Solutions streamline service and design
In today's tough economy, when customers are watching their budgets closely, running a tight ship is more important than ever. Use of software that boosts your level of service for current clients and your presentation pizzazz when selling new customers can pay off. ...
Use HARM to keep employees
Doing the by-the-numbers analysis of your people is at the basis of the concept of “HARM,” which is the acronym for Human Assets Resource Management, a new way of taking the emotion out of putting price-to-performance metrics on your management folks that make up the bulk labor cost of your SG&A....
Here are some ways to fight the recession
Has the recession caught up with you? Here are some ways to not let the economy run your business. Don't wait for the phone to ring. Go out and sell water...
Contractors benefit by taking classes
Some people may shudder at the thought of walking into a classroom, but there are many benefits to taking classes expanding your mind and adding to your...
It's the perfect storm for affinity marketing
You offer an essential service, and if you're feeling the effects of an economic slowdown, imagine the impact to charities and non-profits. Some are borderline...
ADA Amendments Act of 2008 expands employee coverage
The Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 has added new protections for workers effective Jan. 1, 2009. The new act modified the definitions of “disabilities” and “impairments,” and states in no uncertain terms that the terms “substantially limits” and “significantly restricts” are to be applied more loosely to allow more people to qualify for protection....
Use the stimulus to sell industry products
This is going to be a tough year for contractors, but now that the money and tax breaks are available, it's up to us to use them to sell the industry's products. ...
Mobile communications for the big guys
Mobile communication capabilities to and from the field are very smart tools for service contractors. A full-featured mobile field software solution, deployed company-wide on browser enabled PDAs or other mobile devices, keeps technicians connected to mission-critical information all through the day, simplifying work order activity and, in the office, provides real-time management visibility to field activity....
Estimating is every project's foundation
In a previous column we discussed work load management as a basic requisite for keeping your company on an even keel through these challenging economic...
Project management is an adventure
One thing I absolutely love about this business is that every day brings something new and different. Every day brings new challenges to face, joys to...
Anger management: keeping cool is best
Plumbing contractor Dave Yates on dealing with angry customers...
Alternative energy interfaces - Part 3
There's an old proverb that my father used to say - If you don't learn something new every day, you were either not paying attention, or were gone fishing....
Hydronic heating in Antarctica
Touring the heating systems at McMurdo Station in Antarctica with Mike Blachut, veteran HVACR technician, as my guide is like touring Disneyland with...
Slam dunk a two point energy swish
Imagine you live in a home with no insulation, single-pane glass windows and solid wood doors: the kind of home many inner-city and country folk live...
Alternative energy interfaces - Part 2
In last month's column, we began to address some of the common basic piping violations on primary/secondary interfaces between alternative energy systems...
Be more productive - get an intern
I have to admit that there is a temptation to go off on a nice slew of off-color attempts at humor regarding this topic. For one thing, interns nowadays...
What to do when they run out of money
I have been working with construction companies for many years, and never before have I encountered so many situations in which so many contractors were...
Software handles a range of construction business needs
Spectrum Construction Software (www.dexterchaney.com) is a comprehensive and flexible construction management solution with up to 30 integrated modules that can handle a broad range of construction business needs. Core modules for HVAC and plumbing contractors include Job Cost, Payroll, General Ledger, Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable. ...
30 easy ways to cut costs without cutting service
It’s impossible to save your way to prosperity. It’s dangerous to even try since it creates an atmosphere of scarcity. Instead of looking for opportunity, you start defending against loss, practically guaranteeing it....
Alternative energy interfaces revisited
Hydronic heating authority Mark Eatherton searches for the hydronic interface between the old and new alternative energy technologies...
How to improve the change order process
Steps that contractors can take to improve collections on change orders...
Federal contracting is enticing, but risky
Project management authority H. Kent Craig discusses the unique risks of taking on a federal contracting job...
Success in a soft market
Your business can be productive regardless of the unstable economy. It just means you're going to have to work harder to keep and increase business. ...
The contracting business basics - Part 1
Whether you are new in business or are an established subcontractor with solid gold clients, concentrating on the basic elements of your business is essential for survival in the near term and for healthy growth in the long term. ...
A story behind every badge
Carly Simon's song was stuck on mental replay in my mind as Dan Ashenden, publisher of Radiant Living, Green Mechanical and Contractor magazines, and...
Previous | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | Next
Reader Comments