We’re at Booth #1520 and will be on hand with free trials and answers to your questions about estimating and business management software for the snow and ice industry. Come and catch up with the Landscape Management Network at SIMA’s Snow and Ice Symposium 2012 in Buffalo, NY. And on Friday, don’t forget to catch LMN’s Mike Lysecki at an Educational Session that might change the way you estimate and manage your jobs: Don’t Lose Money Before you Start a Job. Mike Lysecki, Landscape Management Network.

Landscape Management Network is estimating and business management software built by landscape contractors for landscape professionals. With estimating, budgeting, systems, procedures, training, checklists, there’s never been a better tool built to improve landscape businesses. A few new reports launched this week for your estimates. You’ll find new reports for both Standard (Landscape Construction) estimates and Service (Maintenance and Snow) estimates. The reports are all available using the report menu on the top-right of your estimate screen.

Rest assured though that it is coming to a small business near you. The Washington Post recently described this hardship :  This legislation would give small businesses just 12 to 24 months to begin using the E-Verify system to determine that their employees are legal. It has been estimated that businesses with fewer than 500 workers would bear the greatest burden of E-verify, spending about $2.6 Not ready? Then wait. No rush. Verify? Uh, what? That might be your response as a contractor – and I wouldn’t blame you. The Legal Workforce Act (H.R. Yowza!

Architecture in Bermuda 1939 – before LinkedIn existed Architects and Planners have been busy creating profiles on LinkedIn. I’d also like to know where you are and if you are leveraging LinkedIn for your business. The latest statistics (as of May 16, 2012) show there are 1,128,581 LinkedIn profiles in the Architecture and Planning Industry. For those readers interested in knowing just where all these profiles are in the world, here’s a breakdown: United States 337,376. India 69,140. Italy 63,357. United Kingdom 59,815. Brazil 50,974. Spain 43,815. Canada 29,339.

In New York, the bills summary explains as follows: Enhances protections for homeowners who have paid contractors, subcontractors,and material suppliers for home improvements; enhances penalties, civil and criminal for violations of the consumer protection provisions of the Home Improvement Contracts article of the general business law; authorizes the attorney general to prosecute crimes under that article. See original article at New York Bill Proposes Additional Protection to Homeowners Against Mechanic Liens. We’ll stay on top of this bill and report any developments.

LinkedIn was created for business professionals to communicate within a trusted network. LinkedIn Groups opens a world of possibilities and allows you to accomplish several business activities. However, larger groups may mean that interactions may not be as valuable when it comes to building a business relationship. LinkedIn Groups. These discussions happen within LinkedIn groups and fuel most of the interaction across the whole site. Groups can either be open or closed. If you join an open group you immediately become a member. Join, Introduce, Participate.

Doing business with an organization is usually just fine. However, if you’re working with a small closely-held corporation or business entity, you should be cautious because that company can quickly shut down and leave its creditors hanging. See original article at How Can I Secure Payment If There Are No Lien Or Bond Rights On The Project? This blog’s focus is traditionally on mechanics lien and bond claim laws. It provides security for the credit you’re extending to your customer. Examples Of When You May Not Have Lien or Bond Claim Rights. Personal Guaranty.

The set-up has many benefits , both for the workers looking for a quick job during a down period or while unemployed, and for businesses that can deliver on a job in an area where they don’t have staff. Technician outsourcing appears to be a growing trend in field service — and for some, a growing concern. The rise of companies like OnForce , FieldSolutions , and now Work Market points to the popularity of databases where organizations can find freelance contractors to fulfill a difficult-to-staff job , and where contractors can turn for a one-off gig.

Business of Construction Construction Law Mechanic's Liens construction law musings constructionlaw General contractor lien mechanic liens scott wolfe virginia Virginia General AssemblyDuring the recent General Assembly session, the Virginia legislature made a great change to the Virginia mechanic’s lien statute.  I blog about it at the Zlien Blog. Here’s an excerpt of my post. The recent changes to Va. Code §43-3 (effective July 1, 2012) clarify several points regarding the allocation of lien amounts to individual lots.  Related Musings: Thanks to Scott Wolfe! license.

There are several credible forest certification standards in the marketplace, and we respect businesses making choices,” she said. Ah I used to love that show. There was nothing green about any of their acreage. But at times I have been in my Eva Gabor mode when I say my version of camping is a hotel without 24 hour room service. found this blog entry in the New York Times today pondering the numerous green labels and certifications that perpetuate the marketplace. have long been a proponent of eliminating them as frankly most of it relates to profit - yes even non-profits make money.

The only way to stay in business while charging an 18% overhead and profit margin is to move overhead expenses into job costs. A very nice gentleman called me last Friday. He related a story about his home remodeling project. It was done a Cost Plus job, the “plus” was negotiated at 18%. The original estimate from his contractor to do a large, miscellaneous interior remodeling job was $87,000, and it would be done in three months or less. It was Cost Plus because the contractor told him that was the safest way to do contracts. Gasoline as a job cost? That is nonsense.

Accordingly, business owners, controllers and debt collectors find themselves going through outstanding receivables and making mechanics lien, bond claim and preliminary notice decisions about this time of the month. See original article at Is Your Texas Mechanics Lien Due Tomorrow? Same Day Filing Available Getting a mechanics lien filed on or before the 15th day of a calendar month is critical in Texas, and if you’re right up against the deadline, you can use Zlien to file your mechanics lien electronically to make certain it gets filed on time. It’s May 15th tomorrow.

Its more for businesses but can easily apply to individuals who want to see the bigger picture. It’s Much Easier Being Sustainable Than Green by Anthony Zolezzi | 8, 2012— Lately, I have started rethinking the value of businesses “going green.” Set up a “filter” for all such proposed policy changes to identify those that don't make good business sense. You might even find your organization featured as an enlightened, sustainable business model on the news or one of those magazine-format shows. too try to advocate what is sustainable. have reprinted the article below.

When President Eisenhower dreamed and financed the interstate highway system, that government investment made USA more efficient to do business than anywhere in the world. ENR reports that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, acting on behalf of the Obama Administration, has given an ultimatum to California: either vote in June to provide the matching state funding for the high speed rail from Bakersfield to Fresno or lose the $3.3B US federal grant. struggle when I think of 3,300 million dollars. That’s a lot of scratch…to continue the chicken analogy.

Don’t let their wagging tails fool you- these two are strictly business and always meet their deadlines.  See original article at Meet Sam and Betsey. Sam and Betsey Smiley have been dedicated members of the Zlien team for roughly three years now.  They never miss a day of work and are always the last ones to leave the office- mostly because they are waiting for a ride home from their parents, Jen and Seth Smiley.  One thing is certain- this pair of well-behaved, workaholic pups brightens everyone’s day at the office! Written by gretchenlynn.

Business of Construction Construction Law Contracts agc Associated General Contractors Building Information Modeling ConsensusDOCS Construction Integrated project delivery Trade associationConsensusDOCS General Contracting Contractual Relationships (Photo credit: Wikipedia). have discussed the ConsensusDOCS here at Musings on a few occasions.  Recently, these documents have joined the parade and have taken to the cloud.  The folks at ConsensusDOCS made this move to ease the type of collaboration that I have discussed must occur on construction projects among the players.  license.

Construction bid bid rigging bid shopping confidentiality agreement Estimate estimating help estimator ethical business practices government Owner quote unethical constructionI might as well go into contractor estimating and bidding ethics.  One of the main issues in estimating ethics for contractors, subcontractors and vendors is that of confidentiality. That is confidentiality of the estimated cost or bid amount. It is against the law for two or more parties to let each other know the amounts they are bidding or agree to who will have the low bid.  consider it to be bid rigging too. 

More and more the traditional flooring store is going out of business as people realize they can just as easily buy flooring on the internet. Most love the look of hand scraped hardwood flooring. Its rustic appeal wows most flooring consumers and it has long been considered a premium reserved for the well-to-do or those with a seemingly unlimited flooring budget. But times they are a changin’… Remember when VCR’s were as big as a Cadillac and cost about $1,500.00? That was 1980, and thirty years later you can watch that same video on a $100.00 Yes, it really is.

Some people have suggested that the unemployed be encouraged to start their own businesses, and entrepreneurship is one valid option for some. But given that most new businesses will fail, it may not be the best advice to tell older workers who have lost their jobs to also put their savings at risk to start a new business. I read in this mornings New York Times a great op-ed piece by Dean Baker who I feel sums up the current crisis in more than economic terms. He describes it in people terms. For some that it is a much larger picture of despair in which there is no escape.

The 150 lots bought by a $10 million land-bank fund, which Mr. Gray helped anchor, will keep Habitat busy in Portland for five years or more. Mr. Gray knows a thing or two about business cycles and buying opportunities. The 150 lots bought by the fund will keep the group busy for five years or more, even as it has increased its home-building output by 50 percent, to 30 homes a year from 20. I read this in the New York Times today about Habitat for Humanity in Oregon who are building not just homes but full on communities. So let's hope more of this comes along. John D.

Perhaps that is why I don't use sites such as YELP, Angie's List, Facebook, Linked In or other social media sites that provide reviews, businesses, and opinions on everything from a Plumber to where to get good Phad Thai. Frankly, I don't know the individuals, their personal history, taste and more importantly their "connections" to the business. Its been well documented that many sites from Amazon to Yelp have provided benefits and perks to those willing to write reviews on said products or businesses. But it would also be artificial if I did not. Right there is the point.

Most PDF software will address the needs of administrative personnel but the operations side of the contracting business is ignored. When it comes to sharing documents, the Portable Document Format (PDF) is the standard. Everyone receives PDFs via email, but not all PDFs are designed for construction industry use. So what do I mean by a construction PDF? Looking at how construction teams collaborate on plans, revise project designs and work in the field, documents must be easily accessed and kept up to date as they are referenced frequently for a variety of tasks.

As I search out businesses that are Made in America for my focus on Build America, today's New York Times has an article about the new birth or re-growth of American manufacturing thanks to Government subsidies. Well as you can read the Government did provide well needed aid to businesses that actually build economies and jobs, ironically what China Subsidies Aid Rebirth in U.S. We have lost 30 percent of our business this way,” Mr. O’Shaughnessy said. Yes those subsidies that seemingly are an issue of debate, discussion and well confusion. percent from 11.7 Biden Jr.

See original article at Construction Managers Probably Can File Mechanic Liens in California – Even Without A License A few years ago, a case addressing whether construction managers needed a contractor’s license to do business made waves in California. The case, The Fifth Day LLC v. James P. Bolotin , et al, surprised many when a California appeals court held that the state’s strong public policy favoring contractor licensing did not extend to “construction managers,” who were allowed to work on a project despite not having a license. James P. Bolotin

The UK’s Green Business Building Council (UK-GBC) has urged the government to show renewed leadership on green issues which will create more jobs and encourage economic growth.  . Appropriate government intervention in energy schemes, more incentives for the development of green infrastructure and strong support for businesses across Britain should be the key priorities for the government to get Britain’s economy back on track, according to the Chief Executive of UK-GBC, Paul King. Do you think the government could do more to help the growth of Britain’s economy?

The UK’s Green Business Building Council (UK-GBC) has urged the government to show renewed leadership on green issues which will create more jobs and encourage economic growth.  . Appropriate government intervention in energy schemes, more incentives for the development of green infrastructure and strong support for businesses across Britain should be the key priorities for the government to get Britain’s economy back on track, according to the Chief Executive of UK-GBC, Paul King. Do you think the government could do more to help the growth of Britain’s economy?

Prior to founding Geedra, Rob was the Chief Marketing Officer for Construction Documentation Services, where he was responsible for sales, marketing and business development. He spent 15 years in the chemical distribution business, including eleven years as the Northwest Branch Manager of a $50 million distributor. Business of Construction Guest Post Friday Chief marketing officer Construction construction lawyer construction photographyFor this week’s Guest Post Friday here at Musings, we welcome back Rob Mathewson (@ geedrarob ) of Geedra. Well, almost nothing.

And while that may seem like semantics, it makes sense when you consider that Medtronic provides business-to-business service. Titles have associations: “Senior.” Technician.” Representative.” Engineer.” All of these words mean something, both to the customers who rely on the employee to fix a problem, and to the employees themselves. We often get lost thinking about the newest gadgets to use, and the latest tips and tricks to best serve customers. But the issue of what these people who fix things should be called has bubbled to the surface recently. The responses came pouring in.

As the New York Times discussed in a recent article about Apple and its role in not only California and the community which it exists, how it avoids paying US taxes as a simple part of doing business. This concept may sound ridiculous from a business standpoint, but for investors, it fuels the get-richer-quicker mentality that exists here. So why does the lunacy of building companies with no revenue or business model work? Jeffrey Pfeffer, a professor at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, used that dirty word that investors scoff at: bubble. Bubble?

For those who don’t understand the need for an ongoing marketing and advertising program for your business, let me try this analogy: Farmers know and understand that if they want a crop, they have to plant seeds. Contractors who are successful in this business know and understand that if they want a crop, they have to plant seeds. If they don’t plant, they won’t get a crop. No seeds, no crop. Real simple. The seeds are their marketing and advertising. They are planting seeds when they let others know about their company and the services they provide. Can it get any simpler?

The truth is many contractor’s businesses are leaking worse than the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico. If we break it down into a measurable quantity we’ll call “eyeball units”, then you can look at our businesses from that perspective. Your business is supposed to be a magnet for eyeball units. And once eyeball units are being flowed to your business by your marketing, they should funnel through your organization efficiently, not bounce off to your competitors. The biggest commodity today any contractor needs to succeed is eyeballs.

I have been blogging about what generates an economy and its relationship to green jobs and the state of our climate - as in one supporting new business not just the weather - as a was to "Build America". And one of the seeming focuses is the tech sector - a business seemingly largely to be dedicated to social networking and other internet based concepts that have little to do with production, job generation or well even social good. Mr. Cohler, for example, is at the center of a complex web of business and social connections stemming from Facebook. Really? at Facebook.

The other is I am big on Building America, which means finding all the companies and businesses that use American made products to grow our economy. Similar deals are being struck with tens of thousands of homeowners and businesses across the country. Major players in the installation business, like SolarCity, Sunrun and Sungevity, are thriving even as the other side of the industry — solar module makers — has been squeezed to the breaking point by fierce competition from Chinese manufacturers. like the concept just not the methods here. leave that for debate.

How do you think the proposed reform will help you or your business? As part of her speech to Parliament yesterday, Her Majesty the Queen introduced Electricity Market Reform to encourage more investment in low carbon generation and clean energy. The Queen said: “My Government will propose reform of the electricity market to deliver secure, clean and affordable electricity and ensure prices are fair”. The Renewable Energy Association welcomed proposals for new energy bill. What is your reaction to the Queen’s speech? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below: .

How do you think the proposed reform will help you or your business? As part of her speech to Parliament yesterday, Her Majesty the Queen introduced Electricity Market Reform to encourage more investment in low carbon generation and clean energy. The Queen said: “My Government will propose reform of the electricity market to deliver secure, clean and affordable electricity and ensure prices are fair”. The Renewable Energy Association welcomed proposals for new energy bill. What is your reaction to the Queen’s speech? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below: .

Perhaps, according to a report from the New Orleans City Business Newsroom that the New Orleans area saw a near 10% drop in bankruptcy filings in April 2012. See original article at Less Bankruptcies Means More Room For Mechanics Lien Claimants in New Orleans Things looking up in the New Orleans economy? few weeks ago, we ran a blog series here at the Construction Lien Blog about the relationship between mechanics lien claims and the bankruptcy process. However, that doesn’t mean anyone is sitting around hoping for a bankruptcy. Written by Scott Wolfe Jr.

I’ve been around this crazy business for over 35 years, and one of the biggest issues still today is handing off leads from marketing to sales. Then one day someone from the C suite asked how much new business are we getting from our promotional efforts? Obviously the finger-pointing wasn’t going to solve the question of how much new business are we getting. If you like this post, you might want to read: Where Are Your New Business Prospects in the Selling Cycle? You would think that with all the technology today it would be easy, right? Not the case!

Construction bid costs Estimate estimating process estimator ethical business practices government Owner sole sourcing unethical constructionI have brought up estimating and bidding ethics on previous occasions.  I am doing it again because it is extremely important that owners understand and know their costs before and at the bid opening. The costs in this period will influence the entire project along with the costs of it during the construction period. The estimates representing the owner’s interests should be developed independent of outside influences on the numbers.

SAN ANTONIO – Really busy is how one might describe Rick Reynolds a project engineer specializing in transportation engineering. He is also the project engineer for I-ENG-A of The Alamo Area, a new forensic engineering division of Coyle-SDA. Besides his double duty job assignment, Reynolds recently earned his professional engineering license. People & Companies

The idea behind the company was for us to assist guys in the trade with the recovery of overpaid tax, their business expenses and managing their dealings with HMRC. Who are Bettertax ? Bettertax are tax refund specialists and work exclusively for Tradesmen. We’ve been lucky enough to establish great relationships within a number of trades in the construction industry; however, the Scaffs community is without doubt our strongest, with around 55 – 65% of our current client base being both on and off-shore Scaffolders. 100% NO REFUND – NO FEE. BetterTax

We are continuing to work with stakeholders, businesses and local officials on the ground to encourage usage of these bonds.” I read this this morning and once again find myself frustrated and confused as to what exactly was meant by finding Green Energy and Green Jobs in an economy and country that desperately needs both. have written before on the interesting way the DOE granted funds to varying other green energy loan and grant applicants and the subsequent minimal jobs, requirements or even auiditing that resulted from that program. But hardly anyone bit. Louis used $10.7

A seatbelt for your subcontracting business - E&O (photo by boutmuet on Flickr). Good news subcontractors – you can get E&O insurance. Recent additions to the subcontractor insurance package includes coverage for errors & omissions, which will help to close a considerable gap in existing general liability policies. This is an easy way to avoid a legal fee – because coverage should pay it for you. Construction litigation can become costly, very fast. Most contractors will inevitably defer the defense of that suit to their insurer. Luckily for them, it is out there.

There are more applications on LinkedIn than listed below, but these are the most business friendly, useful applications. Most people define LinkedIn as a digital resume. This definition fails to underline the power of LinkedIn for highlighting your company. Having a fully functional company page on LinkedIn will act as a resource to anyone interested in working with you or your company. LinkedIn will assist you in creating your company page, by giving you a step-by-step walk through. Steps to Complete Your LinkedIn Company Page. Add your company logo. Build a following. LinkedIn Ads.

How would you or your business benefit from these proposals? A new report published today by MPs has identified enough public land, such as empty offices, unused storage and empty public service buildings, to build more than 100,000 homes. The report which was prepared by the Commons Communities Select Committee has found that 230,000 households are forming each year, but in 2011 only 110,000 new homes were built, showing that demand had outstripped supply of newly built houses. What is your reaction to the government’s commitment to help the building of more homes across Britain?

How would you or your business benefit from these proposals? A new report published today by MPs has identified enough public land, such as empty offices, unused storage and empty public service buildings, to build more than 100,000 homes. The report which was prepared by the Commons Communities Select Committee has found that 230,000 households are forming each year, but in 2011 only 110,000 new homes were built, showing that demand had outstripped supply of newly built houses. What is your reaction to the government’s commitment to help the building of more homes across Britain?

Act now to get early bird tickets to the USGBC NC Triangle Chapter’s spring Luncheon, featuring NC Governor Bev Perdue and others on the topic of the Green Business Fund, which was created to “make environmental innovation investments in alternative fuels, green construction, and other clean energy technologies – positioning North Carolina to become a national [.] No related posts. green design news notes tips construction LEED certification public projects

Introduction: When I started my business evaluating PC-based accounting software in 1983, side-by-side checklists with vendor ratings was a common way to evaluate and even select construction software. They understand that business processes and qualitative information is far more informative than simple yes, no’s and scores.  They must apply the time and have the proper expertise to screen their options and arrive at the optimum solution based on business goals and how the software supports those goals.  Evolving Evaluation Criteria:  . Summary.

Introduction: When I started my business evaluating PC-based accounting software in 1983, side-by-side checklists with vendor ratings was a common way to evaluate and even select construction software. They understand that business processes and qualitative information is far more informative than simple yes, no’s and scores.  They must apply the time and have the proper expertise to screen their options and arrive at the optimum solution based on business goals and how the software supports those goals.  Evolving Evaluation Criteria:  . Summary.

See original article at Preparing A Mechanics Lien Claims Against City Construction Projects in New Orleans This afternoon I came across an article from one of my favorite publications, published in my hometown: New Orleans City Business. Lien Blog Bond Claims Louisiana Material Supplier Mechanics Lien New Orleans New Orleans City Business Notice of Lease Notice of NonPayment Rental Equipment Claims State Projects” Specifically, between May 29th and July 15th, construction will start on over $28 million of city projects, including the St. Roch Market, the St.

McGraw Hill's latest Smart Market Report details the business value of BIM to infrastructure. Everything in the report validates Collaborative Construction's mantra that owners need to be demanding BIM enabled infrastructure. To facilitate this owners need to created IPD Procurement Programs pursuant to which BIM enabled teams capable of operating in an integrated environment deliver BIM enabled infrastructure. PDF Copy Here Welcome to the Collaborative Revolution! James L. Salmon, Esq. Collaborative Construction 300 Pike Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Summary of Services and James L.

For Mark DiGregorio, vice president of business development for Tolt Service Group, that second problem is all too familiar. Tim Spencer asked for a quick show of hands around the table during a recent discussion: “What’s the key to giving a tech a tactile learning experience, even though he’s out in Timbuktu someplace?” ” No one offered up a solution. “I don’t know,” said one colleague. “It’s really hard,” offered another. Tim Spencer. Logistics and expense. Mark DiGregorio. How often do parts break? Technology solutions.

Software Advice is a company who helps those in selected industries choose the best software for the business. Here at ConstructionLawMonitor.com, I often get industry experts who would like my readers to hear their opinions or help spread the word on what is going on in the construction industry. Statistics are always a great way to show if what you are doing is correct and who all it is affecting. Below is a write up from Derek Singleton at Software Advice regarding its Construction Estimating survey. Also, if you have a tip to offer others in the industry, please share that as well.”

When you get a contractor license in these states (and most states), you must actually do business in that name, and not some other name. See original article at Conflicting Court Decisions Highlight Complexity Of Mechanics Lien Law Last week I wrote about two court decisions released in April 2012, one out of California (Montgomery Sansome LP v Rezai) and one out of Idaho (Stonebrook Construction v. Chase Home Finance). These cases presented almost identical circumstances, yet the courts reached opposite results. Summary of Idaho v. California Cases. Written by Scott Wolfe Jr.

Business of Construction Construction Law Green Building Chesapeake Bay Foundation Construction Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Stuart Kaplow Sustainability virginia construction lawyerUT Dallas 74,000-square-foot (6,900 m2) Student Services Building (Photo credit: Wikipedia). As readers of Construction Law Musings can attest, I am an enthusiastic (if at times skeptical) supporter of sustainable (or “green”) building.  I am solidly behind the environmental and other benefits of this type of construction.  Am I off base?  What do you think? license.

Because if you’ve been in business long enough you have certainly had your share of “Wimpy’s” He looks different every time so you need to be alert. Jody Shilan appears as a guest blogger for LMN Blog, Landscape Management Network’s resource hub for all things related to building a better landscape business. For those of you who are too young to remember this quote, it is from the cartoon “Popeye the Sailor Man” One particular character, “Wimpy”, would often utter this phrase. You see “Wimpy” (actually Wimpy J.

assume that they are thought of us as only "victims" too as their business and livelihood suffered as a result. In reality we need to think about how we are going to change our economy by the way we do business vs the way we did. The business used to operate like a series of local cartels. The biggest cause, however, is probably the interdependent nature of the business. But because discounters need to make up for lower commissions with higher volumes, even a small amount of discrimination is often enough to drive them out of business. They are salesmen.

I have blogged on what I call the Shadow People a few times - those are the people of a certain age who have lost their jobs, businesses and in turn their identity as they don't fit any classification or description as a type of indigent person. We are not allowing the ever increasing aging population a right to work and age both gracefully and securely nor are we giving the kind of support and encouragement to those young to develop the long terms skills and abilities to develop strong businesses and skills that build economies. Yes the shadow gets bigger. All told, that’s 3.9

Going “green” is one of the largest priorities among businesses today; it seems everyone is doing it. Today, a guest post from the folks at Lamps.com, a retailer of lamps, LED lighting and LED outdoor lighting solutions.  They provide an interesting pro/con analysis of the three main types of light sources.  Obviously, while building an energy-efficient structure, [.] No related posts. green design construction LEED certification

Since things move at the speed of business, you may have furnished everything under a single contract or single open account, and now that you’re unpaid, you’re wondering: Do I file a single lien, or must I file separate liens for each property? See original article at Can You Group Multiple Projects and Properties Into One Mechanics Lien? You are working with a developer or contractor who is developing multiple properties all at the same time, or in close proximity to one another, and you’ve furnished labor or materials to a number of these projects or properties.

I was recently awared a most "thought provoking" response to the question regarding Social Media and its impact on my business. Exclusive to eLocal Blog-Off Experts I began my business when there were few sites dedicated to advertising, marketing and promotion. I, like any business, lists and does what one can with each site. For small businesses and solo-preneurs this can be an overwhelming and demanding job in and of itself. But the question exists - Does it provide me with actual business? So while its affected my business it hasn’t changed my earnings.

They also offer a knowledged filled product pages as well as expert Customer Service and a business that stands behind their products and services. Going Green in tbe garden means finding landscape and accessories that both lend to and preserve the environment and its resources Today I just found an amazing site that has unique garden products that lend both the beauty and utility. Rainchainlink is your ultimate source for a rain chain of every size, finish, style, and material. Not only are there chains rain unique the company has a many other great features to offer their customers.

Creating a More Profitable Snow Business. Those who have tried to run a successful snow business understand the challenges of creating a profitable, sustainable revenue stream in an inherently risky line of work. This one-day workshop could be one of the single-most important investments you’ll make in your snow business. The ability to calculate how much overhead your snow business should recover. Snow and ice management services are unique. Most people who don’t do snow logically think that this type of work is a simple maintenance-based service. More info? Dates.

Economic recovery from double dip recession will work only if the government pursue ‘green growth’ because energy saving is a win-win situation for both businesses and households, the Former Cabinet Minister stated. Former Energy Secretary Chris Huhne wrote in the Guardian newspaper yesterday that Britain has to stimulate future economic growth by investing in the renewable energy sector. Mr Huhne is confident that green growth is sustainable because it has the potential for creating new jobs, cutting energy bills and increasing spending incomes of households.

Economic recovery from double dip recession will work only if the government pursue ‘green growth’ because energy saving is a win-win situation for both businesses and households, the Former Cabinet Minister stated. Former Energy Secretary Chris Huhne wrote in the Guardian newspaper yesterday that Britain has to stimulate future economic growth by investing in the renewable energy sector. Mr Huhne is confident that green growth is sustainable because it has the potential for creating new jobs, cutting energy bills and increasing spending incomes of households.

Whether it’s a regional company that’s looking to land a larger, national service contract or a local organization that simply needs an assist in the short term, technician outsourcing is big business, especially post-recession. These businesses laid off a lot of techs when the economy went south, and many are opting to outsource that work through services such as OnForce or FieldSolutions  instead of rehiring full-time internal techs. But there’s another side of service that’s equally as visible and important — technician outsourcing. Shorter Waits to Get Paid.

One of the easiest and most effective ways would be by partnering with a Virtual Assistant who is familiar with and practices Social Media for their own business. If you would like more tips and tricks on leveraging Twitter for your business I invite you to download a free copy of an e-book I co-authored: Leveraging Your Power through Twitter. Social Media for Lawyers and Clients Small Business Marketing for Contractors An Interview with Amy Derby a/k/a/ The Law Firm Blogger Is your marketing on track for the rebound? Originally posted 2010-02-26 09:00:59. Twitter. license.

And just like in Idaho, a contractor must register itself in the name for which it does business. Instead of invalidating the lien based on a technicality, the court allowed the claimants some room to show that it was just that – a technicality – and not two separate entities operating two separate businesses. See original article at Idaho Mechanics Lien Invalidated By Appeals Court Based on Contractor Registration Technicality It’s funny how cases are decided completely independent from one another, but somehow, there is overlap and relationships between them.

Chris Wright is training to become an electrician with Train4TradeSkills. Train4TradeSkills Radio interviewed Chris to find out how his electrical course is going. You can listen to the full interview with Chris via AudioBoo at:  www.audioboo.fm/train4tradeskills train4tradeskills    . View this document on Scribd. co.uk

Chris Wright is training to become an electrician with Train4TradeSkills. Train4TradeSkills Radio interviewed Chris to find out how his electrical course is going. You can listen to the full interview with Chris via AudioBoo at:  www.audioboo.fm/train4tradeskills train4tradeskills    . View this document on Scribd. co.uk

BusinessFrom sheliamullican.com. You’ve probably heard this one before, but I have to ask, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” ” I don’t condone killing & eating elephants; it is a great analogy to tackling an enormous project like a company rebrand or website redesign. Many times, our websites get stalled because our clients gets stuck on the text and refuse anyone’s help. When we start working with a new client on a large project, we break up the responsibilities on our team and our client’s team.

SCAFFOLDING and painting services group Pyeroy increased sales last year as it won more business in the growing UK offshore oil and gas sector. Pelham said: “Looking forward, we are now well-placed to see continuing strong growth across all areas of the business through our strategy of added value, further cementing our position as a market leader.”. Business Scaffolding NewsThe Gateshead firm reported that turnover rose to by more than £14m to £74m in 2011, although its pre-tax profit dipped from £3.5m last year to £2.9m. Via:  nebusiness.co.uk.

Are we entering the era of the customer-run business? But it was clear from a good number of discussions and talks at the Service Council Executive Symposium , which concluded Wednesday, that businesses are just now starting to understand the value of their customers. “Some of the best things that are happening in your business are happening close to the customer,” James Mylett said during his presentation to close out the conference. Well, no, not literally. That may sound like a silly statement, but it’s not. Knowledge is in the trenches.

In  fact it’s the maintenance revenues that keeps many vendors with archaic systems in business. I recently spoke to the user of a heavy construction solution how have had it  for several years. Product has not had any significant enhancements in years but annual maintenance has  increased 5% per year, and is now  on the order of 19K. When I asked why  they continue paying it? They said the software is  is buggy and they have to call support several times a year to keep it running. The bugs are not even fixed!  So average cost per support call works out to about $4-5K.

In  fact it’s the maintenance revenues that keeps many vendors with archaic systems in business. I recently spoke to the user of a heavy construction solution how have had it  for several years. Product has not had any significant enhancements in years but annual maintenance has  increased 5% per year, and is now  on the order of 19K. When I asked why  they continue paying it? They said the software is  is buggy and they have to call support several times a year to keep it running. The bugs are not even fixed!  So average cost per support call works out to about $4-5K.

There are some who haven’t made a profit, and they’ve gone out of business. The media is like any other business, if it isn’t profitable, it goes away. Every business is started by someone who takes a gamble. I’m reading a book called, “Thou Shall Prosper” by Rabbi Daniel Lapin. highly recommend it. One of the things that caught my eye today was a comment he made about how the media talks about the need for successful companies and/or wealthy individuals to “give back” to society. He doesn’t say it that way, but I will.

They offer Business Intelligence and Dashboard insight to owners. These solutions touch every business record with document management becoming a “must have” function. Having recently become a Viewpoint Business Development Partner covering Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico, it was a strategic decision for me as well. Serving the construction industry here since 1996 Hagen Business Systems, Inc. Is this Your Construction Accounting Software Selection Process? Three_Card_Monte, taken in Jaffa, Israel - Author ZioDave. Huge Construction Software News!

You are an individual doing business as some type of tradename. Nevertheless, if your name is John Doe, and your operate “Kitchen Specialists,” and this company is not incorporated or organized as any specific business entity, the formal and legal name of your company would be “John Doe doing business as Kitchen Specialists,” or “John Doe d/b/a Kitchen Specialists.” Not Putting Your Correct Business Type In Your Name. If you business is an organized entity, and not a sole proprietor, you must know what type of entity you are.

Without going into many of the details (for more on my thoughts, check out the ADR Page at Construction Law Musings), mediation allows the flexibility and freedom for business people to make business decisions that result in a more satisfactory result than the lost time, expense and uncertainty of litigation. ADR Business of Construction Construction Law Alternative dispute resolution dispute resolution lawyer mediation Services Virginia Supreme CourtThanks to the folks over at ALPS for an opportunity to “muse” over there for a second time. license.

mobile welding business requires little more than welding equipment, a van or truck, and insurance. If you do quality work and have strong word-of-mouth recommendations, your business can be both rewarding and lucrative. Welding Business & Shop TipsWelders are in demand from both commercial and residential clients. Bonus points if you're certified through an accredited school. Apply for your welder's license and take the exam. View certification articles.) Contact your state license board to ensure you have the necessary documentation. It may be several months.

But, we all know typos happen, and small mistakes happen as deals happen in the speed of business. See original article at California Court Forgives Mechanics Lien Incorrect Identification Of Claimant What’s in a name? Unfortunately when filing a mechanics lien claim, since the legal industry sometimes celebrates pointless technicalities, names can mean a lot.  Invalidating a lien under these circumstances seems a bit harsh. Most anyone looking at the lien would be able to determine who the lienor was. — Comment by Vincent Pallaci. Rezai. Period. So there you have it. Rezai

I couldn’t pass up sharing this great cartoon showing the different view points of a business, especially large corporations. think you’ll enjoy it.

As noted many of the earlier DOE grants to businesses like Solyndra were based on the political relationships to those in the "know" vs those with the know. I was reading about this interesting plan that the Energy Department is developing call the Plug-and-Play Initiative, the idea is to simplify residential photovoltaic installations. The idea is as follows as found on the Energy.gov sits: Going Solar in Record Time with Plug-and-Play PV Kevin Lynn Systems Integration Lead, SunShot Initiative WHAT DOES THIS PROJECT DO? Many of today’s smart phones also incorporate this technology.

We’ve written several articles recently about the importance of customer service , and how business such as field service that rely on customer interaction can parlay great service (and the customer goodwill it builds) to increase sales and brand loyalty. Great customer service can be a huge boon to businesses, and can even provide stodgy behemoths such as Best Buy with an entirely new business. billion ( with a “b” ) costly. The report analyzed multiple industries in 16 countries to find which ones have the happiest customers, and why. Urlocker makes a great point. hours.

What could be the benefits to you or your business? The building construction industry is to receive a £175 million investment as the University of Birmingham is going ahead with a £175 million expansion programme. The expansion, which is funded by the university and alumni donations, will include the building of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a new library, improving the university’s current sports facilities and student accommodation. The University was founded to be an asset for the city and these plans have that aim in mind. Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below: .

What could be the benefits to you or your business? The building construction industry is to receive a £175 million investment as the University of Birmingham is going ahead with a £175 million expansion programme. The expansion, which is funded by the university and alumni donations, will include the building of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a new library, improving the university’s current sports facilities and student accommodation. The University was founded to be an asset for the city and these plans have that aim in mind. Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below: .

Construction bid bid day confidentiality agreement contractor Don Short Estimate estimating help estimating process ethical business practices subcontractor Tempest CompanySome key areas in learning to be an estimator have been covered in my previous blogs.  However, there is an important area that has yet to be brought up.  That area is ethics.  Ethics is important from day one of an estimator’s career. The good/great estimators have a high degree of ethics.  They learn the numbers they are dealing with are extremely confidential. 

The biggest thing you need to consider right now, today, before you spend one dime promoting your contracting business online is – your existing website. You should want prospects to stop by your site to educate themselves on your business, become clients or customers, and continue to buy your products or services while referring you to friends and family. You need to be involved in every aspect of your website just as you are in your business. Now, I understand you have a business to run, and maybe all this website stuff is beyond your ability.

Jason is President of WhichDraft , designed to help small businesses, freelancers, and entrepreneurs easily and affordably create the kinds of legal documents they use in their businesses every day via a simple Q&A interface that makes it easy to quickly create sophisticated legal documents, like Confidentiality, Consulting, Software Development and Commercial Lease Agreements. Related Musings: Certification Bodies: Who Are They And How Do I Do Business With Them? Guest Post Friday business Landlord Lease Negotiation virginia construction attorney WhichDraft

The more business and work out there in the market place, the more cash a company is likely to have on the street. See original article at Protect Your Cash In The Improving Arizona Construction Market This morning, I posted about a Los Angeles Times article about an “rebound” in commercial building throughout Southern California. Right after, I encountered an article from The Republic about a similar trend in the Arizona construction industry, in an article title “ Good News For Construction Jobs.” ” Healthy Construction Market Means More Cash At Risk.

But as companies take in more business and possibly start extending their cash because of the increase availability of projects, they must be careful to take the necessary steps to preserve their mechanics lien rights. See original article at Los Angeles Construction Market On Rebound…Prepare Your Lien Rights I ran across an article this morning in the Los Angeles Times reporting that there is a “commercial building rebound” in Southern California as we all head into the spring and summer months. Preliminary Notices Protect California Contractors. They work. What to do?

It’s undoubtedly proven itself as a coveted and effective device for the C-suite, but the question still looms in other areas of the business — like field service. figured it’d be popular, but not to the degree it’s become — especially in the business world. When the iPad was first introduced, there was a lot of speculation around what its role would be in the enterprise. Some companies have deployed it for such applications, others are researching it, and some are of the opinion that a consumer-grade device would never work in their operation. What’s the iPad’s Role?

I want to extend yesterday’s tip to register alternative domain extensions to protect your business by asking you to register one you will eventually use. Whatever your domain name is, go right now and register the.TV extension. Because video is the new text, and it won’t be long before you are doing more with video online than any other format. It may be a few years, but you don’t want to lose out on the.TV version of your website because it will be important to have as the lines between regular television viewing and watching television online blur.

Anyone in the signage business knows that signs come in all shapes and sizes. See original article at Can You File A Mechanics Lien For Installing Signage? Sometimes they are attached directly on a building, and sometimes they’re on an awning. Other times, the sign may be a pile-on sign at the edge of a property, or even a tiny sign installed within a parking lot to give drivers directions through a campus. Are these signs “improvements” to the property sufficient to justify filing a mechanics lien claim? What about other types of signs? Your sign work may not qualify.

Small and medium businesses will be able to benefit from the financial support of £35 million over the next three years by demonstrating their ideas and improving energy efficiency in the UK. The website will help users and a wide range of businesses to search for the latest funding opportunities in the low-carbon industry. The Department of Energy and Climate Change expects that by creating the new service and placing valuable information at users’ fingertips it will help smaller businesses to reduce wasted time and missed opportunities.

Small and medium businesses will be able to benefit from the financial support of £35 million over the next three years by demonstrating their ideas and improving energy efficiency in the UK. The website will help users and a wide range of businesses to search for the latest funding opportunities in the low-carbon industry. The Department of Energy and Climate Change expects that by creating the new service and placing valuable information at users’ fingertips it will help smaller businesses to reduce wasted time and missed opportunities.

Manufactured in the US, Lullaby is a privately held business, focused on serving the needs of consumers who both value and appreciate the benefits of high quality and environmental responsibilit They also offer unique packaging, which is better for the environment too. As one who finds design a matter of taste but who likes to change up the decor quite frequently, the easiest and most affordable way is through paint. When one has small children that can be a significant issue as indoor air quality can have quite an affect on them. eco friendly Paint Infant

BPI accredited analysts are among the most highly respected in the business. The field and demand for Energy Management professionals is growing and now is a great time for those already familiar with the ins and outs of home improvement to add a skill set to services offered. Green Training USA offers the following courses with BPI Certification Programs: The Building Performance Institute is a respected recognized leader in the building performance industry. By working closely with building performance stakeholders, BPI makes certain that the industry bar remains high.

Can you image a business today without a website? We knew that if folks like you (by the way, if you’re a regular, thanks for sticking around) got benefit out of my babblings, we would eventually connect and might even do some business. We have established dialogs with several folks and have been fortunate to start doing business with several of them. And oh, by the way, we are getting business from our blog which was one of our other objectives. This month marks three years since I started blogging on Tradesmeninsights.com.

Business Scaffolding News access BASF Contracts European harsco Insulation New Orders winsHarsco Infrastructure have today announced major wins in European orders totalling more than $35 million for the groups industrial and commercial sectors. BASF Group chemical complex in Antwerp, Belgium has given Harsco a three-year contract extension for onsite insulation maintenance services. The chemical complex is the largest processing site in Belgium and the second largest BASF plant in the world. BASF Group chemical complex in Antwerp, Belgium. Harsco Infrastructure Group CEO Ivor J.

Also very interesting is what the study didn't find: Business account activity was statistically unaffected by whether the branch was LEED certified or not. The blog post excerpted and linked below references a new study demonstrating LEED certified bank branches generate more revenue and save the owner significant sums, per employee, on utility / energy costs. Download / print a copy of the study to share with skeptical owners who as whether LEED certification really adds value. will add arguments based off this study to my ROI to the X power of IPD & BIM Solutions presentation.