It’s always been advantageous to move what your company sells and does from a commodity to a niche.

But, here’s what I know no matter where you operate your business…it’s far better to “Hope for the Best…all the while….preparing for the worst.”

First, we must define what “Happy Calls” are. They are calls made to your customers right after you’ve been there to do service or install work.

An area that is often overlooked is that we need to be as profitable as we can in order to be able to re-invest in our company as well as provide for our families and plan our retirement.

The most important aspect to being a successful service company is a positive, can-do attitude. With the recession that all of us have faced, this has never been more important.

It’s as inevitable as death and taxes. Be a contractor long enough and you’re going to end up selling stuff to your family, friend or house of worship.

Having grown up in the plumbing, heating and cooling business in New York, I knew that I couldn’t push my cooling equipment too long out here in Arizona.

In my last blog, I introduced a partnership BNP Media forged with BirdDog Jobs, a career center specializing in the skilled trades. Today, we’re pleased to announce another partnership.

Our industry has lost a friend as well as an outstanding businessman.  Paul Thompson, owner of Town & Country Services in Greenland, NH, died last week after collapsing suddenly over the weekend.

For the last two years, more than 13+ million U.S. workers have been unemployed, many for very long stretches.

Take a look at the brand new April 2013 issue with features on Marketing, Rug/Carpet Cleaning, and Hard Floor Maintenance.