While we all communicate, many of us don’t do it effectively. I say effectively because technically speaking, a business would be obsolete without the art of communication, but it is the quality of communication used within the workplace that distinguishes a good business from a great one.

We’ve all been that new guy in a company, trying to figure out the right way to do things without stepping on any toes, and yet, it seemed as if everyone we spoke with had their own idea of the best way to get things done. In that context, many errors were made and much rework was produced.

In this article, we’re going to review liens in general and the Mechanic’s Lien in detail. We’ll show you the steps to take to initiate a lien and foreclose on a property, how to have a lien removed, and most importantly, we’ll give some recommendations on how to avoid a lien in the first place. Finally, we’ll provide a list of lien filing regulations state by state.

The construction bidding process can be time-consuming and expensive but if done correctly, it can help stimulate any business not only by increasing profits but by strengthening its professional network of construction managers and other general contractors. In short, done well, the bidding process will ultimately lead to new future growth, one way or the other.

Back in the ‘good old days’, you could rely on a handshake deal and be reasonably confident the job would get done right. If there were bumps in the road, you knew they’d get taken care of amicably. Indeed, in some tight communities, contractors still work on a handshake basis, but that’s quickly changing.

If you’re like most owners in this business, you’re juggling a million things at once and the last thing you want to worry about is your employees taking time off. But it’s important both for your people and your bottom line. If you don’t already have a paid time off (PTO) policy in place, now’s the time to build one.

What Are Cost Codes? Put simply, cost codes are numeric codes that represent the different inputs (costs) that go into a project. Whether that be equipment, materials, labor, or some other element. Cost codes are useful because they allow you to track and analyze costs on a more granular level both during and after a project: For billing purposes, to demystify 'where the money went' and to identify areas for improving profitability.

Balance sheets are one of the most important aspects of construction accounting, so it is naturally best practice to make sure they are current and accurate. However, some small business owners or operators may not necessarily understand what a balance sheet is, let alone how to keep and maintain one.

Change orders are often required during an ongoing contracting project. This post will help you understand why they are required, how to implement them correctly, and some common gotchas to look out for along the way.

I think we’d all agree that managing project finances is one of the biggest headaches of the job. From task value estimation and cost allocation, to invoicing and handling change requests, dealing with the money side of the business is no walk in the park. And if you’re running several projects consecutively, it’s very easy to lose track of billings and wind up in a serious cash-flow mess.

You may have heard about a variety of Time And Location Tracking Apps available to use on employee smartphones. One common feature of these applications is often an ability to track employee locations while they are on the clock.

Quickly see the best free business applications that small businesses can start using today to improve everything from their bottom line to employee productivity.

When you are just starting in business, you need to keep your overheads as low as possible. One way you can help is by taking advantage of the multitude of attendance management applications with free plans. During our journey of building SINC, we have come across a bunch of different offerings and have put together some of our favourites and scored them based on the factors we consider most important for a new company just starting up.

The United States alone is home to nearly 30 million small businesses that are looking to become the next best thing. With such competition, it's no wonder small business owners are always looking for new ways to increase production, drive growth, and ultimately succeed.

For small businesses, obtaining success is a long-term, uphill battle and comes with many different challenges. However, there is one business factor that plays a large role in helping all other necessary aspects of small business success come together, and that is employee engagement.

According to data released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employees stay on average 4.6 years at one place of employment. This relatively short stay can pose a problem for many employers, especially small businesses.

If you’re a business owner or manager you’ll probably agree: Payroll Costs Can Make Or Break A Business Payroll is one of, if not the most, significant costs associated with running a business.

Getting your payroll correct is a hugely important thing for you and your team. Having to correct payroll mistakes undermines the relationship you have with your team, takes up a lot of your time and looks unprofessional.