Hi all,
Forgive me if I’m not completly clear about the kind of advice I want here. My life is changing and I think I may have to start doing things a bit differently.
My focus till now has primarily been service/craft and now I would like to focus more on building a business.
I’m a small contractor with a good reputation.
My work all comes from referrals
I’m getting more “big job” offers
I’m getting older
I’ve recently lost my only 2 employees
I’ll throw this in,
My wife is divorcing me after 18 years together. My 14 year old son is home with me
I’ve always steered my customers toward t&m work in order to avoid detailed estimating. I’ve done several large jobs on a t&m, cost plus basis.I’ll typically ball park the job up front. I think my estimates are fine but they take alot of time and lock me into a certain design or methods that I may want to change as the job evolves. Change orders steal time from production too.
Questions:
If you had only 2 employees would you favor in house payroll or a payroll service? Any recomendations?
Can you recomend any estimating programs that may interface with quickbooks?
I know I’ll get yelled at for this…Can I get ball park sq’ numbers or ranges on additions, baths, kitchens, etc? I’d like something I could use to begin and focus initial discussions with clients.
Any other recommendations for configuring a small business or resources for learning?
thanks, mike
Replies
Payroll services are really inexpensive. In your case you should use one.
Many others will weigh in here about your biz side, but I think you should look to do the "Mike Smith" method, that of focusing on design/build, lump-sum work, and all of your proposals chargeable.
I don't like T&M.
What is the Mike Smith method?
What paservice do you recommend?
mike
Re the payroll service, phone a couple of local accountants. They'll know.
Mike Smith is a regular Breaktimer who frequently will weigh in on a thread like this. He is a strong proponent of fixed price work for design/build remodeling, and says he never ever gives someone a proposal without getting paid for the service.