Tag: how to run a construction business

Business

Rigid equipment strategy, social media parts of the formula this Texas contractor used to build a booming business in less than 10 years

After a few years of working for other contractors in Austin, Texas, Dan Corrigan saw an opportunity 70 miles south in San Antonio. At 27 years old, with a pickup, a trailer and one helper, he set up shop just north of the Alamo City and went into business for himself. The first year was […]

September 2, 2015

Business

Post-vacation pressure: How to return to the office and jobsite without missing a beat

With long holiday weekends and the summer vacation season upon us, it’s easy to get behind in your work. If you often come back from vacations and long weekends overwhelmed, take a deep breath. Here are some tips to get your affairs back in order, and some ideas to keep in mind before your next break. More than […]

April 10, 2015

Business

Succession planning: How one future contractor takes preparation to assume the family business seriously

In the past, second- and third-generation contractors often assumed the helm of the company because it was all they’d known, and what they were expected to do. They had years of experience in the field, but often had limited decision-making skills and little management experience. The focus on succession planning has often been on steps […]

March 4, 2015

Business

Construction company expands into the crime scene/meth lab cleanup business

In construction, it’s always good for business owners to explore diversification, to look into new ways their outfit is equipped to quickly flex and serve another need in their area. Some common ones are landscaping or snow plowing, others might get into environmental cleanup. But one North Carolina contractor took an extra step outside the […]

February 24, 2015

Business

Contractor honors his father’s legacy with successful paving business

The TCW in TCW Construction stands for “Tony’s Cement Works,” a tribute to the company started by Joe Delgado’s father, which concentrated on driveways, sidewalks and patios. “We use his wheelbarrow logo to this day,” says Delgado, president of the Lincoln, Nebraska firm and one of Equipment World’s 2015 Contractor of the Year finalists. In […]

February 19, 2015

Business

Four red flags you’re ruining your construction crew’s productivity

“The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” –Theodore Roosevelt Conventional wisdom tells us a strong business needs a strong leader. A decisive and dynamic leader is the most […]

January 23, 2015

Success Stories

Sibling dynamic builds Guyer Brothers into successful company with a family atmosphere

When talking with successful contractors, you often hear them credit the people that work for them. There’s a reason for that. Most people in this business understand that their success is directly tied to how well their employees do their job. Happy employees tend to be the best employees and the business owners that make […]

November 30, 2014

Business

When the Marcellus Shale provided the opportunity, West Virginia contractor Dwaine Doss was ready

Most contractors understand you don’t waste daylight. But by the time the sun breaks over the mountains of central West Virginia, Dwaine Doss has already put in hours of work. When your customers are the top dogs drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale, starting time is typically 4:30 a.m. Quitting time? Don’t ask. Long […]

November 1, 2014

Business

Hiring an accounting firm can save your construction company money. Here’s how to find the right one

Since many construction companies start out as just one guy with a truck and a piece of equipment or two, sometimes obtaining professional help such as accountants doesn’t come into play until much later. Still, having the advice of a good CPA is crucial, says Denise Bendele, a partner with Texas-based Padgett Stratemann, a CPA […]

October 6, 2014

Success Stories

Impressive level of quality combined with a passion for his people keep Dallas contractor at the top of his field

After Vern Larman returned to the Dallas area from a two-year stint as a missionary in Bolivia, he found he had a passion and expertise for excavation. During his five years working for a pool excavation contractor he learned to master the excavator to become the company’s most profitable crew member. As his experience grew, […]

October 1, 2014

Success Stories

Zeal for diversification, taking care of fleet key to Wm. Winkler Company’s success

“We love to do anything that involves concrete,” says Brian Winkler, 47, president of Wm. Winkler Company.  In fact, concrete has been Wm. Winkler Company’s material of choice since Brian’s grandfather started the firm in Spokane, Washington, in 1919. His grandfather did curb and gutter work, and Brian’s father, the oldest of 11 children, joined […]

September 1, 2014

Technology

What the defeat of Al Qaeda in Iraq, big data, telematics and reverse mentoring can teach you about running a construction company

About a third of the way through retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s new biography My Share of the Task  it becomes apparent that his team’s use of big data played a key role in the defeat of the Iraqi insurgency between 2004 and 2007. Our military has struggled since Vietnam to come up with a way of […]

June 6, 2014