Tag: 2008 February Issue
These items have all been tagged with the tag "2008 February Issue", You can see other tags in the Tag CloudConstruction Business Owner, February 2008
Editor’s Note: This is the second of three articles on practical, cost-effective, green building techniques by Jeff Binder of greenbuildingblocks.com.
The latest trend in green building is multifamily. The whole idea has gone from straw-bale houses for kooky individualists to condo developments and entire master communities for mainstream Americans who may never think about sustainability.
Construction Business Owner, February 2008
One measure of success (there are many measures both financial and non-financial) is how well you do relative to others. If you are in the top 5 percent of the field being measured in a positive statistic, by any metric, then you are considered best of class. In order for contractors to be considered best of class, they must put the right technology to work in their business.
Construction Business Owner, February 2008
Every business owner knows that feeling like no other: You’ve just landed new business, and it’s difficult not to boast a little about your company’s rising profits. But when was the last time you—or any business owner you know—boasted about cash flow? Healthy cash flow doesn’t exactly come with the same bragging rights as new business, and very few friends will be inclined to raise a glass to your business’s cash-flow situation, but keeping cash moving through your business is just as critical to success as new business and strong profits.Construction Business Owner, February 2008
Asset management is an important issue for today’s construction professionals. Owners may want to upgrade backhoes, trenchers, skid-steer loaders and other equipment after 5 to 10 years of service. Even with items that remain productive longer, it’s important to find a valuable sales channel when equipment reaches the end of profitable use. Traditionally, equipment owners have had limited options when it comes to selling used equipment: trading it in to a dealer or listing it in the classifieds.
Construction Business Owner, February 2008
The high cost of gasoline, conflicting information about new alternative fuels and the increasing availability of hybrids are all issues generating significant interest among contractors wondering how this impacts their companies’ fleets. Although some changes have been mandated—such as the new EPA requirement that all diesel engines be equipped with diesel particulate filters, revised catalytic converters and EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) valves to comply with limits for ultra low diesel soot emission limits—the vast majority of alternatives are completely optional.Construction Business Owner, February 2008
For most construction companies, the recruiting and hiring process is ongoing. The fact that there is a shortage of qualified people in the construction industry should not be a surprise to anyone. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the construction industry will grow at an average 11.4 percent between 2004 and 2014, with almost one million new jobs created within that period.Construction Business Owner, February 2008
Construction employers face a more difficult compliance task today than ever before. This is because the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began enforcing immigration law in the interior in the spring of 2006.
Construction Business Owner, February 2008
Editor’s Note: Following is the first part of our ten-part series called, “Accounting Software Checkup: 10 Ailments That Can Hinder a Health Bottom Line,” by Fred Ode, CEO, chairman and founder of Foundation Software. Each “ailment” will be discussed in detail to help you determine if your seemingly healthy business has an underlying problem.
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But not everyone takes the time for routine annual exams. Busy with day-to-day activities and demands, we tend to take our health for granted—until we experience some symptoms of disease or illness.
Construction Business Owner, February 2008
Editor’s Note: This is the second in our 2008 series of “Get Your Business to Work,” written by our regular columnist George Hedley.
Imagine you want to build your dream vacation lakefront home. You own the perfect two-acre waterfront lot free and clear. You have plenty of money saved in the bank for construction. You’ve selected a great architect and excellent contractor. You are ready to start the building process. At your first development team meeting, you’re asked the “big” questions: “What do you want? What would make this house perfect for you and your family?” But you aren’t sure exactly what you want just yet. You can’t envision the finished house at this early stage. You figure you’ll get started and see where the project goes.
