Month: May 2019

Ways to Streamline a Contracting Business

On: By: admin

With change comes growth – sometimes a company needs to adapt to different processes in order to take the business to the next level. With different streamlining techniques, you can make things more efficient in your business. It’s not always a hard task to introduce new methods into your business, especially when the benefits far outweigh the process of learning something new

When you better streamline your business, you will meet deadlines better, faster, and more efficiently. You will also have less conflict by streamlining internal processes – the less people involved or steps, there will be less problems. Lastly, a streamlined process is more accurate especially over time.

Ways to streamline the business:

  • Utilize organizational tools and software – these things will help you manage time and projects and employees can communicate better. You are able to see your project in real time and know when problems occur.
  • Call for less meetings. Too many meetings can waste time and be ineffective. Create a meeting schedule with set times. Try not to have unplanned meetings.
  • Choose durable materials which are longer lasting and endure more.
  • Keep an eye on your team and make sure they are focused and motivated to the end goal.
  • Monitor weather to keep your team and site safe and comfortable.
  • Look for ways to be eco-friendly, whether it’s with less commuting for workers, more durable machinery, sustainable building materials, etc.

How to Get Your Contractor’s License

Working as a contractor is an exciting and rewarding career.

Need a contractor’s license? We can help get you licensed. We are a Florida contractor licensing company. We have helped thousands of contractors across the United States get their contractor license. From plumbing to electrical, we can help get you a contractor’s license.

To start the application process, you will provide us information about yourself, your skills, your background, your testing results, your education, your job experience, etc. We will submit a correct and completed application to the Construction Licensing Board on your behalf.

To get your contractor license, click our Florida contractor’s license page to learn more or call 239-777-1028 to get started with us.

 

Reasons Why Construction Companies Close

On: By: admin

Starting up accompany or even running a company, in any industry is a challenge. With the construction boom, construction companies are bidding hard to get jobs, which means its more challenging than ever to start up in the construction industry. There’s a lot of things that can help you grow your business and there’s a lot that can harm your business.

We wanted to share with you some reasons construction companies go out of business.

  • You didn’t start the business for the right reason. You need to sacrifice a lot of time to run a business and capital. It will be a lot of effort.
  • You don’t have enough capital. You need good cash flow. You need to figure out your budget and daily costs.
  • You didn’t plan well. You need a strategic business plan in place.
  • You didn’t have good management or leadership.
  • You tried to grow too fast. Don’t take on more work than you can handle. You don’t want to do poor work. Don’t be overly ambitious.
  • You didn’t market yourself. You need to get your name out there in the town, on social media, on Google, and more.
  • You didn’t stand out from the competition. You didn’t show your audience why they should choose you over anyone else.
  • You didn’t delegate tasks. You can focus on more important things when you cant off other work to others.
  • You didn’t learn about your competitors. You need to do research on competitors to see how you can get the upper hand.
  • You didn’t properly target your audience.

If you are able to work through these points, you can keep your business running smoothly.

Getting A Contractor’s License

When running a construction business, your workers need to be licensed especially in Florida. They cannot work legally in the state without a contractor license.

We can help get your employees and subcontractors get licensed. We are a Florida contractor licensing company. We have helped thousands of contractors across the United States get their contractor license in all specialties.

We will complete and submit a completed application to the Construction Licensing Board on their behalf.

To get your contractor license, click our contractor license page to learn more or call 239-777-1028 to get started with us.

 

How to Manage Late Payments or Unpaid Invoices

On: By: admin

Many contractors and construction companies deal with late payments and unpaid invoices – they will get paid late or not in the full amount. Like with most businesses, it is essential to have this money on time to run your business as a whole. With late or unpaid payments, your business could suffer. Contractors can legally claim their payment for work that was done.

Late or unpaid payments can affect the way your business is run and if your employees get paid. You might not be able to improve the equipment or tools you use if clients don’t pay on time.

So, how should you deal and manage payment issues?

  • Let clients know you have late payment fees upfront.
    • You could start with a 2 percent penalty if the client doesn’t pay within 30 days.
  • Review the signed agreement with the client.
    • A contract secures your legal rights and helps with the payment. Review this before the project begins.
  • Start negotiating with the client.
    • Discuss concerns with the client. Ask why you aren’t receiving the payment. Come up with a plan for them to settle their debt with you.
  • Agree upon a fixed payment schedule.
    • With a schedule, you are listing an exact date payment is due. Both parties must agree.
  • Document invoices and other documents.
    • With the right paperwork, you can keep track of what is owed and what has been paid.
  • Stay in good communication
    • Always stay on top of communicating with everyone you work with for less mishaps.
  • Take the client to court if client continues to not pay.
    • Don’t hesitate to go to court. If the client won’t pay or negotiate, it’s time for a law expert to step in.

How to Get Your Contractor’s License

Working as a contractor is an exciting and rewarding career, but it can be stressful when clients don’t hold up their end of the bargain. If you follow the tips above, getting your money on time will be easier.

 

Need a contractor’s license? We can help get you licensed. We are a Florida contractor licensing company. To start the application process, you will provide us information about yourself, your skills, your background, your testing results, your education, your job experience, etc. We will submit a correct and completed application to the Construction Licensing Board on your behalf.

To get your Florida contractor license or other state contractor license, click our contractor’s license page to learn more or call 239-777-1028 to get started with us.

 

How to Find Quality Subcontractors

On: By: admin

 

There’s a lot of things that lead to a successful contracting company and projects. Skills, experience, time management communication, and the people you hire. As a contractor, the people you hire, subcontractors, are a reflection of you. You want to hire quality, skilled workers so the project is more likely to be completed on time and within budget.

For this article, we wanted to share with you some ways you can find good subcontractors. There’s currently a labor shortage in the construction industry, so it’s even harder than ever to find good workers.

  • Ask friends, construction friends, construction industry people, and online construction discussion groups about finding workers.
  • Look online through Craigslist and Angielist for people looking for work.
  • Hire a past (good) subcontractor.
  • Ask a past subcontractor for a recommendation.
  • Ask specialty retailors for recommendations.
  • Look on online job boards like Indeed and Monster.

 

When you are looking to hire a subcontractor, there’s some things you should do to help find yourself a better-quality worker.

  • Talk to them and evaluate their communication skills.
  • Take note of your impression of them. Do they give you a good or bad feeling?
  • Ask about their previous work experience, skills, past jobs, certifications, licenses, insurance coverage, references, and a portfolio.
  • Run a background check.
  • Talk to their references to get a feel for their personality, how they worked, and what their skills are.

How to Get Your Contractor’s License

One of the biggest things your subcontractors needs, especially in Florida, is a contractor’s license. They cannot work legally without it!

We can help get your subcontractors licensed. We are a Florida contractor licensing company. We have helped thousands of contractors across the United States get their contractor license in all specialties.

We will complete and submit a completed application to the Construction Licensing Board on your behalf.

To get your contractor license, click our contractor license page to learn more or call 239-777-1028 to get started with us.

 

 

 

The Importance of Liability Insurance and Worker’s Compensation Insurance in Contracting

On: By: admin

In most states, you need liability insurance and worker’s compensation insurance with your contractor’s license. With insurance, potential clients will take you more seriously, but you will also be protected if accidents or damages occur.

Why is liability insurance important? If a homeowner hires a contractor with liability insurance, he/she will be compensated for any damages on the property caused by bad materials or shoddy work. This insurance can cover the cost of repairs for damages caused by a contractors, it can cover any court judgments and medical/funeral expenses if anyone is injured while working, and it can cover the cost of fixing the mistakes if the contractor fails to meet an expected standard.

Why is worker’s compensation insurance important? Worker’s compensation protects workers by providing wage compensation and medical assistance when on-the-job injuries occur. A homeowner will not have financial liabilities if a worker hurts themselves on his property if the worker is insured.

When a homeowner chooses an insured contractor, he/she has a peace of mind – if something goes wrong, he/she will be compensated and free from liabilities unlike with an uninsured worker. Sure, uninsured contractors are cheaper, but if damages or injuries occur, a homeowner can end up paying a lot more than if he/she hired an insured contractor.

Homeowners will check on your licensed and insurance coverage to make sure it is valid, so make sure you are definitely covered and properly licensed. You need at least the minimum coverage required by the state you live in. Without insurance, a homeowner/client won’t find you reliable, trustworthy or accountable.

How to Get Your Contractor’s License

Being insured and licensed is the only way to legally work as a contractor in the state of Florida. You don’t want to be arrested and charged.

Need a contractor’s license? We can help get you licensed. We are a Florida contractor licensing company. We have helped thousands of contractors across the United States get their contractor license. We can help you get a license in any contractor specialty.

To begin the application process, you will provide us information about yourself, your skills, your background, your testing, your education, your job experience, etc. We will submit a correct and completed application to the Board on your behalf.

To get your contractor license, click our Florida contractor’s license page to learn more or call 239-777-1028 to get started with us.

 

 

Why A Contractor Should Have Insurance

On: By: admin

One of the mottos of the Boy Scouts of America is “Always Be Prepared.” In life, accidents happen, mistakes happen, and unforeseen things happen. In the world of contracting, it’s better to be safe than sorry and invest in insurance. A contractor has a dangerous job and working without insurance is risky. Hiring an uninsured contractor is generally cheaper, but there is a higher liability when no insurance is in play.

General contractors, in most states, need to carry liability insurance and worker’s compensation insurance.

Reasons to only hire an insured contractor:

  • The contractor can repay and compensate you when problems or issues occur.
  • Homeowner’s insurance has limitations, so you need a contractor with liability insurance and workers compensation insurance.
  • A contractor with insurance shows credibility and responsibility. A contractor with insurance shows he/she is reliable and plans to work for a long time.
  • A contractor with insurance shows their quality is likely better because contractors who don’t do quality work can lose their license and you can’t have a contractor’s license without insurance.
  • Investing in an insured contractor can help you save later with maintenance. Also, if repairs are needed or damage occurred, you are not obligated to cover the cost if the contractor you hired was insured.
  • Your insurance can refuse a claim when they learn a contractor you hired was uninsured.
  • It can be easier to tell a house if work was done by licensed contractors up to code.

Get Your Contractor’s License

If you’re looking to get your contractor’s license, remember you will also need to be insured if you want to be credible. Potential clients will trust you more if you are licensed and insured. Also, it is illegal in Florida, and many other states, so you need to be licensed to practice legally.

 

Need a contractor’s license? We can help get you licensed. We are a Florida contractor licensing company. We have helped thousands of contractors across the United States get their contractor license. We can help you become a general contractor, electrical contractor, plumbing contractor, and much more.

 

To begin the application process, you just provide us with information about yourself, your skills, your background, your testing, your education, your job experience, etc. We will let you know what information is  needed and or missing. We will submit a correct, complete application to the Board on your behalf.

To get your contractor license, click our Florida contractor’s license page to learn more or call 239-777-1028 to get started with us.

 

Tips to Avoid Construction Delays

On: By: admin

Construction delays happen and many projects are often behind schedule. It’s easy to become delayed as there are many avenues for things to go wrong whether with ordering materials, broken parts, labor issues, etc. No one benefits from a construction delay – it hurts the contractor, subcontractor, and owner.

Some delays are out of our control like inclement weather or a city issue while other delays are non-excusable and could have been avoided such as poor planning or poor workmanship.

Critical delays need to be attended to immediately because if they are not addressed. Compensable delays. Compensable delays include errors and omissions and owner-directed changes. Concurrent delays are when two or more delays happen at the same time.

Tips to avoid delays:

  • Create a project scope assessment.
  • Overestimate the time a project will take.
  • Understand and have a knowledge of codes and regulations of cities.
  • Don’t cut corners.
  • Have full financing in place before committing to a project.
  • Invest in budget software.
  • Make sure schedule changes are anticipated in the planning phase.
  • Know your own project limitations.
  • Plan for extra worker/employee support.
  • Have a back-up crew.
  • Hire quality workers.
  • Use software to track staff and productivity.

There are different kinds and levels of delays, and a contractor needs to be aware and prepared for any and all of them. Some delays can be avoided, others cannot. The more prepared a company is, the smaller the delays will become and less frequent, so you can stay on time and on budget.

Want to be a contractor? It’s an exciting career path. We can help get you a contractor’s license. We are license professionals. We are a contractor licensing company based in Florida, but we help contractors all over the country.

We will complete the license application for you. Our contractors are normally licensed within an average of 10 days from submission – not weeks or months.

We will mail off the license application to the Construction Licensing Board to get you approved fast and the first time.

To get your contractor license, click our contractor license in FL page to get started with us or call 239-777-1028.

 

The Labor Shortage in the Construction Industry

On: By: admin

There is a labor shortage in the construction, which is delaying projects. It’s a common problem everywhere. Most contractors are having a hired time finding skilled workers.

Here are some ways to boost the hiring of workers:

  • Attracting and hiring women. Only about 9.1 percent of the construction workforce is female. The industry needs to actively attract and retain more women workers by offering equal pay, using gender-neutral language in job postings, gender-neutral bathrooms on work sites, have a zero-tolerance sexual harassment policy, create leadership opportunities, and family-friendly work policies.
  • Attracting and hiring millennials. In the next 10 years, about 20 percent of the work force will retire, so millennials are essential to the future of labor in the construction industry. Construction companies need to offer career advancement and skill development to attract this generation. They also need to offer the use of innovations, technology, and competitive pay.
  • Attracting and hiring Hispanics. Hispanics currently make up 29% of the workforce. Companies need to over dual-language platforms, diversity inclusion policies, jobsite training, and more
  • Attracting and hiring veterans. About only 6% of veterans each year out of 240,000-360,000 make it to the construction industry. Companies need to promote the job to veterans by focusing on continued education and training. Companies need to implement flexible leave polices, promote teamwork, and career development.
  • Use technology to fill the gaps. Technology can streamline workflow and robots can do some

It’s essential for contractors to attract new workers in different ways or else they won’t be able to complete projects on time.

As a contractor licensing company, we urge you to join the world of contracting. It is a rewarding career. Lots to learn.  To join this industry, you need to be licensed, and we have helped thousands of contractors in Florida and across the United States get their contractor license.

We will work with you on your license application. We will ask you to provide all your information from background to testing and education. We will fil out the application and send it to the Construction Licensing Board on your behalf to get you approved. We can get you approved the first time and get you licensed fast.

To get your contractor license, click our Florida contractor’s license page to get started with us or call 239-777-1028.

Reasons Why You Should Become a Contractor in Construction

On: By: admin

For a long time, many people have been pushed to go to universities and going into a trade wasn’t a go-to career path, but now more people are going into the contractor world. Contractors make good money, learn a lot, develop a lot of skills, get to work with the latest technology and materials, and don’t have thousands of dollars of debt from schooling.

Below, we wanted to share with you why you should think about a job as a contractor in the construction industry.

  • Career stability – Construction needs and labor needs are there and on the rise. Construction has one of the highest growth rates. Companies need workers to handle advanced positions.
  • Salaries are rising – In the last year, wages were expected to rise 3.4%. Construction managers can make $95K a year and in a major city you could have a $150K salary. Construction workers with a college degree see median salaries of $80K per year. Highest-paid careers with no college degree include plumbers, electricians, roofers, construction equipment operations, boilermakers, and elevator installers/repairers.
  • Advances in technology – Technology is getting more advanced in construction all the time from construction software (BIM) to drones and GPS systems. Workers have opportunities to work with all types of technology.
  • Variety – Construction work isn’t your typical 9 to 5. You will be at different places and meet different people often. You will work inside and outside.

The construction workforce is changing and becoming more diverse and inviting than ever before. More women and minorities are getting into construction. The industry is also getting younger. Millennials are starting to take construction jobs.

You can find construction jobs online, through a temp agency, through an apprentice job, or through a trade school.

Thinking about a career as a contractor? First, you’ll need some experience and classes, but then you will need a contractor license to practice legally.

We can help you get your Florida contractor license. We are a Florida contractor licensing company, who has helped thousands of contractors get their contractor license. We can also help contractors get licensed in other states.

We will complete the license application for you, and let you know what you need to make the application complete. We will mail it off to the Construction Licensing Board on your behalf to get you approved fast and the first time.

To get your contractor license, click our contractor license in FL page to get started with us or call 239-777-1028.