Getting approved for a business loan or line of credit is more complicated than qualifying for a personal loan. Small construction business owners must be adequately prepared to meet with a lender to present their business in the best possible light and ready for the money they need.

Think of all the times:

• You loaned money to a friend or relative
• Provided labor and materials for somebody's home or business without a deposit check
• Did change order work that you never got paid for doing and never will
• Gave a subcontractor/employee an advance on their paycheck, and you never got paid back

Multiply that by 100,000, and you will understand why banks seem so tight-fisted about loaning money.

 

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Topics: Cash Flow, Bookkeeping, Contractor Cash Flow Problems, Financing Secrets Revealed, Banking

In the business world, cash flow remains the lifeblood that keeps your operations running smoothly. Whether you're a start-up finding your feet or a seasoned business in the construction industry, managing and maintaining a steady cash flow can be challenging. But a few small changes can make a world of difference to your cash flow and overall revenue.

 

Your business needs cash. Cash keeps your company in operation and enables it to grow, so you should know how much your business needs to survive. Although many think the answer is linked solely to operating expenses, this isn't true.

 

No single factor determines how much cash every construction business needs to have on hand. Somewhere between 3-6 months of operating expenses is an excellent baseline to start from, but there's more to it than that.

 

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Topics: Cash Flow, Bookkeeping, Contractor Cash Flow Problems, QuickBooks Construction Accounting, Improve Construction Cash Flow

A fractional CFO, or Chief Financial Officer, is a finance professional working part-time, retainer, or contract. They bring the experience and expertise of a high-level CFO to your business – without the cost of hiring a full-time, in-house employee.

 

Fractional CFOs service several clients simultaneously, typically on a part-time, retainer, or contract basis. Their specialty is providing outsourced CFO services to small and medium businesses.

 

Because their financial management skills are so well-developed, it's common to bring one on board to help navigate a challenge.

 

Every construction business can benefit from dedicated financial management expertise, but very few small companies have the means to hire someone full-time—particularly in the lean early years.

 

Unfortunately, it's those first few years when a company is just starting up that establishing good habits with managing financial resources is so important, and, over time, can even make or break a construction business.

 

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Topics: Bookkeeping, Outsourced Accounting, QuickBooks Construction Accounting, Fractional Construction CFO, Construction Chief Financial Officer

Many entrepreneurs operate with their business processes and systems in their heads. They know what they must do daily and how they want to get things done.

 

Unfortunately, when a construction business grows, and staff need to be hired – or the owner needs to take time away from the company – it's an absolute liability not having processes and systems documented in one place.

 

To be in business and to remain in business, become a business person! To run a construction business, you must be business-like. It's not sufficient just to be very good at what you do. Many people who are 'very good at what they do' have failed. The familiar cry: "I'm far too busy for that," is also no excuse. Are you 'too busy' to be a competent businessperson? If so, your construction business won't last long. You must continue to develop your business skills.

 

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Topics: Bookkeeping, Outsourced Accounting, QuickBooks Construction Accounting, QuickBooks Do-It-Yourself construction Bookkeeping, Construction Accounting Academy

Not everyone knows construction accounting, and it is easy to assume all accounting is the same. Even if you have outsourced your financial functions, as a small construction business owner, having a solid understanding of critical financial concepts is crucial to work with your advisor and 'speak their language". This article outlines several essential concepts that every small business owner should know.

 

Construction is a tricky business, and people's failure is expected. Most of our clients have either failed or come very close. It doesn't matter how many times you are knocked down; it only matters that you learn your lessons, get up, and go again. We noted these lessons years ago, owning and operating our construction company. By building a system and gaining insight from us, you can pick up from our mistakes, which you don't have to go through and can start avoiding before it comes crashing down. 

 

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Topics: Bookkeeping, Outsourced Accounting, QuickBooks Construction Accounting, QuickBooks Do-It-Yourself construction Bookkeeping, Construction Accounting Academy

Mistakes can be expensive in the construction business, and as an entrepreneur, although you'll know many of the regulations that apply to your business, there are so many that you can't possibly remember all of them. Depending on the type of contracting business you run, you could face laws regarding taxation, employment, product liability, premises liability, discrimination, health and safety, and various other regulations.

 

Keeping on top of all the laws that affect you and the changes to those laws while still being mindful of all the other aspects involved in running a business is almost impossible.

 

That's why you need legal help. A legal professional can identify the rules and regulations that apply to your business and advise you on operating within those laws. They can also help you draw up necessary contracts that could prevent legal action in the future, and they can prepare a case in the unfortunate event that you wind up facing or filing a lawsuit.

 

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Topics: Bookkeeper Embezzlement, Embezzlement, Contractor Bookkeeper Embezzlement, Construction Bookkeeper Embezzlement, Employee Fraud, financial fraud

Ever dreamed of starting a family business? Investing in a franchise opportunity with friends?

 

Businesses owned and operated by families can have incredible staying power. All family-owned companies, Volkswagen, Samsung, and Nike, are among the world's most successful, leading brands.

 

Working with family and friends can be fun and rewarding, especially in the construction industry. I know because we've been in one. But before you hire the people you care about most, it's wise to consider the pros and cons.

 

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Topics: Hiring Employees, contractor divorce, Construction Contractor's Family, Do What You Do Best And Outsource The Rest, Contractor Tips

As a small business owner, you always look to keep your company running efficiently. Expense reimbursement fraud is the last thing you want to face. Not only can it hurt your bottom line, but it can also damage your construction company's reputation. Here we discuss employee expense fraud, the reasons behind it, and, most importantly, how to prevent it from happening to your construction business.

 

What is expense fraud?

 

Expense fraud is submitting falsified or inflated expense claims to receive reimbursement from the employer or avoid paying out of pocket. It is illegal, unethical, and detrimental to your business.

 

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Topics: Bookkeeper Embezzlement, Embezzlement, Contractor Bookkeeper Embezzlement, Construction Bookkeeper Embezzlement, Employee Fraud, financial fraud

If your customers owe you money, the faster you can obtain it using effective collection tactics, the better. Ideally, you want to reduce the chance of bad debts and pressure on your construction company's cash flow.

It can be easy to neglect to manage your debtors when you're busy growing your business, but intelligent credit control is important. So it's crucial to have the skills to handle the people who owe you money well, especially if you want to avoid taking them to court.

When negotiating contracts with clients, try to set payment terms that help your cash flow, such as deposits or progress payments. Dealing regular payments for contracts that take months to complete has two purposes: it gives you cash flow to match your expenses and protects you from total loss on a project if the customer goes into liquidation.

 

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Topics: Invoicing, High Profit Repeat Construction Clients, Contractor Tips, How To Charge Clients, Get Paid On Time

Marketing covers everything you do in your business that creates awareness, including advertising, brochures, competitions, trade shows, demonstrations, travel, direct mail, email campaigns, your website, and sponsorship. Let's narrow our focus to an integral part of Marketing - Advertising.

Advertising is a massive industry with multiple mediums for your message to be heard or lost in translation. It might sound like a no-brainer, but before you start planning your advertising, you must consider what you are trying to achieve from your investment. Your ultimate objective likely is to build sales, but other things to consider are increasing market presence and building your brand.

 

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Topics: Hiring Employees, Hiring Guide For In-House Construction Bookkeepers, Do What You Do Best And Outsource The Rest, Contractor Tips, Construction Employee