Being a construction manager and a business owner requires a unique blend of skills and attributes essential for effectively leading a crew. Leadership is at the forefront of this role, as a construction manager must inspire and motivate their team to achieve project goals while maintaining safety and quality standards. This involves clear communication, conflict resolution, and a collaborative team environment.

 

Responsibility is another key element. A construction manager oversees the site's day-to-day operations and bears the weight of financial and legal obligations associated with the business. This includes managing budgets, ensuring compliance with regulations, and maintaining client relationships. Making informed decisions under pressure is crucial, as any misstep can have significant consequences.

 

Handling a problematic construction contractor on a job site can also add to your work challenges, but adopting a proactive and positive approach can help you manage the situation effectively.

 

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Topics: Systems And Processes, Winning Teams, Project Management, Project Management For Construction, Construction Productivity, Construction Systems And Processes, Production, Construction Team

Navigating the world of finances can sometimes feel like trying to build a house without a blueprint. Between managing budgets, keeping track of expenses, and ensuring you're compliant with tax regulations, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. That's where your financial dream team comes in! 

 

Having the right people by your side can make all the difference in staying organized and achieving your business goals. In this blog post, we'll chat about the key players you need on your financial team, what each role brings to the table, and how to find experts who truly understand the ins and outs of the construction industry. 

 

Whether you're a seasoned pro or just getting started,  building a reliable financial team will be a game-changer in achieving your financial goals and securing the future of your business.

 

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Topics: Accountant, CPA Vs Construction Accountant, Bookkeeper Vs. Accountant, Accountant Vs. C.P.A., Systems And Processes, Winning Teams, Construction Systems And Processes

When valuing a business, most people think straightforwardly about profits. While financial success is undoubtedly critical, it's far from the only factor determining a business's actual worth. Understanding valuation complexities can offer small business owners and entrepreneurs a clear roadmap for sustainable growth and long-term success.

 

While financial metrics are undoubtedly important, they do not provide a complete picture of a construction company's worth. For contractors and builders, understanding the nuances of business valuation can pave the way for sustainable growth, effective investments, and successful transitions, whether selling the business or attracting stakeholders.

 

Here is a fresh perspective on what makes a business truly valuable. We'll discuss traditional valuation metrics, the non-financial factors influencing worth, and practical strategies to enhance value. 

 

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Topics: Systems And Processes, Winning Teams, Construction Systems And Processes, Value of Construction Contractors, Core Values, Business Valuation, Construction Business Valuation

Social media can feel overwhelming. With so much noise and so many platforms, where do you start? The truth is that a great social media strategy can transform how you connect with customers and help you grow your contracting business.

 

Social media platforms' reach and accessibility are unprecedented. They connect businesses with a vast audience in real-time. Besides their broad reach, social media platforms also serve as valuable tools for businesses to listen to what their customers say about their brand, competitors, or the industry.

 

Social media allows for active engagement. Construction companies like yours can post questions, respond to comments, and forge stronger customer bonds. Unlike traditional marketing channels, it's a great leveler. All businesses – whether big or small, have equal access. This means smaller companies can compete effectively against their larger counterparts.

 

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Topics: Marketing Tracking, Construction Marketing, Systems And Processes, Contractor Marketing, Winning Teams, Construction Systems And Processes, social media for contractors

Change is inevitable in any business, but it's rarely easy—especially when managing morale. Significant transitions can leave employees feeling uncertain, disengaged, or even overwhelmed, whether you're restructuring your team, implementing new processes, or pivoting your business strategy. 

 

As a small business owner, you probably ask yourself, "How can I guide my team through this while maintaining morale?" You're in the right place. Maintaining high morale within a construction team is crucial for productivity and overall job satisfaction. The construction industry can be challenging, with tight deadlines, physical demands, and unpredictable work environments. Supporting and motivating your team is essential. 

 

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Topics: Construction Bookkeeping, Systems And Processes, Winning Teams, Construction Systems And Processes, Boost Construction Profitability, Construction Team

Traditionally, employers have relied on giving employees raises to retain their staff and reward them for being hard-working and loyal. Raises can get expensive, and there is often an upper limit for what you can offer regarding increasing salaries and wages.

 

Keeping your employees happy makes business sense. You want to keep your good employees, and it costs money to find, hire and train new staff. Beyond that, satisfied employees who feel valued are more motivated and productive.

 

Here are some ways to keep your employees happy that don't rely on higher salaries.

 

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Topics: Give Your Customers And Clients What They Want, High Profit Repeat Construction Clients, Business Process Management For Contractors, Winning Teams

Construction business owners know that to find a loyal client base, they must stand out from their competitors. One of the best and easiest ways to do that is to have outstanding customer service. How you treat your customers reflects your entire business. People think positively about companies that treat their customers and clients well. 

 

Unfortunately, many small construction business owners focus much on their products and services, with customer service remaining an afterthought. 

 

Take time to learn more about your customers.

 

 

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Topics: Give Your Customers And Clients What They Want, High Profit Repeat Construction Clients, Business Process Management For Contractors, Winning Teams

When you're a construction business owner, your to-do list is often long and constantly growing longer. You need to do many things, and it can feel like they're all urgent. In such cases, it's easy to push essential tasks to the side and focus on less-vital activities, but that often means you miss deadlines, make mistakes or always feel as though you're trying to catch up.

 

Construction Companies have two basic leadership styles; wait until an urgent situation occurs and react like a firefighter or develop business processes that allow the company to respond calmly and natural resources and solutions to the issues like a traffic police officer on a sunny afternoon.

 

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Topics: Business Process Management For Contractors, Winning Teams, Construction Productivity, Contractor Guidance, contractor delegation

One of the biggest challenges construction company owners like you have with an in-house bookkeeper is training them to work for your best interest, not theirs, and deliver consistent results and the reports you can trust daily, year after year.

 

Having been involved with construction and construction accounting and bookkeeping for over thirty years, we have seen a consistent pattern repeated over and over that will turn ordinary, decent, pleasant bookkeepers into a disheveled, broken, mean, nasty, arrogant trolls, and that's a good day when the sun is shining, and the birds are singing!

 

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Topics: Business Process Management For Contractors, Winning Teams, Construction Productivity, Contractor Guidance, contractor delegation

Some construction business owners believe in maximizing production by driving everyone from the laborers to the project managers to work harder, longer, faster, hustle, and run. And if they are giving less than 110% to the company, they are not doing enough.

One thing to consider: Don't let construction workers think too much; they may injure themselves.

Apprentices and most Journeymen working on a construction job site are better off not thinking but simply following routines and patterns established by management based upon best practices. At first read, this sounds harsh, and yet it comes from our own experiences as a contractor operating multiple job sites with small crews on each from two to ten people; this one concept generated a lot of bottom-line profits and kept injuries very low.

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Topics: Business Process Management For Contractors, Winning Teams, Construction Productivity, Contractor Guidance, contractor delegation