This Podcast Is Episode Number 472, And It's About Unconventional Ways To Market Your Construction Business   One of your greatest fears is wasting money on a less than good lead.   They may or may not have any genuine desire for services. Sometimes a person is committed to collecting three bids when they already have someone picked out to do the work. They may be looking for a "temporary friend" to do them a favor, or by the time you have completed the form, they have changed their mind and no longer want service. This is often the case when one spouse or partner wants the work done, and the other doesn't.   Sometimes you want to try something new when networking with other business owners. Here are some unconventional ways to grow your network and bring in new leads. 1. Collaborate with others in the industry You know your niche, so you know the questions about your industry. Collaborate with people who fit your ideal market. For example, you could create a newsletter where you ask people in your niche market questions about the industry, or you could send out a survey to your market to create a report about the state of the industry. Ask the people you want to work with if they'd be a speaker at an event you host.  The more people you speak with, the more your name will be seen as a leader in the type of construction industry you work in, so don't be afraid to reach out to people to share their insights.  2. Try a new social media platform You want to be where your customers are, but if you're looking to network with new people, you may want to try a new social media platform. Learn how to use the new platform–including any groups or communities you can be part of. If you've always used Facebook, give LinkedIn a try. Once you're on the new platform, look for leaders to connect with and share your content with a new audience. 3. Make videos Users are increasingly engaged by video content. It's personal, shows the human side of your business, and fosters relationship building. You don't have to spend much time or money creating video content. Using the camera on your smartphone, you can film yourself talking about your services and business or sharing insights. You can even record personal messages to go out to leads to get to know you better.  4. Attend industry events If you offer services to particular clients, look into whether you can attend conferences and trade shows. For instance, if your construction business focuses on tiny home building, find out if you can participate in networking events. Go to the events to get to know other people rather than sell your services. Ask lots of questions to get to know others and gain insights into the industry. 5. Host an event Ask what information is essential to your audience and host an event that addresses those pain points. A virtual event with a guest speaker and information relevant to the industry is excellent. Make sure you or someone from your construction business can speak and market your event to potential clients in the industry.  6. Become a resource Introduce people to each other and tell them why you think they should get to know each other. It may sound counterintuitive, but those on both sides of the introduction will remember you as helpful if you start referring people to others. Have a list of service providers you trust and your names to share with others. You can also share valuable content, guide people to the resources they need, and answer questions in your niche. Write a list of the service providers people in your niche typically need and have some names handy as referrals. These may include business lawyers, marketers, importers, various vendors, and construction accounting specialists. They'll all remember you for referring them.  Final thoughts Most homeowners have a real need before asking for a stranger to come. They are looking for any "Affinity" that makes you a safe choice. This is why people are...

Every day you make financial decisions about your company, which affect how successful and sustainable your construction business is. If you're responsible for the bookkeeping and all the paper management (bills, receipts, estimates, invoices), you could be making errors that affect your decisions. Because of an incorrect decimal place, you may think that you have more money in the bank than you do. Or you may not fully understand how a decision today affects your business tomorrow.   Keeping up with paperwork is a typical construction business timewaster we noticed in more than thirty years in the industry. Doing your books often winds up costing you more money in the end, not to mention the time and energy that goes into a task you despise or, at the very least, don't fully understand.    This is one area that many construction company owners hate to be part of but still choose to take responsibility for.   Here are some ways having a construction bookkeeper can solve your paperwork frustrations and free more of your time:   1. Financial Health   A bookkeeper keeps track of your company's financial health and can advise you on decisions that can help you grow your business. They can also warn you about pitfalls that could hurt your long-term growth.    Consider that you have a great month with a lot of money coming in, so there's extra cash in the bank account. You might be tempted to upgrade your equipment, but a bookkeeper can warn you that there are upcoming payments the money is earmarked for. They can help you determine the best time to purchase those tools, so you won't suddenly find yourself with a zero balance.   This information becomes even more critical if you're looking to undertake significant financial transactions, such as taking out a loan or purchasing a new truck. A bookkeeper can help you fully understand the financial ramifications of such a move.    2. Late Transactions    You might think a late bill payment doesn't affect your business, but the fees associated with late payments add up, and missing the wrong payment can affect your company's credit. That may make it more challenging to get a business loan or credit card.    Worse, you could miss important transactions in one month that have ramifications for your business the next month or later on. By absent-mindedly skipping a payment in May, you may think you have extra money that gets spent—until you notice you have to double up on payment in June.    Construction Bookkeepers stay on top of your financial transactions and understand how every transaction affects your business. They can help determine the optimal time to pay debts and let you know if clients are behind on payments.    The information and insight a bookkeeper provides can go a long way to helping you make intelligent business decisions. Not having a bookkeeper adds unnecessary work to your load; it increases your stress and increases the chances of errors.    3. Tax Compliance   On top of all that, bookkeepers also stay aware of changing laws to ensure your company is compliant with payroll and tax laws and any other financial rules and regulations that affect your business.      With all the negatives to doing the bookkeeping yourself, why wouldn't you hire a bookkeeper so you can focus on growing your business?    Final thoughts   What to save? What to toss out? At Fast Easy Accounting, we no longer need to print and save every document in file folders and keep adding new file cabinets. Our paperwork processes ensure your happiness and peace of mind knowing that your papers can be retrieved electronically at any time in the future.   Remember, if you are sick and tired of doing administrative tasks such as handling your documents, we are here to remove your paperwork frustrations. Although a 100% paperless office is not the complete...

This Podcast Is Episode Number 470, And It's About How To Balance Profit Centers And Cost Centers In Your Construction Company Success in operating a profitable construction business is all about maintaining the proper balance of control over both The Profit Centers and The Cost Centers. If either one gets too powerful and is allowed to run your construction company, it can cause more damage than good.   The definition of a Non-Profit Construction Company is one that tries to fix its weaknesses and continues making the same mistakes repeatedly, expecting a different result and continues to struggle until the owner lays down and dies from over-work and exhaustion.   A Highly Profitable Construction Company builds on its strengths and core competencies and continues innovating, growing, and responding to changes in its environment.    It's Not Rocket Science; It's A Lot Harder Than That! Profit Centers Most construction companies earn most of their profits from less than four different project types or Profit Centers. Residential Remodel Contractors Have Four Main Profit Centers: Kitchen Remodels Bath Remodels Additions Whole House Remodels Commercial Tenant Improvement Contractors Have Three Main Profit Centers: Commercial Service Work New Installation Whole Space Remodel Service And Repair Contractors Have Three Main Profit Centers: Service Work New Installation Remove And Replace New House Builders Have Two Main Profit Centers: Spec Homes Custom Homes Every construction company has strengths and weaknesses, which means there are particular types of projects they consistently earn lots of money. And there are some types of projects that they always lose lots of money doing. The answer is found in that gold mine called  and . These reports provide you with a treasure map to see which profit centers your particular construction company makes the most money in and which ones you lose the most. Do more of the ones that make you money and fewer of the ones you lose money on. I will give you a hint; you may not like it, you may stop reading and leave angry; In most of the research we have done for our construction clients, we have discovered the concept of  applies not just to whom you spend time with but to who refers jobs to you! Cost Centers They all share the same three Cost Centers,  Marketing Is The Number One Cost Center One current client or customer is worth more than all of your prospects combined. All contractors need existing customers and new ones to survive and thrive. The  can guide your marketing dollars where they will do the most good. Understand and document your target market demographic and psychographic profile. Focus 100% of your marketing on your target market and forget everyone else. Identify the top 20% of your customers that generally generate 80% of your net profit.  Identify the top 20% of the goods or services you sell 80% of your revenue. A good rule of thumb to grow sales is to budget 5% to 10% of gross sales on marketing. Anything less is like winking at a pretty girl without her knowing you are doing it. Relying 100% on word of mouth and referrals keeps contractors poor and broke. Accounting Is The Number Two Cost Center Successful, highly paid contractors understand and use reliable  and  to know: Which jobs they are equipped to do and make a handsome profit on because it is one of their primary to bid on and pursue Usually, contractors who understand this concept earn the bulk of the profits in the construction industry. For what it is worth, "There is a Hall of Justice; however, there is no Hall of Fairness." Production is the number three Cost Center This is where all your hard work pays off. At this point, you have some basic operation manuals in place for your field and office employees. It is the document that answers the same questions you will be...

This Podcast Is Episode Number 466, And It's About Five Effective Ways To Find New Construction Clients If you want your business to continue growing and thriving, you'll need to find ways to bring in new clients.   Before the internet was commercially available, there were just as many experts advising contractors about the layout and design of yellow page ads and which books to spend money on. I say spend money because that is what it was and is now.   Many of us who owned and operated construction companies spent thousands of dollars on these experts and, based on their recommendations, spent tens of thousands of dollars annually in full-page yellow page ads as close to the first position as possible.   Nowadays, instead of yellow pages people, I see many well-intentioned people with their minds and hearts in the right place that have a lot of really great ideas on what works and fails in social media. I certainly don't know what works for every contractor; however, I know that every construction company is unique, and what works for your competitor may not work for you. Spending money is easy; investing money takes work. Here are five ways you can find new clients for your construction business.  1. Set aside time for marketing Regardless of whether marketing is your preferred activity, you need to set aside time for it. It's easy to put marketing at the bottom of your priority list, but it makes it more difficult for you to bring in new clients. If you set aside a certain amount of time every week, or even every day–ideally at around the same time or week–you'll be more consistent and successful with your efforts.  Have a list of marketing goals, such as "post three times on social media this week" or "write two blog posts this month," and spend your time working towards those goals.  2. Ask your clients for referrals Get comfortable asking your happy customers for referrals. Your happy clients are a fantastic source of new leads. They're satisfied with your work, and they can tell their friends and colleagues about how you helped them.  You can do so face-to-face, for example, at a meeting where you've just given them great news or a fantastic outcome, through email using a pre-written template that talks about how much you enjoy working with them and how you want more clients like them, or on social media, where you put out a general call to your happy followers to share your business with others.  3. Join social media groups Many social media networks enable groups where you can talk to people in your communities. Although you can use the group to pitch your services and directly ask for leads, a better method is to use the forums to educate people and highlight your expertise without selling. People will begin to look to you when they want advice and insights and ultimately turn to you when they need your services.  4. Genuinely get to know people Sometimes the best way to get a client is simply by talking to new people. Make it a habit of being curious about the people around you. Ask them questions to get to know them, rather than selling to them. Learn about their passions, pain points, and the things they need help with. Then assist them. Showing genuine interest in others makes them feel valued, builds your relationship, and fosters trust. From there, it's easy for them to decide to work with you.  5. Form a partnership It doesn't have to be a formal business partnership, but reach out to businesses in complementary industries to suggest a referral relationship in which you refer relevant clients to each other. You could also agree to partner up on specific projects. For example, a kitchen remodeler and a flooring contractor could refer clients to each other or work together on projects requiring both skills.  Final thoughts  New clients are vital for growing your business. By being strategic, purposeful, and genuine, you can easily find...

This Podcast Is Episode Number 468, And It's About Processes To Increase Production And Reduce Injuries At The Job Site 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. The system is the solution. Being process dependent, not people dependent, means investing the time and energy to plan your construction projects so that everybody understands what is expected of them.  Microsoft Project is a wonderful tool, and if all you use is 10% of it, just the Gantt chart for scheduling and resource allocation, it cannot help but make you money and save time. Real-life example: Our main office is a two-story building we purchased at auction for the right price. It was in terrible shape, having been foreclosed on, and appeared to have several years of deferred maintenance. The entire electrical and HVAC systems had to be replaced, with most of the plumbing ripped out or leaking—parts of the foundation and supporting beams and columns needed massive repairs. And there were several tons of debris everywhere inside and outside the building. We invested over one hundred hours putting together a commercial remodeling project plan which included all new phone lines, data cabling, and an alarm system. The project plan was detailed and broken down into phases with schedules for material deliveries, debris removal, and skilled trades that would be complete in less than thirty days, including all the building permits and final inspection. We hired our contractor clients to handle most of the work, and Randal was the project manager. At the kickoff meeting, nobody could understand how it could get done in that time frame; however, at one time or another, they all had private strategy sessions with him, which included custom  action plans for part or all of their construction company. In every case, the number of his recommendations they implemented was highly successful. This means they increased profits and cash flow by making or saving money. Remove choice at the operational level. There was a mix of laborers - apprentices, and journeymen, and because it was all orchestrated with a 4' X 6' white dry erase board that we regularly updated with the people's names, tasks they were to perform, and location. Everyone knew exactly what was expected of them; they had the tools and equipment, we had to rent some of them, and the material arrived just in time. The entire project turned into a learning experience for most contractors involved because they saw our project management and construction accounting methods come to life before their very eyes. To be clear, it just so happens we are an inch wide and a mile deep in a few areas. Outside our areas of expertise, we are worse off than an apprentice with delusions of adequacy. In all our construction companies (including our office building project), we also used a process to encourage innovation and optimize production.   Morning Meeting - We provided light snacks, pastries, fruit, bottled water, juice, coffee, and tea. We begin with the legal requirements and end with a sheet of paper listing the goals for the day for EACH Person, which the superintendent/foreman/lead person, whatever title you use,...

This Podcast Is Episode Number 467, And It's About Four Key Areas To Evaluate In Your Construction Business Budget With the potential for business life to return to something resembling normal, it's good to look at your budget and see where you may need to shift some of your priorities. Pay attention to how your spending over the past few years affected your business and either helped you achieve or took you away from your overall goals.    Considering how your business and your employees functioned in recent years can help you predict upcoming trends, enabling you to plan for adjustments.    There is no better time to reflect and think seriously about your construction business. Excellent organization systems add considerable value to any business because they allow you to spend more time working on your business rather than on it.   Here are some key areas to evaluate in your budget to determine whether you need to spend more or less in these areas.  1. Technology This is possibly the business area with the most room for growth–and the most evidence that adoption is needed. Technology has made it possible for your office employees to work remotely, for you to provide consultation services virtually, and for you to stay connected with your team while working from the job site. If your business is enabling remote work, you'll need to ensure you've got the proper systems and equipment, such as document storage, redundancies, cybersecurity, and anything else the law might require.  Make sure everyone on your team has access to the equipment they'll need and knows how to use it.  There's no question that these apps and software platforms can make business owners' lives easier. Most business owners didn't start their business to be surrounded by paperwork and endless record-keeping tasks. Choosing a platform that meets your company's needs will free up time and energy to focus on what you love to do.  2. Human resources With virtual work comes access to employees from across the globe. Geography is no longer a barrier to hiring skilled employees, at least not in companies that use remote work.  Having teams from across your country and around the globe is an incredible opportunity. Make sure you've invested resources in understanding the various rules and regulations they're governed by. They likely have different laws regarding payroll requirements and benefits plans. There may even be rules about how you can hire and fire employees.  Make sure you understand whose employment laws govern the work they're doing for you, and then be sure you take the necessary steps to follow those laws.  (For instance, contractors who outsource their marketing to remote employees) 3. Automated systems There are many activities involved in running your own business. Some need your time and attention. Others can be shifted to automated systems, freeing you for more vital tasks.  Take a look at the activities you regularly carry out. Even those that only take a few minutes a day add up over a year, and chances are they can be automated.  Online invoicing systems make it easy to send invoices and follow up with people who haven't paid you, all with the click of a button. Customer Relationship Management software (CRM) enables you to track leads as they move through your sales funnel and become your customers. Project management software lets you manage your projects from your smartphone, no matter where the job site is.  Most of these automated systems also produce comprehensive reports so you can gain valuable insights into your business processes. I am all about automation. Managed automation is when transactions go where I expect them to go.  Choosing the individual third-party software is always best based on the benefits. You are not getting it because it links with this but does not do what you need. I always suggest determining if the app Is helpful as a...

This Podcast Is Episode Number 466, And It's About Delight Your Online Prospects - Converting Visitors Into Clients Businesses are increasingly moving online to expand their reach and provide the best possible experience to their customers. Being online, however, means more competition, so business owners must come up with ways to amp up their game to gain a more significant market share.    You won't build a loyal client base if you can't earn your visitors' trust, so companies value social proof so highly. But proving your construction business's value online takes a unique skill set, one you can nurture by learning from the marketing industry professionals.   Great news for construction business owners like you since you're hyper-local and offer your services based on your location, which means you can target your online audience and optimize for better search engine results.   Connect with your prospective clients and "wow" them even before they reach out to you by implementing these strategies: 1. Put the buyer's journey at the forefront The buyer's journey refers to your customers' path when they hire your services from your website. Your responsibility is to focus on the buyer's journey and give them a straightforward approach to navigating. The homepage is the face of your business online, so be sure you make a positive first impression. By looking at the homepage, it should already be clear to your customers what services you're offering. This is also your first opportunity to show why your business stands out.  Aside from making your website easy to navigate, you should also ensure mobile-friendliness to meet the needs of homeowners that increasingly want to call or message you quickly from their smartphones.  Set clear expectations, such as using a "Start Now" button if there are a few steps to take or a "Schedule Now" button that implies immediacy. Randal once talked about  and how taking care of your clients is essential not just for acquisition but also for sustainability. After all, it is easier to maintain a client than to gain a new one. 2. Make the process easy Customers love a convenient experience. A simple process makes it easier for them to keep saying "yes" and gives them fewer reasons to abandon the form when inquiring. To make more sales, it's imperative to make it easy for your prospects to navigate your site and reach their goal. Ensure that the hiring process is as streamlined and smooth as possible. Ensure all links work on your site, and all service descriptions are accurate and up-to-date. If possible, have a one-click option available so people in a hurry can make a purchase quickly and easily.  If you offer services that encourage repeat purchases, have an option for your customers to repurchase the same service easily, either through a subscription or a "buy again" button. Empathize with your client when addressing their needs. Make their experience fast and easy when reaching out to you. 3. Get reviews Reviews are the most obvious form of social proof. Not only do visitors look for them to gauge a product's value, including websites, but they also value sharing their opinion. For example, a service-based business website that only showcases before and after photos will have weaker social proof than one that lets clients submit their reviews, even if no one has yet. Reviews come in many forms. Lists count, and so do likes and dislikes on media websites. While you can ask others for reviews, this will annoy some people, making it easy to find and review your site is usually a better option. 4. Integrate the right apps into your business As technology evolves, more and more apps are being developed to automate and streamline processes. To scale and grow your website effectively, it is essential to have the right tech. Xero is a leading cloud-based accounting software that can help ease your accounting burden and save time working on your books....

Contractors who ask for help in Cleaning Up their QuickBooks Files before filing taxes have better results than those that do not. The Tax Accountant is happier because the QuickBooks file is clean and easier to work with. They will likely find more deductions that can save you money and, in some cases, mean the difference between success and failure in your construction company. Because the QuickBooks file is clean, the Tax Accountant will have fewer questions for you. Because the QuickBooks file is clean, the Tax Accountant can easily find the reports needed to file your tax return. Because the QuickBooks file is clean, the Tax Accountant can focus on saving you money. You are the Happiest because taking a trip to the Dentist for many contractors is less painful than going to the Tax Accountant. Once a Tax Accountant is "Broke In," you hate to change them. It shouldn't have to be that way. Like a new pair of shoes – All is well and a Happier Experience, once the Tax Accountant and The Contractor understand the needs and expectations of the other. Bad Experiences Just Spiral Down Tax Accountant does not want to see a Box of Receipts, Twelve Bank Statements and a see you later; call me when it's done. You reply, "I wanted my refund yesterday." It Is Tax Time, And The Tax Accountant Gets To Choose What Client To Work On Next The condition of your Financial Statements (or lack of Financial Statements) may put you at the bottom of the pile. From time to time, Tax Accountants will find paperwork or a QuickBooks file in such awful condition that they refuse to do the taxes until changes have been made. Contractors who are serious about their business need to be actively involved. A little bit of effort goes a long way to document that their company "Is A Business" and not "A Hobby." A Good Start Is An Accounting System Based On Construction Accounting Next is keeping all the receipts. Pay all expenses by check, debit card, or credit card. Creating Customer Invoices. Putting all the Income into the Bank. The Thought That "Anybody Can Do It" Is Not Quite Right Contractors need people who specialize and understand Construction Accounting. With all of the taxes and reports due, a bookkeeping specialist should be someone who knows what they are doing. Most Bookkeepers specialize in an area. Restaurants, Medical, and Construction all need bookkeepers. Just not the same Bookkeeper. Several General Bookkeepers have recently called saying they are the "New Bookkeeper" and are asking for help because they know the QuickBooks file is messy. The question is: Can we help you or your Bookkeeper? Short Answer – Yes, We Can Help! Bookkeepers want help in setting up a New QuickBooks file Bookkeepers want help cleaning up the mess of the previous Bookkeeper. Bookkeepers want Training on What To Do After the QuickBooks file is cleanup Provide a One-Hour Consultation and Free Review of Your Existing QuickBooks File. We recommend you have someone review your financial statements before going to the Tax Accountant. Remember, this is the busiest time for Tax Accountants. They do not have the time or the energy to look over all your transactions. Tax Accountants look for high-level numbers and what they can quickly move to fill out the tax return. Good Idea to clean up the QuickBooks file before visiting your Tax Accountant or banker.  Tax Accountants Are Paid To Fill Out Tax Returns Not Save You Money Or Be Your Mentor We Are Paid To Do Your Contractor Bookkeeping And Be Your Profit And Growth Mentor What about this? What about that? Who owes you money? Who do you owe money to? Do you know your Customers? Do you know your Net Income? Do you know your Gross Income? Are your vehicle loans in QuickBooks? Have all of your bank accounts been reconciled? Have all of your credit card accounts been reconciled? Construction Bookkeeping Is Answering The "What About" Questions Sooner Rather Than Later Or Not At All Without the details...

This Podcast Is Episode Number 464, And It's About Solutions To Reduce Debtor Days For Construction Business Owners   Steady, reliable cash flow is crucial for the survival of your construction business – so taking steps to ensure your customers pay promptly is a key priority.   Debtor days refer to the length of time it takes clients, on average, to pay you for the work you've done. A higher number of debtor days means clients take longer to pay you. A lower number of debtor days means clients take less time to pay you, which means there's more cash available for your business to use.    In the construction industry, debtor days can average as long as almost three months. Shortening that length can have a significant impact on your cash flow.   When your clients consistently pay on time, you'll avoid the dreaded "feast or famine" cycle. You'll be able to pay your vendors, suppliers, and employees on time, and, not least of all, yourself. Additionally, if clients start taking too long to pay you, you may leave money on the table in exchange for collecting anything at all.  Implement these nine tips to get paid without delay. 1. Provide payment terms upfront Before working with any new client, always provide your terms in writing. Clearly state your rates, due payment dates, and your policies regarding late payments – including any fees you'll charge on balances owing. Make sure your client signs the agreement indicating that they are aware of your terms and conditions. Don't work with any client who refuses to sign.  2. Understand your client's payment process Large clients may have lengthy payment processes that require invoice verification. They may also receive dozens, or even hundreds, of invoices regularly. As a result, their policy may be to pay invoices only on certain days or only after so many days have passed from receiving the invoice. If possible, submit your invoices with their payment cycle in mind. If they only pay on the 15 of the month, get your invoice in before that date so that you can get paid this month instead of following. Make sure your invoices have all the information your client needs to quickly and efficiently verify your invoice. Have a checklist of all the information to include so they can approve it without coming back to you with questions.  3. Invoice immediately Invoice as quickly as you can. Every day you wait to send an invoice is another day you'll wait to be paid. If your invoice is on completion of a project, have your invoice ready to go by the final day so that you can send it right away. If you're currently preparing your invoices manually, switch to an accounting system with automated billing. You'll never forget to invoice a client, and you'll eliminate errors. You'll also be able to see when the invoice was sent, whom it was sent to, and when they viewed the invoice.   4. Follow up on invoices Send an invoice reminder before payment is due. People forget about their invoices, or invoices get misplaced, and a simple reminder can go a long way to helping clients remember. Call your customer immediately when a payment is past due. Ask for the invoice status and anything you can do to speed up payment. Sometimes a simple change, like including a purchase order number on the invoice, can speed up processing times. 5. Reward early payers Consider offering clients a 2% discount when they pay their invoice within ten days. In this scenario, a $1000 invoice would be reduced to $980 – not a massive loss for you, but an attractive cash-saving incentive for your customers. It can be worth it if it frees up cash for your business.  6. Charge interest As part of your terms, specify that if a client's payment is past due, a weekly fee of 2% will be added to the total until funds are received in full. If the client goes past due, charge them interest. 7. Get paid upfront In our past construction business, one of our fail-proof...

This Podcast Is Episode Number 463, And It's About Best Construction Employee Retention Secrets Revealed Most construction workers are good decent people who enjoy working with their hands making, building, repairing, remodeling, and fixing homes and commercial buildings.   Good construction workers will not tolerate chaos or unfair labor practices. They will try out many construction companies until they find a contractor with a system. Preferably with documented processes and procedures.   Desirable construction workers have these five traits in common: High Self Esteem Strong Work Ethic Always Learning Loyal To Family And Friends Law Abiding Citizen 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 to increase 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 construction workers who feel valued are more motivated and productive.  Here are some ways to keep your staff happy that don't rely on higher salaries: Offer flexible work arrangements Not everyone wants or can work a regular Monday to Friday from 9 to 5. Some people have family priorities or other commitments that keep them busy during normal business hours. If it makes sense for your construction business, consider flexible work arrangements for office staff, such as compressed workweeks (longer days in exchange for more days off), varied start and end times, or job-sharing arrangements. Remote work is another option that employees may want to take advantage of.  Not only will your in-office employees appreciate flexible work arrangements, your customers and clients may also benefit from your business having increased availability.  Pay for professional development Good construction workers want to improve their skills and grow professionally. Often, other priorities get in the way of upgrading skills. Paying for professional development, for example, having a fund people can access or bringing in experts to run workshops, shows your staff you care enough to invest in them. Meanwhile, your business benefits by having staff trained on the newest procedures and technologies.  Encourage work-life balance Employees want a fulfilling life, but it isn't easy to balance work life and home life. Having an employer that encourages a work-life balance makes it more accessible. Avoid messaging (texting, phoning, or emailing) employees after work hours and clarify that people enjoy their personal time. Encourage employees to take their sick leave and use their vacation days. Be a role model by striving for work-life balance yourself.  Be transparent Being open and honest with your workers fosters a sense of trust and belonging among your staff. Have regular meetings where you discuss your organization's goals, strengths, and challenges and receive input and feedback from your team. This encourages engagement and shows your workers that their perspective is valuable.  Having a set of values that applies to your staff Sometimes organizations create noble values that they apply to their customers, but they don't use them to their workers. Employees see clients and customers being treated well but wonder why those same values don't apply to them. Create a set of values that applies to your staff. Set out how you want your team to feel. Do you want them to feel valued? Supported? What does that look like in your organization? Ask your staff what they need It's challenging to come up with solutions that everyone will find meaningful. Ask your staff what would be valuable to them–and what would make them happy enough to stay. For example, they may be pleased with additional vacation days or more banked sick time. Listen...