Blog

How Freezing Pipes Lead to Better Customer Relations

Two men shaking hands in front of a window as they finalize their agreement for a contractor license.

As a contractor working with residential customers, it’s important to keep relationships at least marginally alive, even after the work is done. Most of the time, this is accomplished with newsletters or mailers showcasing recent or current projects. The idea is to keep your company name high in your previous customer’s mind in case they need more work or, more …
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The Perks Of PERC

A licensed plumber fixing a sink in a bathroom.

In 2009, a group was formed to provide research on plumbing and flow efficiency in drainage and waste systems. This group consisted of members from five major organizations including: The Alliance for Water Efficiency, the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, the International Code Council, the Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors, and the Plumbing Manufacturers Institute. Moving forward with the …
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Now Youtube, Now Youdon’t

A man with a contractor license working with tools on a wooden table.

It’s hard to travel through the extensive land of Youtube without running across 2.5 tons of DIY projects that the average schlub films in his backyard. The viewer gets to watch the maker goof a few times here and there before finally turning out a project that almost looks decent. Rarely are there videos for the DIYourselfer that show how …
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Top Three Reasons To Stay on OSHA’s Good Side

A sign that says danger hard hat area on a chain link fence, indicating the need for caution in an area where only individuals with a contractor license are allowed.

In one of his Dirty Job’s episodes, host and itinerant worker Mike Rowe featured a collage of episode snippets that prompted the eventual Dirty Job’s motto of “Safety Third”. He went on to explain that the motto was not intended to mean that safety should be relegated to a lesser importance than anything else, but that it should always be …
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Advertising Your Construction Business

The sun is shining on a mountain covered in snow.

It may seem absurd to advertise for winterizing services in the middle of September. After all, the cold months are well…months away. Why spend your advertising dollars now on a service that won’t be utilized for almost a quarter of a year away? For the same reason that Wal-mart and Target start putting up Christmas decorations in September or Valentine’s …
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Your Realtor Connection

Two businessmen with contractor license shaking hands at a desk.

Many contractors, while searching the local area for new business tend to overlook a rather large market that is capable of generating on-going business for years: Realtors. The vast majority of preowned houses that enter the market require some sort of upgrade or repair. While some may be minor fixes such as a new walkway from the driveway to the …
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Should I Specialize?

A licensed contractor working on an electrical panel.

Although many don’t realize it, the second most common question in any professional’s mind(right after, ”Should I get into this business”) is, “Should I specialize?” Granted, it doesn’t pop into someone’s head that way, but most, at some point when they are starting out wonder if there is an area that they want to focus on or a group that …
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Keeping Up with Local Politics

A group of contractor license workers working on a blueprint.

You are now a Licensed Contractor! Congratulations! You put a lot of time and effort into getting here. Are you putting the same effort into making sure that you stay here? Many contractors don’t and end up losing their license or getting trapped in ruinous legal situations because they made a simple mistake. They refused to stay aware of the …
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Equipment: New vs Used

A group of yellow backhoes parked in a parking lot used by contractors.
Any contractor, whether they have been in business for years or just starting out needs equipment, machinery, and tools but where to get them? Shovels, hammers, and most hand tools can come from a local hardware store. Large machinery, on the other hand, is a little more problematic with more factors to consider. The biggest of which is: new or …
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Evaluating Your Suppliers

Two construction workers with contractor licenses shaking hands in front of a pile of pipes.
Materials are a huge part of your contracting business. Without them, you can’t build. They are also a huge cost to your business and, even with a little markup to pay for them, you still want to find them at a low cost with sacrificing quality. Many contractors find a reputable supplier and stick with them for many years. This …
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5 Best Ways to Prep for the State Exam

A man with a contractor license is working on his laptop at home.
Do you remember back in high school and college when a test was rolling around? Did you study? Did you cram? What about cheat sheets? Everyone has a method for preparing for an exam, even if they don’t know what it is. However, by not only being aware of your favorite techniques, but also enhancing them, you can fly through …
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Top 3 Reasons for “In-house” Employee Development

A group of construction workers with a contractor license holding a clipboard.
Many construction employees start out as entry level labor or as journeyman/ apprentice trade school graduates. As time goes on, they develop their skills either through on-the-job training or by paying for continuing education themselves. While these are both great options for career advancement, you as a contractor and business owner, can benefit by being a benefit to your employee’s …
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Thinking like a client

A man, wearing a hard hat and holding a contractor license, is pointing at a brick building.
One of the most frustrating things for a potential client is to be talked down to or to have something described in a terminology that he or she doesn’t understand. Most often, the client will lose interest in the contractor or even the project itself. It’s tempting, after months to years of training, to want to show the client that …
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Top 5 reasons to treat your business plan like a blueprint

A person utilizing a pen and contractor license to draw on a piece of paper.
A business plan(BP) is arguably the most important part of any company’s success, yet so many contractors treat theirs as though it was leveling out a wobbly desk. Without a solid, clear, actionable business plan, a company has little idea where to start building its future let alone how to take further steps once it begins. However, when a business …
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Why You Can’t Skimp on Quality

A man and woman wearing hard hats are inspecting blueprints as part of their contractor work.
Because the team of CSLS instructors is made up of experienced industry professionals, we try to sprinkle in a lot of practical advice about working in the California construction industry along with our exam prep lessons. One piece of advice that each student will hear at least a few times is “don’t cut corners with your contracting business.” In every …
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Managing your Reputation to Get More Contracting Business

Two men with a contractor license shaking hands in front of a construction site.
If you have only recently started your contracting career, or even if you have been at it for years, one of the most important struggles within the construction industry is managing your reputation. Finding ways to drum up business and acquire new clients can be more difficult at the start, when your reputation and experience are limited, but there are …
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A Creative Way to Advertise Every Morning as a Contractor

A woman is holding a cup of coffee in front of a coffee machine.
Without clients there are no opportunities to do the quality work which will build your reputation and income. That is why finding inventive ways to get your name out there is something that all contractors have to think about. Let us tell you one more creative way of doing this at little cost. How many people do you know who …
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What Your Office Says About Your Contracting Business

A group of contractors are sitting at a table with tools on it.
Not every Contractor has an office, but for those who choose to invest in either renting or buying a space, there are a couple things that you should be aware of to attract the type of clients and projects that you want. Your office is an ideal place for you to display your certificates, degrees, awards or any other recognitions …
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Why Your Contracting Business Should Have a Mission Statement

A man with a contractor license is holding his chest in front of a building.
Some might think that mission statements are snooty expressions of power from Fortune 500 companies or political parties, but the reality is that they can be powerful declarations of purpose for any business that markets directly to clients. Mission Statements are compressed expressions of the beliefs and values that make your contracting business a worthwhile investment to the people who …
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4 Tips to Promote The Safety of Children at Project Sites

A construction site is seen through a chain link fence, showcasing the expertise of the licensed contractor.
Children are naturally curious. They love to play and explore things that are peculiar or exciting, and when you have an active project site at a school, park or private residence in which small children are present, there are several precautions you should take to help keep them safe. Administrators or home owners will also have to coordinate with you …
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