Voices
We asked our RenoFocus contractors how much they paid their project managers. Here’s one Toronto contractor’s response
“Our standard base salary is between $55-60k and goes against a base $750k revenue”
Myths of contractors continued: I save money by doing chores myself
“If you can’t point to some fundamental improvement you haven’t been doing the job of a general manager”
“Heavy upfront deposits help cash flow. We take 25% on acceptance and another 25% one day prior to starting.”
“Valid and reliable companies take massive risks for every job we take on”
In 2020, the spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation business will have new standards to meet
“Reducing greenhouse gases and climate pollutants is essential to the long-term survival of the planet and more urgently needed than ever in 2019”
Negotiating stories to learn from
“One contractor we spoke to about this topic said it was tough to provide any tips because he’s not the negotiating type anymore, for good reason”
Everyone gets paid once the client pays
“In Ontario, within seven days of the receiving the owner’s payment, GC’s must pay sub contractors”
Grow your sales, blow up your business
“Make sure you understand what you will need to fund the increase in project costs”
How to enjoy being a struggling renovator by bringing Future You back here
“thank your lucky stars that you have struggles and suffering to engage you, to improve you, to define you”
Code changes that could save thousands Part 2: The need for innovation: slab on grade
Why do we build foundations a minimum of 4 feet below grade in Canada?
Markup and Margin: Where renovation companies go to die
“Ten plus 10 is so yesterday”
How to get the most out of your accountant from starting up to getting out
“A good relationship with your accountant that extends beyond tax season can yield valuable information and contacts when it comes to your business’ sore points”
YOUR VOICE: A $15/hour minimum wage would be good for the construction industry
“A minimum wage puts poor Canadians effectively out of work”
YOUR VOICE last week: Only women need apply. What you said about hiring policies based on gender
“If a homeowner says they need all female painters, or me to be on site with my male crew for perceived safety reasons, I encourage them to call someone else”
YOUR VOICE: Topic: Does Canada over-regulate, under-regulate or well-regulate the building industry?
“Builders, developers and renovators will do anything to make a buck, including cut corners and build structures that are unsafe and bad for the environment.”
Municipal Policies Rooted in Appropriating Private Property
“Social programs, including housing, are the responsibility of taxpayers at large, not the mortgages of new homebuyers.”
YOUR VOICE: Topic – Marketing your renovation company as a “female only” employer
“Are not all workers equal?”
Let’s talk about your lead tracking and your sales and marketing strategy. Like, really talk…
“Behind every name, address and phone number you collect from your marketplace, there are millions of dollars of revenue waiting to be deposited into your bank account”
What I did on my summer vacation; what stayed behind, what came with me and what I got to know
“The surprise of all holidays is not what you leave behind, but what ends up coming with you.”
The Myths of Contracting Part 4: An email change order is good enough
“If there is one piece of IT every contractor needs to adopt, my vote is for a mobile changer order ap”
The Myths of Contracting Part 3: If I build a house and live in it for a year, I can sell it free of HST/GST or capital gains tax.
“In fact, CRA doesn’t require a set time of occupancy to treat a house as your principal residence”
The Myths of Contracting Part 2: Cash work saves your customer sales tax
“Working for cash actually wipes out nearly all hope of profiting from the job.”
The Myths of Contracting Part 1: When your price is greater than your costs, you profit!
Some contractors choose to take what they can get rather than decline unprofitable work
Part 4 of What Steve Said! Working with your team
“As I have grown my business and as it has matured, I’ve found it very difficult not to rush in with my cape on.”
Part 3 of What Steve Said! Everything starts with a business plan
“It’s important to have a personal plan first, because it tells you where you want to be personally, who you want to be, and where you want to go.”
YES! Payroll is expensive! Listen to the bookkeeper we all need!
“New business owners are always shocked with how much an employee really costs”
When you know just how irrational your customers really are, you can sleep till noon.
“Give a renovator or custom homebuilder a reputation for having the best price and he can charge whatever he wants.”
Part 2 of What Steve Said! Steve Barkhouse on mistakes and the passion it takes to overcome them
“If you don’t think you’re going to get tested, don’t go into business.”
Conservative Contractor? Us? A reader accuses us of right-wing media bias
“When we started this magazine in 2000, our idea was to give pro renovators and custom homebuilders a magazine that wasn’t constrained from talking bluntly about regulation and taxation in this industry”
A review of Ontario’s WSIB includes testing its efficiency against private sector insurance providers. It’s a test it can’t pass.
Ford’s WSIB review should conclude it go private
Code changes that could save thousand$ Why they can’t—or won’t—get done even when they are smart, cost effective and timely
“It’s a small wonder that many manufacturers of innovative products privately feel they are held hostage to the approvals agencies perpetuating their existence along with numerous fees, delays and other impediments to innovation.”
