There are many educational paths to working in construction, and apprenticeships can be a popular one. The concept of the apprentice is hundreds of years old, presuming that people who wanted to take up a particular trade would study under an expert for years. At the satisfactory conclusion of the apprenticeship, the apprentice would have … Read more
When property owners look for a contractor for a project, they are often searching for the lowest price. So it’s not entirely surprising that, on occasion, you might interact with a property owner or a contractor who reveals another contractor’s bid in an effort to get you to lower yours. This concept is known as … Read more
When you start researching the various things you need to start a contracting business, you might be surprised by the simplicity. In fact, you don’t need a degree in business or years of experience handling money to get started. But there are a few things that you should make sure you’ve done before you open. … Read more
Marketing is one of the best ways that customers can find you. But if you’re not investing time into it, you might find that you’re not getting a very good return. It’s tempting to set up your marketing and hope it will run by itself, but without occasional changes, sometimes you get stuck in a … Read more
On a regular basis, you may need to work with other professionals who aren’t clients, employees, or subcontractors. For example, you may need an inspector to provide approval before you can move on to the next stage of construction. These interactions can be simple and quick, but sometimes they’re full of conflict. The good news … Read more
When you’re getting ready to take the contractor licensing exam, you may wonder if it makes sense to sign up for expert preparation for the test. It’s tempting to think you can save the money, but you could be making a big mistake if you do. Test preparation is more than simply reviewing concepts. It … Read more
Studying as an adult can be a lot trickier than it was when you were a kid. You’ve probably got a full-time job, and you may have other family obligations too. All that adds up to a day that is often more full than you think. And yet, you can still find opportunities to study. … Read more
One of the reasons people like small businesses is that they are unique. There’s a lot of opportunities to provide a one-of-a-kind service, when you own a small business. Of course, there’s a lot of unpredictability or inconsistency that can happen with small businesses, and it isn’t always a good thing. If you do these … Read more
When you think about starting a contracting business, it’s tempting to consider involving family and friends in the endeavor. After all, you know them and they know you. If you have a pretty good idea of their work ethic and what to expect, it can be a great partnership. It might also not work out … Read more
The longer you work in the construction industry, the more you’ll understand the changes in supply pricing. Periodically, you’ll notice a steep rise in the cost of steel, lumber or other materials you need on a regular basis. At times, you’ll need to consider raising your own prices. Here are a few factors to remember … Read more