Spring is finally here, or at least it should be here soon. Our clients judge our companies and us by what they see. Spring checks:
- Check all stored vehicles and trailers to be sure they are operating correctly. Don’t forget to check the wheel bearings on your trailers.
- Wash all the chemicals off the walk and driveways around your building. While you are at it, get the windows washed inside and out on your office building.
- Pull all your vent blocks
- Remove the foam protective covers from hose bibs
- Schedule planting flowers, mowing the lawn and tidying up the grounds
- Replace any broken windows, broken screen doors, and tidy up any paint that has cracked or peeled.
Check that your April sales and production match up with company goals. If you are selling and producing more than your goals, good for you. If you’re short on sales, then griping, complaining or worrying won’t fix it. Figure out what is going on; get to work and make the numbers right. Don’t sit back and let things happen, make them happen.
At the same time, check and rework both your sales and production goals for the second half of 2024. Get your key people on board with your goals for your company if you want them to happen.
Check your job sites to be sure that your crews are not busy using mobile phones or spending their time texting or game playing at your expense. Those activities should be outlawed during working hours.
Continue promoting your business for summer work (July, August & September). You need to plan ahead at least one full job cycle if you want to have enough work to keep you and your company busy and profitable.
Start planning promotions for October, November and December. What specials are you going to run this year? Start planning now so you don’t have dead spots to fill during the coming winter months. Dead times during the winter are almost always due to a lack of a steady marketing.
Check that all your subcontractors license, bond and insurance are up to date. This is a must. While you are at it, make sure you haven’t fallen into the trap of paying people by cash or under the table. Can you generate a clean (honest) paper trail for all monies received and spent? Do you have a written agreement with your subcontractors? You should. Check out our Subcontractor Manual.
Love your honey. Make sure they know you care. While you’re at it, remember the beautiful lady who gave birth to you, and if you’re a father, remember the mother of your little ones on May 12, Mother’s Day .
The knowledge and experience Michael Stone gained in his 60+ years in construction has helped thousands of contractors improve their businesses and their lives. He is the author of the books Markup & Profit Revisited, Profitable Sales, and Estimating Construction Profitably, and is available for one-on-one consultations.