By Matt Stock
Fundamental to running a successful business is determining its path for growth and enrichment. Companies that rest on their laurels and remain stagnant for too long eventually erode and die. But, there’s no wisdom in growth just for the sake of growth. When are the best times to expand? Which risks are calculated versus careless? How soon should you expect to see a return on your investment?
Here are some things to consider and address before growing a business.
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Construction Today safety columnist Joshua Estrin is conducting a survey regarding the future of construction safety.
The short surveys, below, are completely anonymous and will allow you to share your expertise and insights by answering questions that will take no more than 10 to 15 minutes to complete. We encourage you to take ALL the surveys that apply.
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By Jim Salters
As the new year kicks off, most construction companies are laying out plans for the months ahead. While planning, it’s important to consider whether the company will need an injection of capital at some point throughout the year. This may serve to fulfill a budgeted need, but there should also be room for unexpected costs like hiring on staff when you suddenly land a new contract.
Taking some time to prepare for the search for capital can provide the flexibility and agility needed to act quickly and stay on the path towards growth. Here are a few key areas to consider:
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By John Rosmalen
Finding the right workers’ compensation insurance at an affordable price is a challenge for every general contractor. It is an especially difficult dilemma for independents in the trades and services industry. As independents, they are by and large subcontractors, and in many cases, one-person bands who are not obligated to maintain coverage. They are considered owners and operators because of their independence, which is why general contractor (GC) do not have to include them in their company’s workers’ comp coverage.
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By Roy Rasmussen
62 percent of homeowners planned to spend money on renovation in 2016, up 9 percent from 2015. This trend is projected to continue into this year. But renovation isn’t for everyone, and homeowners and prospective buyers often struggle with whether to renovate, build from scratch or buy the house of their dreams outright. If you’re a construction professional, part of your job is helping clients make this decision. Here are some factors to consider when clients are deciding to renovate, build or buy.
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By Joseph Truini
One of the very first — and most important — skills learned by construction professionals is how to use a portable circular saw. It’s a critical skill to master because workers rely heavily on the circular saw for making quick, accurate cuts during all phases of construction, from forming the foundation to framing the roof. While most contractors are circular saw experts, there’s always something new to learn and pass along to the next generation of construction professionals.
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By Michael J. Vardaro
As we embark on 2017, three trends in the construction industry will undoubtedly shape the industry. All eyes are turned to the impact of the President-elect’s infrastructure mandate and to what extent it will dominate the early part of his administration. This country’s infrastructure inventory is in dire need of work; how and when that work gets done remains to be seen. In addition, offsite construction technology and the design/build project delivery method will continue to transform projects.
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Figure 1: Acquisition, Development, and Construction Loan Growth, Bank Failures, and Deposit Insurance Fund Losses by Region. (Source: United States Office of Inspector General 2012, pg. 6).
By Andrew Sutherland
Lax mortgage lending by banks has long been recognized as a major cause of the financial crisis. But banks played another, lesser-known role in the crisis. In much the same way that banks failed to verify the creditworthiness of people buying homes, banks also neglected to verify financial qualifications of those building homes — developers, contractors and other firms in the construction industry.
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By Elan Parra
Managing potential fraud is a fact of life in many industries, but it’s especially true in construction. While the good guys far outnumber the bad, if you own or manage a construction business, it’s likely that you will encounter fraud at some point eventually. When it happens, having a few simple measures in place can save your company from irreparable damage.
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By T. Michael Toole
For the first time, the United States has a President-Elect who has not only pledged to invest substantially in infrastructure, but also has a professional background that includes overseeing the financing, design and construction of large building projects. Also noteworthy is the fact that Mr. Trump was elected in part by working class people who feel their needs have not been fully considered in recent years.
There is now a unique opportunity for our new Developer-in-Chief to ensure that the greatly needed renovation and enhancement of our nation’s infrastructure does not occur at the expense of the safety and health of our nation’s six million construction workers. To do this, the President-Elect can promote Design for Construction Safety.
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