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Saving up to start a business is hard. You may need tens of thousands of dollars or more to get started, depending on the field you choose. When you think about those numbers, it’s tempting to look for a private investor. Consider these factors to help you make the right choice for your business. Investors vs. Business Loans As you’re …
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If you happen to own a lot with a fair bit of room to move, you might wonder if you can just run your business there. While a lot of contracting business owners take this route, there are a few things you should know first. Keep these considerations in mind as you make a decision. Research Guidelines Before evaluating your …
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Most people start a business because of what they get out of it, but you should also think about what you’re putting in. Investment doesn’t just mean money, although money makes a big difference. Your time and your work can pay off in ways you might not expect. These five ways that you can invest in your business may help …
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In a world with plenty of competition, your contracting business’s reputation is important. When you start out, you don’t really have a reputation outside the people who know you personally. That means you’ll need to build one. After all, no reputation is almost as troubling as a bad one. Here are a few things you can do to help ensure …
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In years past, construction wasn’t a field people could do for decades without risking long-term problems related to hard manual labor. Machines have improved it somewhat, but you still probably spend most of your time doing some physical activity. To keep your body in ideal condition for as long as possible, you should try these five exercises. Squats For people …
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The best way to ensure that you get paid on time for your contracting business, and pay all of your bills, is to keep good records. But if you don’t have a lot of experience with it, and you can’t hire someone to do it for you, you’ll need to get up to speed. The good news is that there …
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There are a lot of preparation materials you can use to get ready for the contractor licensing exam. But since every person is unique, there’s a high likelihood that you will show a preference for one type or another. If you’re not sure whether printed books or digital materials are best for your learning style, here’s how you can find …
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When you start a business, it is really tempting to slap your own name on it and call it good. In this online world where you are constantly trying to get ahead of your competition, it may not be enough. You need a brand, something that prospective clients can understand and remember. Here are five things you can do to …
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When you first announced to family and friends that you were planning to go into construction, you probably had at least one or two people trying to push you into a technical field instead. In fact, construction uses all kinds of technology, now more than ever. If you’ve got a technical mind and you’d like to see where you can …
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Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ve heard plenty about the work habits of people in the Millennial generation. If you feel a little behind in meeting the needs of the new adult workforce (even if you’re a Millennial yourself), it’s time to get up to speed. The oldest members of Generation Z are out of high school and …
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You may not think about outdoor air quality all the time. In the past month or two, it’s been hard not to. Air quality can affect the way you work or how you feel while you’re working. In the worst cases, it can make you sick. Since construction is an industry that combines working inside and outside, it makes sense …
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You expect to show proof of license and insurance, but what about your credit? Can you verify that you are compliant with prevailing wage laws on bids for public projects? Here’s a list of things you need to know before you submit your bid. Bid vs. Estimate There are several instances in which contractors are asked to provide an estimate. …
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Most people don’t decide to go into construction because they love wearing a tailored suit to work every day. But this doesn’t mean that what you wear to a construction site or to meet with prospective clients is unimportant. Sometimes, what you wear can make or break the deal, or even make it more difficult to negotiate. Here are five …
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You’ve got the experience and you’ve been approved to take the contractor licensing exam. When you’re one week away from the exam, it might seem like it is going to take forever to arrive. Here’s what you can do to ensure that you have what you need and are in the best shape to succeed. Review Key Concepts Experts in …
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If you look at the current research on the state of COVID-19, you probably know that experts believe it will come back. Without any reliable information about long-term immunity, it is possible that people can catch the virus over and over again. It’s hard to predict how local and federal government organizations will react to a resurgence of the pandemic, …
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Although the economy (and the construction industry in particular) seems poised for steady growth over the next few years, it’s hard to tell when that might change. Even if the world isn’t swept away by a housing crisis like 2008, your business will have to face an economic downturn from time to time. What companies do to prepare determines which …
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With the way that the economy has changed throughout the past 10-15 years, it’s not surprising that people are rethinking about how they consider starting a career. Getting a college degree used to be a popular option that would secure a good job. Now, not so much. Instead, you might be thinking about learning a trade that offers you a …
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Trying to start your business without a ton of money is hard. You either need to save or find some other form of funding. When you ask around, you might get recommendations to focus on savings or credit exclusively. In truth, you’ll probably do best with a balance of the two. Here’s how to figure out what you might need. …
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If you’ve been thinking about starting your own business, you might be focused on the kinds of services you’ll offer or where you plan to set up shop. But before you can do this, you need to start the business. And while opening a business might not be the most complicated thing you’ve ever done, there are a lot of …
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With most jobs, you can pretty easily figure out which tools and supplies you need for a particular task. All the administrative stuff you must-have for a business is another matter entirely. It’s like looking around your home office for a pen, only on a much bigger scale. There are lots of tools and supplies you’ll need in the day-to-day …
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