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Showing 81–96 of 386 results
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7 red flags of an impending jobsite accident
May / June 2020
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 439
Abstract: An unfortunate fact of life is that accidents can happen — especially in construction. As the summer construction season heats up, it’s critical to keep workers safe. This article raises seven red flags that can warn you an accident is becoming more likely, including new faces on the jobsite and harmful noise levels.
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Playing the name game with a DBA
May / June 2020
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 554
Abstract: For a variety of reasons, contractors often need to retool their branding to better represent their services or reach new customers. Sometimes the best way to do this is to operate all or part of your business under a new name. This article explores the purposes and legal requirements of a “doing business as” filing.
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Don’t let accounts receivable fraud take what you’ve earned
May / June 2020
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 678
Abstract: Revenue coming into a business is an obvious temptation to a dishonest person. And, indeed, accounts receivable fraud is among the most common crimes committed internally against business owners — and contractors are hardly immune. This article describes common schemes, offers prevention tips and explains how to investigate.
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The best defense is a good account balance – Cope with delayed jobs through sound financial management
May / June 2020
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 960
Abstract: When a severe delay hits a project, a construction business’s financial risk tends to skyrocket. Even if the contractor isn’t at fault, the owner may withhold payments while the situation is sorted out. This article explains that the best defense is to strengthen the company’s financial position to the point where it can absorb the risk of a slowed-down job. A sidebar points out the importance of confidentiality when it comes to maintaining a cash reserve.
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LEED isn’t the only green-building game in town
March / April 2020
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 440
Abstract: Mention “green building” and most contractors think of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. LEED may be the front-runner in green building rating systems, but it’s not the only game in town. This brief article runs down alternatives that construction companies may encounter when working with project owners.
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Industry trends: Megaprojects are on the rise
March / April 2020
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 534
Abstract: They’re big, and they’re big business. Megaprojects, large-scale and often high-profile construction projects that cost $1 billion or more, are taking the industry by storm. This article provides some stunning statistics on the trend and suggests questions a contractor should ask before submitting a bid.
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Reviewing the finer points of the Section 199A tax deduction
March / April 2020
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 666
Abstract: It’s been over a year since the IRS issued final regulations regarding Internal Revenue Code Section 199A. This Code Section created a tax deduction enabling owners of sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies and S corporations to write off up to 20% of their qualified business income. This article reviews the limits and construction specifics of the tax break.
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A surgical approach – Sharpen your project accounting with activity-based costing
March / April 2020
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 934
Abstract: Activity-based costing is an accounting methodology that identifies activities and assigns a “cost driver” to each one based on resources consumed. This article explains how this approach can be applied to various jobsite activities. A sidebar points out that, once proper formulas are established, cost-driver calculations can often be applied for a long time.
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4 ways AI is impacting the construction industry
January / February 2020
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 442
Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) has transitioned from science fiction to everyday life. Although the construction industry is sometimes wary of new technology, AI is becoming more and more prevalent on jobsites. This article looks at four examples: cameras/drones, 3D modeling, sensors and self-driving vehicles/robots.
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Walk the talk: Prioritizing company core values
January / February 2020
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 546
Abstract: A contractor’s core values, or business principles, should be more than a superficial exercise in platitudes. When a construction business establishes a set of values, that company is proclaiming what they stand for and how they do business. This article explains why values are important and what to do with them once you’ve chosen a few.
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Viewing your lender as a business partner
January / February 2020
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 672
Abstract: It’s easy for contractors to get intimidated when applying for a business loan. One way to lower the stress level is to view lenders as partners rather than gatekeepers. This article explains why construction companies should articulate a clear rationale for a loan, shop around for a good provider and know the financial metrics that drive lending decisions.
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A symbiotic bond – How WIP reports relate to your financial statements
January / February 2020
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 949
Abstract: Work in progress (WIP) reports are too often ignored and less often fully understood. A construction company’s WIP reports share a symbiotic bond with its financial statements — the two should be consistent in the information they present. This article looks at four different schedules of a typical WIP report and discusses how they relate to financial statements.
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Construction Success Story – Contractor ponders the ROI of wearable technology
November / December 2019
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 456
Abstract: This issue’s “Construction Success Story” features a contractor who specializes in building and renovating medical facilities. Recently, he began considering a purchase of “wearable tech” — data-gathering items that can be affixed to construction workers’ clothing. Before spending any money, however, he visited his financial advisor to discuss return on investment.
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4 reasons to review your business plan at year end
November / December 2019
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 540
Abstract: Nearly all construction companies began with a business plan. But, once a business is up and running, the document tends to get buried either in a file cabinet or on a hard drive. This article suggests contractors dig out their business plans and use them to assess their operations, as well as to plan for the coming year.
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Contain the creep by carefully managing project scope
November / December 2019
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 642
Abstract: No one likes a creep. When it comes to construction projects, one kind of creep that contractors must avoid is scope creep: when the actual work performed on a job gradually expands beyond the contract parameters without compensatory change orders. This article offers tips on how to avoid this costly problem.
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General contractor focus – Be mindful about subcontractor retainage
November / December 2019
Newsletter: Contractor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 899
Abstract: Most construction projects succeed because of the strong relationships between general contractors and subcontractors. One source of conflict that can quickly sour the rapport is retainage. This article explains why general contractors should take a mindful approach to remitting subcontractors’ retainage. A sidebar looks at how to deal with slow-paying owners.