in business. 

Am I Not Charging Enough?

Knowledge leads to profits and cash flow. What makes knowledge powerful? Use of knowledge. In this cutthroat construction industry, you may not be able to outgrow your competition forever, but you can always outlearn them.

Knowing The 80/20 Rule For Construction Contractors will surely help:

• 20% of your customers typically generate 80% of your net profit 
• 20% of the goods or services you sell contribute 80% of your revenue
• 20% or 2 out of 10 of your staff create 80% of the value for your customers

The frightening consequence of the 80/20 rule is that 8 out of 10 hours we spend at work drive almost no value to the bottom line, and the most significant drain is trying to save money doing our contractor bookkeeping instead of reviewing the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Reports. 

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Topics: Construction Bookkeeping And Accounting, Contractor Tips, Contractor Guidance, Pricing Jobs, How To Charge Clients, How To Raise Prices

Many surveys and reports show that nearly half of all new construction companies close their doors within the first five years of opening them. When we speak with contractors who failed, most say it was due to a lack of cash flow. It was pretty obvious, yet when questioned, all of them said they were "Blind-Sided" and were not aware they were running out of cash until it was too late.

 

There is a point when a contracting company starts to fail, and nothing short of a massive cash infusion can stop it, and a domino effect begins, which is when a series of similar or related events occur as a direct and inevitable result of one initial event.

 

Planning is essential to give your business the best chances for success. Planning means anticipating challenges and developing ways to successfully address them, so they don't upset your startup. 

 

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Topics: New Contractors, Start Construction Company, Profit and Growth Strategies For Contractors, New Business Startup, New Business, Contractor Guidance, Construction Business Goals

Several aspects of the construction business can only be learned through experience. One of them is negotiating contracts.

 

Most people fear the negotiation procedure because it is an intrinsically uncomfortable process. Asking for more money or making personal demands doesn't come naturally to everyone. But with the right toolkit, you can breeze through contract negotiations. And you'd better get used to it because you'll have to handle many contracts whether you're a construction company owner or employee.

 

Having the right mindset is critical to contract negotiations. You have to believe that you are going to get your way. Bring a positive attitude and a smile to the table. You're not signing contracts with the enemy. The people you're negotiating with will be your business partners in one capacity or another.

 

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Topics: Construction Bookkeeping And Accounting, Contractor Tips, Contractor Guidance, Construction Business Negotiations, Negotiating Contracts

Cash flow refers to the movement of money into and out of your business. It's based on the amount of money you bring in minus the amount you spend. A positive cash flow means bringing in more than you're spending. A negative cash flow means you aren't bringing in enough to cover your expenses.

 

Your construction company can run into problems by not charging enough for goods or services, having late-paying clients, growing too quickly, or simply spending too much money.

 

Solid cash flow management is vital to ensuring your contracting business survives, but not everyone understands what cash flow is or how to manage it. That's likely what makes it a leading cause of stress for small business owners. 

 

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Topics: Construction Cash Flow, Cash Flow, Construction Bookkeeping And Accounting, Increase Cash Flow, Construction Systems And Processes, Contractor Guidance

Knowing which jobs have the highest probability of success and profit before getting involved moves your construction company from an unpredictable roller coaster to a peaceful merry-go-round.

 

You have what appears to be a high-profit job, and now you think you have it made, and I hope you are right!

 

The problem is that high-profit jobs can turn into low or no-profit jobs. In some cases, they can bankrupt your construction company because you bid on the project using whatever model you are accustomed to using, and in the end, you wind up with cash flow problems.

 

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Topics: High Profit Construction Projects, Profit and Growth Strategies For Contractors, Contractor Guidance, Construction Business Goals