I’m going to go out on a limb and say that you don’t lack marketing ideas. You attend educational sessions, webinars, talk to colleagues, receive countless...
If anything is a more important attribute for a small builder than the ability to identify, admit, and address personal shortcomings, I haven’t found it...
The success of a business depends significantly on how effective the owner is. Being effective as an owner is a challenge because the owner usually fulfills...
Ask any remodeler to tell you the best source for their leads and the answer is always “referrals” and “word of mouth.” A referral is a proactive suggestion...
Contractors spend a lot of time getting leads. But unless they can convert those leads into appointments—and paying customers—they’re dead in the water. That’s...
It’s been a great summer and you’ve been enjoying your patio or deck as much as humanly possible, right? Well, remember early this spring when you opened up...
Wood siding, for all of its classic elegance and historical significance, can require a lot of upkeep. Beyond the usual scraping and painting, there will be...
At first glance, it would seem like the easiest way to find a remodeling contractor would be to just Google them. Of course if you did so, you’ll probably find...
With many baby boomer business owners looking to be living the next stage of their lives, there are a number of companies with one or more employees moving...
As a business owner and a customer/client of other businesses, I am always paying attention to what makes me feel well-served. Sometimes I feel that way...
Improving the productivity of employees in the contractor business can mean a couple different things. From project planning to employee morale, productivity...
Remodelers are trained to say yes from the day they start in the industry. “Yes, I can complete the job. Yes, we can come in at that time. Yes, we can add that...
About two years ago a California window contractor who was not a regular visitor to Yelp became curious. He went to his company’s page and found ten reviews....
On a jobsite in Kingsville, Texas, in August 2013, a worker was mixing gypsum concrete in preparation for gypcrete installation on an apartment building. It’s...
When an employee’s compensation is being calculated, the owner typically thinks about the wage or salary. More often than not, so does the employee. “Show me...
I am a fan of baseball, especially the science of the game. Winning in baseball is more about not making mistakes than beating the opponent. If you give up...
Ron Roen had a problem. He wanted to put his Bellevue, Wash., home on the market and move to a house on the water. But inspection of the roof in the course of...
One of the most devastating things that can happen to a business owner is being disappointed by a trusted employee. What does this look like? Here’s one...
I was talking to one of our sons about a work situation he was dealing with. He’s a manager at an online retail company that is not too big but has grown over...
Many years ago, I began thinking about the subject of exceeding expectations. I would field phone calls from upset clients or listen to team members’...
Here’s the scenario: A homeowner looking to replace his roof solicits estimates from several roofing companies. The company he hires is the least expensive one...
Eighty percent of your success in business today and in the future will come from your business acumen — not your product or service knowledge. This is...
Building a brand is as essential to a business as building character is to a person. As with character, the process involves balancing nature and nurture,...
Kitchen remodels are always interesting as they encompass so many moving parts and different materials. Kitchens themselves are unique in that it’s the one...
Just because every year there’s always talks about Global Warming, the warmest winter in years, and the sweaty hot summer we just had doesn’t mean winter is...