Tools and Systems

In my previous two articles, I discussed how to grow a construction business by using the margin required for your business to determine your markup and tracking your labor costs using billing codes. In part 3 of this series for Fine Homebuilding.com, I outlined a method to analyze the data that…
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In my previous article, I discussed how to grow a construction business by using the margin required for your business to determine your markup. In part 2 of this series, I am going to show you a simple method to measure your labor. Labor is usually the largest cost for…
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Learning how to grow a construction business profitably and in a sustainable manner requires more than selling more work. In fact, doing more work could be limiting the growth of your construction business. The goal of many construction businesses is growth, but undisciplined growth will put you out of business…
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The Skills Gap – the lack of available skilled labor – is a real problem for every construction business in the United States. There simply aren’t enough people pursuing a career in the trades and obtaining the necessary skills needed to fill the vacancies created by the recession and an…
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CLICK BELOW TO WATCH A VIDEO TUTORIAL OF THIS POST. Learning how to estimate a residential construction project takes years of experience both in the field and in the office. For the construction business owner gaining the experience in the fieldwork is the fun part, and the office work is…
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Consuming books has become a passion of mine. I started developing a passion for books in 2016. In that post I set a goal of consuming 52 books in 2017. I failed. I only consumed 36 books in 2017, well short of my goal. But I still feel accomplished because…
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Developing a strategy for how to grow your construction business in the New Year requires planning. In fact, the act of planning is more important than the plan itself. The plans you make today are for a world that will change tomorrow. Knowing how to plan will ensure that you…
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Managing construction schedules is as much about disseminating information to your employees as it is communicating the progress of your construction projects to your customers. Communicating the construction schedule occurs organically between the construction business owner or project manager and the customer through day-to-day correspondence on-site or through digital means.…
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Designing a comprehensive construction contract is the best way to mitigate the risk to your construction business, protect yourself from legal disputes, and establish trust with your customers. There are many types of construction contracts that can achieve the goals listed above, and you should consult an attorney for the…
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Construction pricing can be a difficult thing master.  Developing a pricing strategy for your construction business is both an art and a science. The science part is knowing the numbers of your business, and the art is selling the value of your work to your customers. In this article on…
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